MANDURAH Magic men's team celebrated Andrew Bowman's 150th State Basketball League game with its first win for the season last Friday night.

Winless and languishing at the bottom of the ladder going into their round seven clash against the Willetton Tigers, the Magic men held on for a two-point win at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

Close throughout the match, the Magic led by one point at the end of the first period and increased this lead to six by half time.

Going into the final period the home side was up by four and in a tight finish the Magic was able to hold on to post a 97-95 win.

Milestone man Bowman was the Magic's best in the team's first win, he top scored with 25 points, made eight assists, six steals and nine rebounds.

Ben Caporn scored 19 points and made seven assists and Paul Pantaleo added 16 points and pulled in eight rebounds.

Earlier that evening the Magic women were on the court and lost to the Tigers by 13 points.

From the outset the Magic were chasing the Tigers and were down by eight points at the first break.

By half time the Tigers had built on their lead to be up by 16 points.

Although the Magic kept fighting, led by Shelley Boston (31 points, and 23 rebounds), in the second half it wasn't enough and the Tigers won 95-87.

Katie Reed also tried hard for the Magic with 19 points and four assists and Gemma Thomas scored 10 and made four steals.

On Saturday night the Magic travelled to Joondalup Basketball Stadium to play the Wanneroo Wolves in the second and final game of their round seven double header.

The women were on court first and got off to a great start to lead the home side by 11 points.

Although outscored in second period the Magic maintained a five-point advantage and after an tight third term went into the final quarter six points up.

But the Wolves fought back and outscored the Magic 26-10 to win the match by 10 points.

Boston was again impressive, top scoring for the Magic with 33 points and 21 rebounds but received little support on the scoreboard.

In the 68-78 loss no other Magic player reached double scoring figures, the closest was Tarsha Fletcher with eight.

The Magic men had a horror start to their match against the Wolves.

After the first period the Magic trailed the home side by 21 points.

Although the Magic fought back in the second and third quarters to reduce the deficit to 12 going into the final term, the damage had been done and the Wolves won by 15 points.

In the 84-99 loss Tom Remmerswaal and Andrew Bowman top scored with 16 points each and Ben Caporn chipped in with 12.

After the tough double header weekend the Magic women remain in eighth place with three wins and five losses and the men continue to occupy bottom place with one win from nine games.

This weekend the Magic women have a bye while the men will play away against the fourth placed Goldfields Giants.

Article by Karen Cox Mandurah Mail