Slammers women in, men out (Friday Week 2 QF Wrap)
IT WAS a mixed night for the South West Slammers with their women's team completing an upset SBL quarter-final win over Willetton while their men's team were bundled out by East Perth in Friday night's action.
The second, and deciding, weekend of quarter-final action got underway on Friday night with three of the four women's series decided and two of the four men's encounters also determined without a deciding Game 3 being required.
The Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers' first men's playoff appearance in 12 years is over after the People's Choice Eagles beat them 134-101 at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre on Friday.
The Eagles had beaten the Slammers 102-70 in Eaton last Saturday and now are through to the semi finals with Friday's 33-point win.
NBL championship-winning guard Drew Williamson top-scored for East Perth with 29 points with Tom Jervis adding 26 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Michael Jones also scored 21 points, Joe-Alan Tupaea 19 (and nine rebounds, six assists), and Austin Kisselev 14.
Jamahr Warren finished his season with the Slammers with another 34 points, 13 rebounds and five assists with Trent Worthington scoring 22 points and Ty Harrelson 19 to go with seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Perry Lakes Hawks forced a Game 3 with a 98-88 win over the Mandurah Magic at the WA Basketball Centre.
The Magic were able to beat the Hawks 107-96 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre last Saturday and now the series will be decided on Saturday night also at the WA Basketball Centre.
On Friday night, Michael Lay led the way for Perry Lakes with 27 points with Ben Purser scoring 22 and Adrian Majstrovich 20 to go with 14 rebounds and four assists. Corey Easley also scored 13 points and pulled in eight boards.
Taylor Mullenax threw everything he could at Perry Lakes for Mandurah finishing with 42 points and nine rebounds.
Taylor Land added 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals with Andrew Bowman scoring 16 points and Rhett Della Maddalena 10 to go with seven boards and five steals.
The Lakeside Lightning finished the regular season five games clear on top of the standings and now are through to the semi finals after winning both games against the Perth Redbacks.
The Lightning took care of the Redbacks 106-90 at Lakeside Recreation Centre on Friday with Chris Sofoulis top-scoring with 25 points. Ben Beran and Justin Cecil both added 23 while Jarrad Prue had 11 points and 19 rebounds.
Bennie Lewis finished with 22 points for the Redbacks with Jarrad Prior scoring 17 points, Joel Wagner 16 and Michael Vigor 14.
Meanwhile in women's action, the top-seed is out of the competition after the defending champion Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers beat the Willetton Tigers 68-62 at Willetton Basketball Stadium.
It was no ordinary first versus eighth battle given the quality of the Slammers and the fact that they won last year's championship, but it's still a surprise that the Tigers have been bundled out in two games after finishing the regular season so strongly to finish on top of the standings.
The Slammers won Game 1 last weekend 67-65 at Eaton Recreation Centre, and backed it up on Friday with a six-point victory to advance to the semi finals after holding the Tigers to just 21 second half points while scoring 36 themselves.
Kimberly Sitzmann again was the star for South West with 22 points, seven rebounds and five rebounds. Dannielle Smith also scored 13 points, Zoe Harper 13 and Lauren Jeffers 10.
Melissa Marsh returned for the Tigers and top-scored with 16 points while Antonia Edmondson scored 15 and Lara Napier 11 to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Lisa Wallbutton finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
The Rockingham Flames secured their quarter-final series 2-0 against the Cockburn Cougars as well with an 89-70 victory at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.
The Flames made last year's SBL grand final and finished the 2013 regular season in second position before beating Cockburn last Friday 105-89. They then backed it up on Friday with a 19-point to go through to the quarter finals.
Darcee Garbin led the way for Rockingham with 30 points, 17 rebounds and four steals with Samantha Whitcomb adding 17 points and nine boards, Jacinta Bourne 15 points and Courtney Hargreaves 13.
Stephanie Jones did all she could for the Cougars with a massive 36 points and 11 rebounds. Emma Pass added 13 points and Taryn Priestly 11 to go with eight boards and six assists.
The Kalamunda Eastern Suns finished the regular season in fifth position in the standings to set up their series with the fourth-seeded Lakeside Lightning.
It was the Suns who won at home last Saturday 65-62 and they were able to secure the 2-0 series win on Friday with a 71-60 victory over the Lightning at Lakeside Recreation Centre.
Jennie Rintala led the way for the Suns with 22 points and 13 rebounds while Racehl Muenggenborg adding 15 points and Sarah-Jane Knox pulled in a game-high 16 boards.
The season is now over for the Lightning but Courtney Byrnes finished with 19 points, Emily Fielding 12, Krystal Stoneking 12 and Jess van Schie pulled in 11 rebounds to go with seven assists and three steals.
Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin
Comments
Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.