Week 14 SBL action was always going to be crucial in determining spots in the finals race in both the women's and men's competition, and it sees the Wanneroo Wolves and Lakeside Lightning hold top spots at the end of the weekend.

The Lakeside Lightning improved to 16-2 to remain on top of the men's SBL standings with a thumping 127-87 win over the Willetton Tigers at Lakeside Recreation Centre. The Tigers were also coming off a win over Wanneroo on Friday but the Lightning scored 40-19 in the first quarter.

Ben Beran top-scored for Lakeside with 26 points with Darrel Morgan adding 21 and Jarrad Prue 16 to go with a massive 28 rebounds and 10 assists. Brad Jackson also scored 14 points and Chris Sofoulis 12.

Quinn McDowell scored 22 points for Willetton with Brandon Adams adding 17, Adam Nener 12 and Lochlan Cummings 10.

The Perry Lakes Hawks won its second game of the weekend following up a 50-point win on Friday over Kalamunda with an 82-77 defeat of the East Perth Eagles at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre on Saturday.

Michael Lay hit 23 points and pulled in 10 rebounds for the Hawks with Adrian Majstrovich scoring 16 points and collecting 13 boards. Rob Cassir scored 14 points, Corey Easley 12 and Ben Purser 11.

Tom Jervis had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for East Perth. Drew Williamson finished with 16 points, Jarrod Balcombe 12 and Michael Jones 11.

The Perth Redbacks made the Wanneroo Wolves have a disappointing weekend. The Wolfpack lost to Willetton on Friday and then the Redbacks beat them 90-83 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium on Saturday.

The Redbacks shot up to fifth position with the win with an 11-8 record while Wanneroo slips to eighth at 9-9.

Michael Vigor led the way for the Redbacks with 25 points and eight rebounds while Bennie Lewis hit 20 points, Justin Brown 18 and Adam Johnston 16. Brown also pulled in 17 boards.

Damian Matacz scored 24 points and had nine rebounds for Wanneroo with Seb Salinas throwing in 20 points, six boards and four assists. Rob Huntington also had 14 points and Reece Maxwell 12.

The defending champion Cockburn Cougars continued its charge with a 122-86 win over South West Slammers to improve to a 7-12 record now having recorded three straight wins.

David Reichel scored 17 points and had eight rebounds for the Cougars with Brian Carlwell adding 19 points, Damien Scott 19, Gavin Field 17 and Alex Prince 10.

Trent Worthington scored 22 points for the Slammers with Clive Weeden adding 21 and Josh Weir 13.

The Stirling Senators beat the Mandurah Magic 98-89 at Warwick Leisure Centre with Cory Cooperwood hitting 33 points and pulling in 15 rebounds to go with six assists, five steals and three blocks for the Senators.

Jordan Wild added 23 points and 15 rebounds with Josh Throns scoring 19 points and Sean Gilmore 12.

Taylor Mullenax had 23 points for Mandurah with Taylor Land adding 19 points and Rhett Della Maddalena 17.

The Rockingham Flames beat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 120-100 at Ray Owen Sports Centre with Cooper Land scoring 30 points. Travis Moore also had 25 points, Trent Gerovich 24, Jake Amos 15 and Steven Bennett 14.

Ben Smith hit 34 points for the Suns and Louis Timms 26.

In the battle of the country teams, The Geraldton Buccaneers improved to an 11-7 record to sit in fourth spot with a 109-83 win over Goldfields Giants at Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium.

Daniel Thomas finished with 32 points and six assists for the Buccaneers on the back of 6-of-8 shooting from three-point territory. Rob Kampman also had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Geraldton with Aaron Ralph scoring 18 points and Luke Wrensted 12.

Markhuri Sanders-Frison finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds and four assists for Goldfields with Matthew Leske adding 19 points and Jaycen Herring 11.

The Wanneroo Wolves women's team bounced back from a Friday night loss to Willetton beating the Perth Redbacks 53-40 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium to sit on top of the WSBL ladder.

Nikita-Lee Martin top-scored for Wanneroo with 12 points to go with seven rebounds. Shani Amos scored 10 points with Chelsea Burns adding eight. Marita Payne top-scored with the Redbacks with 17 points and 15 boards.

The Lakeside Lightning beat the Willetton Tigers 69-66 to improve to 8-7 and sit in seventh spot on the ladder with the Tigers unable to back up their win over Wanneroo at home on Friday.

Emily Fielding had a night out for Lakeside finishing with 28 points. Jessica Beran added 19 points and 13 rebounds, with Krystal Stoneking scoring 14 points.

Antonia Edmondson starred for Willetton with 27 points with Melissa Marsh adding 20 and Lisa Wallbutton 11 to go with 15 rebounds.

The Perry Lakes Hawks won its second straight game of the weekend backing up Friday's win over Kalamunda to beat the one-win East Perth Eagles 65-48 on Saturday.

The wins improve the Hawks to a 9-6 record to sit in fifth position with Gabriella Clayton starring with 24 points. Rosie Tobin added 12 points and 10 rebound, and Natalie Burton 11 and 14.

Nicole Jorre St Jorre worked hard for the Eagles with 17 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

The Cockburn Cougars recorded a solid 80-68 win over the South West Slammers to improve to sixth spot in the standings.

The Stirling Senators thumped the Mandurah Magi 80-55 with Taylor Lilley hitting 19 points, Amber Land 16 and Samantha Roscoe 12.

Rachel Halleen had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Mandurah with Briana Klasztorny and Gemma Thomas scoring 10 points each.

Last year's grand finalists Rockingham scored a big 89-68 away win over Kalamunda on Saturday making it a doubly disappointing weekend for the Suns following Friday loss to Perry Lakes.

Samantha Whitcomb was on fire for the Flames finishing with 36 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Kaye Tucker added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Jacinta Bourne 10 points.

Jennie Rintala scored 18 points for Kalamunda with Adrienne Jones adding 14.

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Helen Theoharakis (Hoop Shots)