8th placed Southside Mitsubishi Redbacks’ State Basketball League men’s team came back from a 5 point deficit at three-quarter time to beat minor premiers Lakeside Lightning 96 to 89 points in the first game of the quarter final series, held at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre.  In an indication as to how tight this game was, the lead changed 21 times and at no stage was either team ahead by more than 8 points. 

Shooting guard Ryan Neill top scored for the Redbacks with 23 points along with 4 rebounds while fellow shooting guard Jarrad Prior scored 20 points and brought down 4 rebounds.  Point guard Joel Wagner made 10 assists and scored 17 points and forward Chris Lynch scored 16 points along with 13 rebounds.  The top-scorer for Lightning was shooting guard Luke Payne with 38 points while centre Jarrad Prue brought down 21 rebounds and scored 9 points.

The second game in the best of three series is to be played at the Lakeside Recreation Centre this Friday night starting 7.30PM, with the third final if required also being played there on the Saturday night at 7.30PM.

The Redbacks’ women’s team lost their first quarter final to the Mandurah Magic at Mandurah 59 to 86 points.  Shooting guard Jacinta Bourne top-scored for the Redbacks with 14 points along with 4 steals while forward Frances Clarke scored 12 points along with 4 steals and 7 rebounds.  Top-scorer for the Magic was centre Shelley Boston with 26 points along with 13 rebounds.

The unfortunate news for the Redbacks is that centre Brooke Hiddlestone, who formerly played in the Women’s National Basketball League, sustained a knee injury and was unable to play in the second-half.  The extent of the injury is unknown at this time.  The second game between the Redbacks and Magic is to be played at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre this Friday at 7.30PM with the next game, if required, being played there on the Saturday night at the same time.

Article by Redbacks Media
Photo by Marg Prior