Unbeaten Lakeside Lightning remain on top of the Men’s State Basketball League ladder but are facing stiff challenges from East Perth and Perry Lakes.

The three teams have formed a breakaway group at the top, with a big gap already forming between the Eagles and Hawks (both 6-0) and fourth-placed Perth (3-3).

The Lightning extended their winning streak with a 121-93 demolition of Geraldton back on Saturday night, with Ben Beran (25 points) and Justin Cecil (23) leading the charge.

Jarrad Prue registered nine points and 15 rebounds, while Aaron Ralph played a lone hand for the Buccaneers with a game-high 27 points.

The Lightning backed up on Sunday with a 113-73 thrashing of lowly Rockingham.

Cecil (27 points) and Darrel Morgan (20) top-scored, while Prue had another 18 rebounds to leave his average at a whopping 19.4 boards a game this season.

East Perth also knocked off the Buccs, winning 125-102 on Sunday after beating struggling Kalamunda 126-94 on the road on Saturday.

Eagles shooting guard Drew Williamson averaged 21 in the two games, while Tom Jervis (17) and Jarrod Balcombe (16) also had solid impacts on the scoreboard.

Perry Lakes survived a final-quarter challenge from Wanneroo to extend their positive start to the year under new head coach and Perth Wildcats assistant Shawn Dennis.

The Hawks won 95-86 on the back of 30 points form import Michael Lay and a dominant performance from Adrian Majstrovich, who had 23 points and 19 rebounds.

Elsewhere, Willetton split their double-header with a 111-98 win over South West and 107-103 loss to Stirling, while South West bounced back to beat Cockburn 85-76.

Perth beat Rockingham 119-89 and Mandurah beat Goldfields 105-97.

Article by Shayne Hope
Photo by Mick Cronin