Lakeside Lightning have erased a nine-point deficit in the final quarter to grab a come from behind 97 – 90 win and clinch their men's State Basketball League quarter-finals series against the Australian Central East Perth Eagles.

Lakeside's 18th win in a row saw it sweep the best-of-three series and kept it undefeated at home this season, while it also saw East Perth exit the finals in straight sets for the second-consecutive year.

Lakeside started strongly with Luke Payne scoring the opening bucket, drawing a foul and making the resulting free throw. The Eagles were slow to start and Lakeside capitalised on this and jumped out to an early 11 – 2 lead.

Lakeside increased their defensive intensity but the Eagles were persistent, sticking to their game plan they closed the gap to five points. With mere seconds on the clock, Wildcat Drew Williamson scored from long range for the Eagles and closed the gap even further to have the Eagles trailing by only a pair 24 – 22 at the first break.

The second quarter saw Lakeside's game one hero Ben Beran make one free throw to open the scoring, only to have Williamson go down the other end and repeat his last second shot of the first quarter and tie the game up at 25 apiece. A mid range jumper from Eagle veteran Aaron Wigg seconds later saw the Eagles take the lead for the first time in the game.

The scores see-sawed for the most part of the quarter, with Payne leading the way for Lakeside, and Williamson marshalling the Eagles with a more balanced attack. The Eagles took control late in the quarter and took a six point lead, courtesy of a last second tip in by inspirational team captain Andrew McLennan, into the long break, leading Lakeside 49- 43.

Payne was Lakesides go to guy in the first half and headed to the locker room with 15 points and six rebounds. Beran was quieter than last week but still had a solid 13 points and seven rebounds against his name.

For the Eagles Williamson was leading the way with 15 points, and was being backed up well by his Wildcat team mate Jarrod Balcombe who had nine points for the half.

Lakeside came out in the third quarter a little flat and the Eagles took advantage of this to start the quarter with a 6 – 2 run. Lakeside quickly responded through Beran, who hit five straight points to lift his side and close the gap to six points.

Both teams traded baskets with Lakeside looking dangerous until Eagle Daniel Thomas scored from long range to give his side a comfortable eight point lead. Lakeside found some spark and got to within four points before the Eagles managed to regain their six point half time lead and go into the final break up 69 – 63.

Balcombe opened the final quarter with a three point basket for the Eagles to extend the lead to nine. Lakeside then found the other gear they had been threatening to find nearing the end of the third quarter.

Beran and Payne were the destroyers for Lakeside and their accurate long range shooting had their side well and truly back in the game, they held a two point lead at the six minute mark until Balcombe scored on a drive to tie it all up at 77 each. Lakeside rolled the dice and continued their long range barrage and by the three and a half minute mark found themselves with a nine point lead.

East Perth wouldn’t lie down and be buried and a massive two-handed dunk from Tom Jervis saw it trail by only five with two minutes to go, but Lakeside's clutch free-throw shooting saw it clinch the series.

Payne was the game’s top scorer with 33 points to go with his eight rebounds. Beran stepped up in the second half to finish the game with 29 points and 16 rebounds with Jarrad Prue also tallying a double double with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Williamson laid claim to more court time for the Wildcats this summer leading the Eagles with 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Balcombe had a standout performance and finished with 23 points and point guard Thomas proved yet again he is destined for greater things with a tough 14 points and eight rebounds.

Article by Leigh Dalton at Lakeside Recreation Centre

Photo by Mick Cronin

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