WEEK 12 of the Men's SBL concluded with an exciting and successful All-Star Game on WA Day but before that the Perth Redbacks and East Perth Eagles continued their good form, the Geraldton Buccaneers bounced back and the Perry Lakes Hawks showed they are still a threat.

The Week 12 action began on Friday night with two matches that saw the Texture WA Perth Redbacks defeat the Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames 108-91 and the Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles down the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 112-96.

Then on Saturday night, the S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers defeated the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 112-93 at Active West Stadium.

The other three matches saw the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars beat the Lakeside Lightning 124-109, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves down the Mandurah Magic 96-72 and the Perry Lakes Hawks defeat the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 114-88.

The lone Sunday fixture saw the Bethanie Stirling Senators defeat the Print Sync South West Slammers 93-87 at Eaton Recreation Centre.

Finally on WA Day in the All-Star Game at Bendat Basketball Centre, the South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars 116-104.

Following Week 12 of the 2016 Men's SBL season, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves remain on top of the standings with a 12-2 record and four-game winning streak.

The Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (12-3) are now also sitting clear in second position ahead of the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (10-5) and Bethanie Stirling Senators (11-6).

The S&K Electrical Geraldton Buccaneers steadied to fifth spot at 11-6 following the Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames (10-7), Texture WA Perth Redbacks (8-7) and Perry Lakes Hawks (8-8).

The Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles (6-9) are now sitting on the verge of a playoff position ahead of the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants (6-10), Lakeside Lightning (4-10), Print Sync South West Slammers (4-10), Mandurah Magic (4-12) and Kalamunda Eastern Suns (2-13).

The Men's SBL Player of the Week award went to Gavin Field of the Cockburn Cougars. In Saturday night's win over the Lightning, Field was tremendous with a massive 43 points on 15-of-20 shooting from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range and 11-of-14 at the free-throw line. He also had four rebounds and three assists.

There were plenty of standout performers across the weekend starting on Friday night with the Redbacks beating the Flames where Joel Wagner finished with 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals for Perth.

Michael Vigor also had 20 points, nine boards, five blocked shots and four assists for the Redbacks with Reed McConnell contributing 18 points, Jourdan DeMuynck 17 (16 rebounds, six assists), Lewis Thomas 17 (nine boards) and Ben Smith 13.

Cooper Land top-scored for the Flames with 29 points to go with 10 rebounds while Ryan Godfrey added 16 points and Chudier Pal 10 to go with 12 rebounds, two blocks and two assists.

The Eagles then beat the Suns to continue their surge towards a playoff position. Rhys Vague had a monster game for the Eagles with 35 points, 15 rebounds and three assists shooting 14-of-28 from the field.

Drew Williamson added 15 points, four boards and four assists for East Perth, Sunday Dech 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals, Thomas Korf 13 points and Tom Jervis 11 along with seven rebounds.

Corey Belger top-scored for the Eastern Suns showing how handy of a mid-season import signing he could be, finishing with 23 points, 11 rebounds, seven steals and six assists.

Brandon McGill contributed 16 points for the Suns and Tim Squire 15 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists.

Then on Saturday night, the Buccs bounced back with a home win over the Giants despite the absence of Matthew Adekponya and the now departed Beau Samuelson.

Maurice Barrow had a huge night for the Buccaneers ending up with 36 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, three blocked shots and two steals shooting 12-of-19 from the field, and 11-of-14 from the foul line.

Mat Wundenberg added 22 points, 12 rebounds and three assists for Geraldton, Carter Cook 20 and Aaron Ralph nine to go with five boards.

The Giants slipped to a sixth straight loss despite 36 points, eight rebounds and two assists from Jacob Holmen. Kenny Manigault contributed 18 points and seven boards for Goldfields, Edin Zunic 12 points and Daniel Goodluck 11.

The Hawks also scored a strong win over the Tigers on Saturday night to show they are still a team to contend with in 2016. Brian Carlwell is a major reason for that with his form improving the longer the season lasts. He finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and four assists shooting 13-of-17.

Ben Purser contributed 21 points, nine assists and five rebounds for Perry Lakes, Ryan Smith 16 points, six assists and six boards, Josh Garlepp 14 points, Matthew Sellers 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Ryan O'Sullivan 10 points.

Jay Bowie top-scored for the Tigers with 22 points and seven rebounds with Damien Scott adding 16 points, Charles Funches 13, Nic Cody 12, Kyle Armour 12 (eight rebounds, four assists) and Josh Johnson nine (seven rebounds, four assists).

The Wolfpack maintained their hold on top of the standings beating the undermanned and struggling Magic by 23 points with Kevin Davis leading the way with 28 points, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists.

Joel Wellsteed added 15 points and six boards for the Wolves, Rob Huntington 11 (six rebounds) and Rhys Smyth 11 points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds in his 150th appearance. Damian Matacz contributed seven points and five rebounds in his 300th SBL match.

Trevor Setty did all he could for the Magic with 23 points and 13 rebounds with Chad Simpson adding 13 points and five boards, Ben Smith 12 points and 16 rebounds, Daniel Florance 10 points and seven boards, and Jarrad Jackson 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.

On top of the performance of Field in Saturday's win over the Lightning for the Cougars, Najee Lane finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists with Marcus Goode adding 22 points and 10 boards, and Daniel Thomas 19 points and seven assists.

Daniel Alexander delivered 37 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and two steals for the Lightning with TJ Hallice contributing 23 points, 18 rebounds and three assists.

On Sunday, the Senators held on to beat the Slammers with Kyle Lindbergh finishing with 25 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

Cody Ellis added 24 points and 11 rebounds for Stirling, Jayden Coburn 16 points and five boards, and Corban Wroe 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Royal Crouch top-scored for the Slammers with 21 points and 11 rebounds while Tre Nichols added 20 points, six boards, four assists and four steals, and Clive Weeden 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

And then on Monday in the All-Star Game, the South All-Stars prevailed in an exciting spectacle showcasing some of the best talent in the SBL.

Najee Lane was named the MVP of the All-Star Game following 14 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists shooting 7-of-10 from the floor. His South All-Stars teammate Daniel Alexander only lost out in MVP voting on a countback following his 18 points and five rebounds.

Jacob Holmen finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots on the back of shooting 10-of-18 from the field.

Tre Nichols also had 19 points, six assists and four boards for the South team, Kenny Manigault 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Trevor Setty 15 points and 12 boards.

Meanwhile for the North All-Stars, Rhys Vague finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists, Jourdan DeMuynck 17 points, seven boards, three assists and two steals, and Kevin Davis 15 points and four rebounds.

Maurice Barrow also had 14 points for the North team and Ben Purser 12 points and eight rebounds.

Matthew Honey of the Rockingham Flames won the three-point shootout making 11 of a possible 15 in the final round to win just ahead of Thomas Korf of the East Perth Eagles.

WEEK 12 MEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gavin Field (Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars)

FRIDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames 91 lost to Texture WA Perth Redbacks 108
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 96 lost to Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 112

SATURDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers 112 defeated Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 93
Lakeside Lightning 109 lost to Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 124
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 96 defeated Mandurah Magic 73
Perry Lakes Hawks 114 defeated Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 88

SUNDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Print Sync South West Slammers 87 lost to Bethanie Stirling Senators 93

MEN'S SBL ALL-STAR MATCH
South All-Stars 116 defeated North All-Stars 104

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin