The week sixteen “Kickz101 Perth” Women’s SBL Player of the Week has been awarded to Kari Pickens of the Lakeside Lightning.

The Lakeside Lightning recorded a double win over the weekend on the back of two outstanding performances by import Kari Pickens.

Friday night saw the Lightning taking on the Perry Lakes Hawks at Lakeside Recreation Centre in Courtney Byrnes 150^th SBL game. Kari Pickens excelled for the home side, leading all scorers with 19 points to go with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals as her team was victorious 95-52.

The Lighting travelled up to Joondalup on Saturday night as they faced one of the toughest challenges in the WSBL taking on last year’s champions the Joondalup Wolves on their home floor. Pickens again proved to be the difference top scoring for the second night in a row with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.

Astonishingly, Kari Pickens did not record a single turnover in either game over the weekend, highlighting her efficiency with the ball in hand.

Currently on a five game winning streak, the Lightning sit in second position on the WSBL ladder and will be looking to continue their winning ways in the lead up to their finals campaign.

Other considerations for the award included;

Elyce Ironmonger (Joondalup), Hailey Dunham (Mandurah), Marita Payne (Cockburn), Amy Patton (South West), Samantha Whitcomb (Rockingham), Emma Pass (Cockburn), Amber Land (Stirling), Gabby O’Sullivan (Perth), Samantha Richards (Cockburn), Darcee Garbin (Rockingham), Jennie Rintala (Kalamunda), Lauren Jeffers (South West), Taylor Wild (Stirling), Ebony Antonio (Willetton), Alison Schwagmeyer (Kalamunda), Jessie Edwards (Kalamunda), Hannah Throns (Stirling), Emma Berryman (Stirling) & Chelsea Burns (Joondalup).

The week sixteen “Kickz101 Perth” Men’s SBL Player of the Week has been awarded to Markus Monroe of the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers.

Californian import Markus Monroe arrived in Australia early in June upon invitation from player/coach Ty Harrelson.

Since starring for the Slammers in his first game on June 6, Monroe has become a star of the league averaging 25.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists from his seven games so far this season.

Monroe was incredible in the Slammers weekend double header including a starring role in Friday night’s one point victory over the Cockburn Cougars to top score with 34 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and a block.

Leading from the front, Monroe backed up his performance with another dominating individual display on Saturday night against the Willetton Tigers at Eaton Recreation Centre.

Monroe scored 33 points to go with 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and a block as his team was victorious by 21 points, 119 to 98.

Markus Monroe is currently the talk of the league with his incredible athleticism on display by throwing down spectacular dunks in almost every game he has played this season.

The Slammers currently sit in seventh position on the MSBL ladder and face a season defining game this weekend against the Joondalup Wolves who sit one spot behind in eighth place.

Other considerations for this week’s award included;

Seb Salinas (Joondalup), Jarrad Prue (Lakeside), Gavin Field (Cockburn), Ben Purser (Perry lakes), Justin Cecil (Perry Lakes), Tom Jervis (East Perth), Caleb Palkert (Lakeside), Quinn McDowell (Willetton), Clive Weeden (South West), Cory Cooperwood (Stirling),  Ephrem Davis (Joondalup), Adrian Majstrovich (Goldfields) , Matt Wundenberg (Geraldton), Jerrah Young (Geraldton), Aaron Ralph (Geraldton), Stanley Okoye (Perth), Benjamin Smith (Kalamunda), Duran Blue (Goldfields), Kyle Armour (East Perth) & Paul Hafford (Mandurah).

Photo by Mick Cronin: Lakeside Lighting star Kari Pickens

Photo by Steve Brooks (Brooks Media Images): Human highlight real Markus Monroe of the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers