Tigers on top despite loss (Round 18 WSBL Wrap)
Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers have wrapped up the women's State Basketball League minor premiership despite their 66-63 loss to Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks on Saturday.
The second-placed Hawks needed to win by more than 15 to have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Tigers and their failure to do so means Willetton will finish first for the second-straight year, regardless of what happens in the final round of the season.
But Perry Lakes earned a huge confidence boost in a potential preview of the Grand Final with the thrilling victory, as Gabriella Clayton (20 points) and Christine Boyd (12) led it to victory.
Kate Malpass had 17 points for Willetton in its third loss of the season.
The Hawks had to overcome a major scare to avoid a humiliating loss to bottom side Rockingham Flames, eventually winning 58-54 on the back of Belinda O'Halloran's 14 points.
Perth Redbacks' finals hopes are officially over following their 58-50 loss to Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves.
Despite a disappointing season, the Redbacks could have snuck into the top eight had they won their last two games and Lakeside Lightning didn't win another game, but Rebecca Mercer's 17 points for Wanneroo ended Perth's chances of an eighth-straight playoff appearance.
Wanneroo's victory was a major boost to its top four hopes but it still faces a tough challenge to overcome Mandurah Magic and Australian Central East Perth Eagles.
After Mandurah beat Lakeside 86-71 and East Perth defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Southwest Slammers 69-59 and 74-57 respectively, the Wolves will have to rely on other results to earn home-court advantage for the quarter-finals.
East Perth's two victories extended its winning streak to seven games and left it needing to win only one of its last two games to guarantee a top four spot.
Sixth-placed Kalamunda wrapped up its regular season with a 64-58 win against Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars, who need to beat Mandurah next week to avoid a difficult quarter-final match-up against Perry Lakes.
Melissa Moyle had 14 points to lead the Suns to victory, while Courtney Hargreaves had 19 points for the Cougars.
But Cockburn beat Southwest 77-45, with Kara Hargreaves (15 points) doing most of the damage.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Helen Theoharakis (Hoop Shots)
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