THE Geraldton Buccaneers won a thriller over the Cockburn Cougars, Tom Jervis lifted the East Perth Eagles to a win over the defending champs and Michael Vigor led the Perth Redbacks to two impressive wins during Week 9 Men's SBL action.

Week 9 began on Friday night with the Perry Lakes Hawks defeating the Lakeside Lightning 104-95, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves beating the Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames 125-106 and the Textile WA Perth Redbacks downing the Bethanie Stirling Senators 115-86.

Then on Saturday night, the Bethanie Stirling Senators beat the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 99-75 and the S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers defeated the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 93-90.

The Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers also downed the Print Sync South West Slammers 102-81, the Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles beat the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 100-96 and the Textile WA Perth Redbacks defeated the Mandurah Magic 124-103.

Lastly on Sunday, the Perry Lakes Hawks defeated the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 116-90 at Ray Owen Sports Centre and the Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames downed the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 108-100 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

Following Week 9 of the 2016 season, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves (8-2) sit atop the standings despite their loss to the Eagles.

The Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (9-3) also remain second despite a loss with the S&K Electrical Geraldton Buccaneers (9-3) third after their win over the Cougars.

The Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (8-4) sit in fourth place with the Bethanie Stirling Senators (9-5), Perry Lakes Hawks (7-6), Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames (7-6) and Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants (6-7) rounding out the top eight.

The Textile WA Perth Redbacks (5-6) have improved to ninth position ahead of the Lakeside Lightning (4-7), Print Sync South West Slammers (4-7), Mandurah Magic (4-8), Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles (3-8) and Kalamunda Eastern Suns (0-11).

The Team of the Week features Tre Nichols (South West Slammers), Michael Vigor (Perth Redbacks), Daniel Alexander (Lakeside Lightning), Tom Jervis (East Perth Eagles) and Brian Carlwell (Perry Lakes Hawks).

Nichols did all he could to try and lift the Slammers over the Tigers on Saturday earning Team of the Week honours for a fourth time this season. Nichols had 41 points, six assists, four rebounds and three blocked shots.

Vigor showed just how valuable he is on return to the Redbacks following his season in England finishing. On Friday against the Senators, he delivered 28 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots shooting 12-of-21 from the floor.

Vigor then added 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in Saturday's win over the Magic.

Alexander had another strong performance for the Lightning despite the loss to the Hawks to be named to the Team of the Week for a fourth time this season. He had 32 points and 17 rebounds shooting 12-of-23 from the field, 3-of-6 from downtown and 5-of-7 at the foul line.

Jervis played his first game of the season for the Eagles and delivered 30 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and two assists while shooting 12-of-16 from the field and 5-of-6 from the foul line.

Carlwell delivered his best performance of the season in Perry Lakes' win over Lakeside on Friday with 27 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots shooting 12-of-13 from the field.

Perry Lakes also defeated Kalamunda on Sunday with Carlwell adding 23 points, 20 rebounds, six blocks and two assists shooting 8-of-14 from the field and 6-of-8 at the line.

And there were plenty more players delivering standout performances staring on Friday with the Redbacks beating the Senators.

On top of the efforts of Vigor, Lewis Thomas finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds, Reed McConnell 14 points, Jourdan DeMuynck 13 points and eight boards, and Joel Wagner 13 points and 10 assists.

The Redbacks backed up winning on Saturday over the Magic with DeMuynck delivering 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, Ben Smith 20 points, Thomas 17 points and seven rebounds, and Wagner 10 points, six boards and three assists.

In Friday's loss to Perth, Kyle Lindbergh top-scored for the Senators with 19 points and 13 rebounds. AJ Majstrovich added 16 points and five rebounds, Cody Ellis 13 points, three rebounds and three steals, Corban Wroe 12 points and four assists, and Jayden Coburn 10 points.

The Senators bounced back beating the Giants on Saturday by 23 points with Ellis top-scoring with 26 points and 13 boards. Lindbergh added 19 points and 10 boards, Majstrovich 22 points and nine rebounds, and Austin Bruton 10 points and four assists.

The Hawks beat the Lightning on Friday with Ben Dixon contributing 23 points, Ben Purser 18 along with 12 rebounds and eight assists, Jordan Hickert 13 points and five boards, and Rob Cassir 12 points and six assists.

Perry Lakes beat the Giants on Sunday as well with Ryan O'Sullivan top-scoring with 24 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals hitting six threes. Purser added 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, Cassir 16 points, six assists and five rebounds, and Trent Criddle 10 points.

As well as Alexander performing well for the Lightning on Friday, TJ Hallice contributed 30 points and Corey Martin 12 to go with 10 rebounds and three assists.

The Wolves began their weekend beating the Flames by 19 points on the road on Friday with Greg Hire leading the way with 26 points, four rebounds and four assists shooting 10-of-13 from the field.

Kevin Davis contributed 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals for Joondalup shooting 12-of-16 from the field while Seb Salinas added 17 points and five assists, Rob Huntington 17 points, six boards and three assists, and Ben Ironmonger 10 points.

The Wolves took on the Eagles on Saturday minus Bobby Evans, Hire, Trian Iliadis and Damian Matacz, and lost by four points.

Salinas had 21 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists, Sean Easther 16 points and six boards, Davis 15 points and seven rebounds, Reece Maxwell 13 points, four assists, three steals and three rebounds, and Huntington 13 points, five assists, four boards and four blocks.

The Flames went down to the Wolves at home on Friday despite 31 points from Matthew Honey. Jarryd Griffin added 16 points and eight rebounds, Cooper Land 14 points, seven boards and seven assists, and Taylor Land 14 points, four assists and three rebounds.

Rockingham bounced back to defeat Goldfields on Sunday with Cooper Land delivering 26 points and eight rebounds and Ryan Godfrey 20 points and six boards.

Chudier Pal contributed 16 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, Taylor Land 16 points, 11 boards and nine assists, Honey 13 points and seven rebounds, and Nebojsha Franich 11 points and 10 boards.

The Tigers beat the Slammers at home by 21 points on Saturday on the back of 22 points and 10 rebounds from Nic Cody.

Kyle Armour added 21 points for Willetton, Charles Funches 18 points and 11 rebounds, Damien Scott 17 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals, and Jay Bowie 15 points.

As well as the performance of Nichols for the Slammers, Royal Crouch contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Corey Easley eight points and eight boards.

As well as Jervis' performance for the Eagles, Thomas Korf finished with 22 points and five rebounds, Rhys Vague 18 points and 11 boards, and Nikola Donlagic 11 points and four rebounds.

The Magic lost at home to the Redbacks on Saturday with Ben Smith top-scoring with 30 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Taylor Mullenax added 20 points and seven boards and Trevor Setty 12 points and five rebounds.

The Giants lost their first game on their road double to the Senators with Kenny Manigault finishing with 15 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Daniel Goodluck added 13 points and six boards, Edin Zunic 12 points and six rebounds, and Jacob Holmen 11 points, seven boards, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Goldfields then lost to Rockingham on Sunday with Holmen doing all he could with 35 points, 13 rebounds and three assists shooting 16-of-28 from the floor. Manigault added 16 points, eight assists and seven boards, Goodluck 13 points and four assists, and Russell Hurst 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Buccs held off the Cougars in a thriller on Saturday night at home with Carter Cook delivering 31 points and eight rebounds shooting 13-of-18 from the floor, 2-of-2 from deep and 3-of-5 at the stripe.

Maurice Barrow added 19 points and five assists for Goldfields, Matthew Adekponya 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and Aaron Ralph 14 points and five boards.

Najee Lane top-scored for the Cougars with 22 points, eight rebounds and four steals with Rhett Della adding 14 points and 14 boards, Marcus Goode 13 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks, Gavin Field 12 points and Sheldon McIntyre 11 along with five boards and four steals.

The Suns lost to the Hawks on Sunday with Geordie Murray top-scoring with 24 points, Kerrod Horn 11 (nine rebounds, seven steals), Madison Stoveld 10 (seven rebounds), Tim Squire 10 (six boards, three assists) and Brandon McGill nine (seven assists).

WEEK 9 MEN'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Tre Nichols (Print Sync South West Slammers)
Michael Vigor (Textile WA Perth Redbacks)
Daniel Alexander (Lakeside Lightning)
Tom Jervis (Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles)
Brian Carlwell (Perry Lakes Hawks)

FRIDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 104 defeated Lakeside Lightning 95
Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames 106 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 125
Textile WA Perth Redbacks 115 defeated Bethanie Stirling Senators 86

SATURDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Bethanie Stirling Senators 99 defeated Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 75
S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers 93 defeated Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 90
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 102 defeated Print Sync South West Slammers 81
Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 100 defeated Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 96
Mandurah Magic 103 lost to Textile WA Perth Redbacks 124

SUNDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames 108 defeated Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 100
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 90 lost to Perry Lakes Hawks 116

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Sebpix Photography