South All-Stars men and women prevail in hugely successful SBL All-Star WA Day

THE 2015 SBL All-Star Games on WA Day proved a tremendous success with the South All-Stars prevailing in both the men's and women's matches, but most importantly it was a day of great entertainment with a lot of money raised for Youth Focus.

The women's All-Star Game saw the South All-Stars beat the North All-Stars 87-76 at the Bendat Basketball Centre while in the men's contest, the South All-Stars also prevailed 143-135 over the North All-Stars.

However, most importantly $65,000 was raised for Youth Focus which will now go towards saving young people's lives across Western Australia.

In the women's All-Star Game to begin the day at Bendat Basketball Centre, it was the South All-Stars who prevailed by 11 points in the finish but they had to overcome a slow start.

The North made a fast start and piled on 30 points in the first period to end up leading by nine points at quarter-time, but Team South worked its way on top and by half-time trailed by just the two points.

It was a dour third quarter but the South All-Star did claim the lead and then pulled away in the fourth quarter with 28 points to 19 to end up winning by 11 points.

Despite being on the losing team, Gabby Clayton of the Perth Redbacks was named the All-Star Game MVP after scoring 22 points to go with seven rebounds for the North All-Stars.

Meanwhile, for the South All-Stars, Townsville Fire and Rockingham Flames centre Darcee Garbin was the star finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 8-of-14 from the field, and 2-of-3 from three-point territory.

Her Flames teammate Samantha Whitcomb was the other player on the South team to score in double-figures finishing the game with 15 points and four rebounds.

Ashlee Sidebottom contributed nine points off the bench for the South All-Stars with Kate Malpass scoring eight points, Deonica McCormick eight (four rebounds, four assists), Louella Tomlinson seven (11 rebounds), Casey Mihovilovich seven (six boards, four assists) and Ebony Antonio gathered 10 rebounds.

Along with Clayton's 22 points and seven rebounds for the North All-Stars, Kelsey Maffin finished with 11 points off the bench along with Shani Amos scoring eight points (nine rebounds, three assists), Melissa Moyle eight points (five boards), Kassi Conditt eight points and Amber Land six (10 rebounds).

Meanwhile the men's All-Star Game proved to be an outstanding showcase of the high calibre of talent playing in the SBL in 2015 and it was quite the spectacle finishing with the South All-Stars winning a high-scoring thriller 143-135 at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Little separated the two teams all afternoon and the crowd was certainly not disappointed in the action they got to witness, but in the end the South All-Stars extended their lead just a little every quarter to end up winning by eight points.

Tre Nichols of the South West Slammers was named MVP of the All-Star Game after he finished with 26 points and four assists in the victory for the South All-Stars. He shot 12-of-19 from the field and had a host of players that will end up making quite a highlights reel.

Jordan Swing is having a tremendous first season in the SBL with the Lakeside Lightning and he showed all his skill and tricks in the All-Star Game as well for the South team finishing with 23 points and six rebounds while shooting 11-of-21 from the floor.

Mandurah Magic captain Taylor Mullenax was another to enjoy the All-Star Game with 21 points while Gavin Field finished with 16 points, Jarrad Prue 13 (eight rebounds), Najee Lane 13 (eight boards, four assists), Nic Cody 10, Cooper Land eight, Kyle Armour seven and Jacob Holmen six (four boards, three assists).

The North All-Stars team might have had no player reaching 20 points but seven of them did score in double-figures led by 19 points to Bennie Lewis of the Geraldton Buccaneers.

Sunday Dech added 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists as well of the bench while shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point territory.

Joondalup City Wolves captain Seb Salinas also scored 17 points for the North All-Stars with Kyle Lindbergh adding 16 points and five rebounds, Trian Iliadis 14 points and four assists, Lien Phillip 13 points and 11 boards, Kevin Davis 10 points and six rebounds, Austin Bruton nine points, five assists and four boards, and Rob Huntington seven points.

WOMEN'S SBL ALL-STAR GAME
South All-Stars 87 defeated North All-Stars 76

MEN'S SBL ALL-STAR GAME
South All-Stars 143 defeated North All-Stars 135

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Grant Lauterbach




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