THE Willetton women and Cockburn men scored wins that they will hope kick start their 2014 SBL seasons on Saturday night while the returning Tom Jervis helped East Perth to a win over Willetton as well.

There were three women's SBL matches on Saturday night with the Willetton Tigers beating the Schweigen East Perth Eagles 84-72, the Lakeside Lightning downing the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 76-48 and the Mandurah Magic thrashing the Soprano Lady Cougars 80-48.

The Tigers had been in poor form coming off last year's minor premiership, but managed to record a 12-point win over the Eagles on Saturday night.

The win improves Willetton to a 3-6 record while East Perth slips to 2-8.

Ebony Antonio led the way for the Tigers with 26 points and five rebounds on the back of shooting 10-of-16 from the field.

Melissa Marsh also added 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists with Antonia Edmondson scoring 11 points and Lisa Wallbutton 10.

Nicole Jorre St Jorre top-scored for the Eagles with 16 points with Dannielle Devenny adding 12 and Emily Burton 11 to go with 14 rebounds.

The Lightning then maintained second position by improving to an 8-2 record with an impressive 28-point win over the 2012 champion Slammers, who now are struggling at 2-6.

Kari Pickens had a big night for the Lightning with 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists on the back of shooting 11-of-16 from the floor.

Emily Fielding added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Lakeside with Ashleigh Grant also contributing 12 points and six rebounds.

Amy Patton worked hard for the Slammers to finish with 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.

The Magic then maintained third spot with a thumping 32-point win over the Cougars. Mandurah now sits on an 8-2 record while Cockburn is struggling at 5-4.

Hailey Dunham had a huge night for the Magic with 30 points and 10 rebounds on the back of shooting 12-of-23 from the field.

Casey Mihovilovich also contributed 20 points and five assists with Jorjah Smith adding 10 points.

It was then a massive night of men's action in the SBL with the Joondalup Wolves beating the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 102-83 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium and the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers downed the Perry Lakes Hawks 107-95 at Active West Stadium.

The Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles also downed the Willetton Tigers 118-106 at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre, the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers beat the Lakeside Lightning 92-76 at Eaton Recreation Centre and the Raw Nutrition Cockburn Cougars beat the Mandurah Magic 100-96 at Wally Hagan Stadium.

The Wolves had little trouble disposing of the Giants winning by 19 points with Joondalup now sitting on a 7-4 record while the Goldfields are struggling at 2-9.

Rob Huntington led the way for the Wolves with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists with Seb Salinas continuing his stunning form with 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Sean Easther also worked hard for 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Jordan Perret finishing with 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Duran Blue top-scored for Goldfields with 27 points with Russell Hurst adding 16 points and Matthew Leske 13.

The Buccaneers continued their hot form with a 12-point win over the Hawks at home with Geraldton improving to a 9-3 record to be just behind Rockingham while Perry Lakes slips to 5-5 and clinging to eighth position.

Bennie Lewis led the way for the Buccaneers with 37 points with Odartey Blankson adding 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Carter Cook added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Matt Wundenberg 13 points and 11 boards.

Justin Cecil finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks with Ben Purser contributing 18 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Corey Easley also had 15 points and Rob Cassir 10 points and seven boards.

Tom Jervis and the Eagles then proved too good for the in-form Tigers on Saturday night with East Perth winning by 12 points at home to improve to a 5-8 record while Willetton slips to 4-6.

Jervis starred with 28 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 12-of-16 from the field.

Sunday Dech top-scored, though, with 29 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals while Kyle Armour contributed 17 points and nine assists, Drew Williamson 12 points, Nikola Donlagic 11 points and Joe-Alan Tupaea 10 to go with his 14 assists.

Quinn McDowell did all he could for the Tigers finishing with 34 points, 13 rebounds and four assists with John Dickson contributing 27 points. Nicholas Cody also added 16 points and Mitch Clarke 14.

The Slammers then managed to shut down the defending champion Lightning to win by 16 points to improve to a 6-5 record and see Lakeside slip to 7-5.

Clive Weeden led the way for the Slammers with 26 points and eight rebounds with Ty Harrelson contributing 22 points, six assists and four rebounds. Wade Hitchcock also added 16 points and seven rebounds.

Brad Tinsley top-scored for Lakeside with 22 points and 11 rebounds with Caleb Palkert adding 15 points and Jarrad Prue seven to go with 25 rebounds.

The Cougars then scored a tight four-point win over the Magic with Cockburn recording its fourth win of the season and Mandurah suffering just its fourth loss.

Gavin Field had a huge night for the Cougars in the win with 38 points, six rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals on the back of shooting 16-of-24 from the field and 6-of-9 from downtown.

Anthony Borden was also terrific for Cockburn with 29 points and 13 rebounds with Damien Scott relatively quiet with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals but he did hit three of his only four shots from the field.

Ben Smith did all he could for Magic with 32 points and 11 rebounds with Taylor Mullenax adding 31 points, 13 boards, three blocks, two steals and two assists.

Paul Hafford also contributed 20 points, eight assists and six boards.

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Schweigen East Perth Eagles 72 lost to Willetton Tigers 84
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 48 lost to Lakeside Lightning 76
Soprano Cockburn Cougars 48 lost to Mandurah Magic 80

SATURDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Joondalup Wolves 102 defeated Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 83
Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers 107 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 95
Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 118 defeated Willetton Tigers 106
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 92 defeated Lakeside Lightning 76
Raw Nutrition Cockburn Cougars 100 defeated Mandurah Magic 96

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin