THE Willetton Tigers finalised the women's top eight positions with a win over the Mandurah Magic on Friday night with the regular season for 2014 wrapping up with playoffs to now begin.

The Willetton Tigers and South West Slammers were still alive for that eighth spot coming into the final weekend of the 2014 regular season, but when Willetton won on Friday over Mandurah the finals teams for the year were set.

The women's regular season ends with the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (20-2) the minor premiers ahead of the Lakeside Lightning (19-3), Joondalup Wolves (15-7), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (14-8), Soprano Lady Cougars (13-9), Stirling Senators (12-10), Mandurah Magic (12-10) and Willetton Tigers (10-12).

That means that the Flames take on the Tigers, the Lightning play the Magic, the Wolves face the Senators and the Eastern Suns battle the Cougars in the women's SBL quarter finals for 2014.

The Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers (7-15), Perry Lakes Hawks (6-16), Schweigen East Perth Eagles (2-20) and Perth Redbacks (2-20) missed out on the playoffs.

The three women's matches on Friday night saw the Lakeside Lightning thrash the Joondalup Wolves 85-56 at Lakeside Recreation Centre, the Willetton Tigers win a thriller 72-69 over the Mandurah Magic at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre and the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames hammer the Stirling Senators 113-75 at Warwick Leisure Centre.

The final night of the regular season saw three women's matches take place on Saturday with the Mandurah Magic beating the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 77-56 at Eaton Recreation Centre, the Soprano Lady Cougars defeating the Schweigen East Perth Eagles 74-44 at Wally Hagan Stadium and the Willetton Tigers downing the Perth Redbacks 76-69 at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

There were again a host of strong individual performances across the weekend highlighted by the efforts of Lakeside's Emily Fielding, Willetton's Melissa Marsh, Mandurah's Casey Mihovilovich, Rockingham's Samantha Whitcomb and Stirling's Taylor Wild.

On Friday night, Emily Fielding was the star for the Lightning with 30 points, four rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots on the back of shooting 11-of-19 from the field, and 4-of-8 from three-point territory.

Krystal Stoneking added 17 points and nine boards with Lakeside while Kari Pickens also finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Alex Kerr top-scored for the Wolves with 13 points and five rebounds while Megan Lee contributed 11 points.

Melissa Marsh led the way for Willetton finishing with 24 points on the back of shooting 7-of-14 from the floor and 8-of-12 from the free-throw line.

Ebony Antonio also added 17 points and eight boards for the Tigers with Lisa Wallbutton contributing 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Casey Mihovilovich did all she could for the Magic finishing with 26 points and four assists while hitting 4-of-8 from downtown.

Samantha Whitcomb had an outstanding night for the Flames with 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals with Kate Williams contributing 19 points on the back of shooting 5-of-9 from three-point territory.

Darcee Garbin added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Rockingham with Jacinta Bourne finishing with 13 points and eight boards, and Talisia Bourne 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Taylor Wild top-scored for the Senators with 22 points while hitting 8-of-14 from the floor and 5-of-8 from downtown.

Tegan Walker also contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists with Amber Land finishing with 10 points, 13 boards and four assists.

Then on Saturday night, Hailey Dunham top-scored for the Magic with 18 points, 13 rebounds and four assists with Casey Mihovilovich contributing 17 points, seven boards, six steals and three assists. Ashlee Sidebottom also contributed 15 points and four rebounds for Mandurah.

Amy Patton had a big night for the losing Slammers finishing with 23 points and 13 rebounds while hitting 5-of-8 from three-point territory.

Chelsea Evans top-scored for the Cougars with 16 points while Deanna Smith contributed 11 points and Emma Pass 10.

Jodee Sontay top-scored for the Eagles with 12 points, four rebounds, four steals, two assists and a blocked shot.

Antonia Edmondson top-scored for the Tigers with 18 points and four rebounds with Lisa Wallbutton contributing 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Emma Lobb also had 12 points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists with Melissa Marsh finishing with 11 points, seven boards and three assists.

Gabby O'Sullivan finished her season again top-scoring for the Redbacks with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Jess Jakens also had 16 points and eight rebounds for Perth, and Alix Hayward 14 points and nine boards.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 85 defeated Joondalup Wolves 56
Mandurah Magic 69 lost to Willetton Tigers 72
Stirling Senators 75 lost to Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 113

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 56 lost to Mandurah Magic 77
Soprano Lady Cougars 74 defeated Schweigen East Perth Eagles 44
Willetton Tigers 76 defeated Perth Redbacks 69

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin