With only four teams left in the running to be crowned SBL champions for 2009, the intensity and quality of basketball has lifted accordingly.

In the first game for week one of the semis the Perry Lakes Hawks hosted the Goldfields Giants. The Perry Lakes faithful were treated to some champagne basketball, seeing their team run out three point victors, 94- 91 on Saturday night. The Hawks brought their A game for the clash with the league heavy weights, who finished the regular season in second position.  The Hawks had a solid opening half, and held their nerve to carry their slender lead to the end. Thomas Garlepp showed his metal, proving his worth has one of the SBL’s best with a game high 28 points and 9 assists; it was also pleasing to see his discipline after fouling out the previous week, the big forwarded committed only two personal fouls for the night. Martin Vahala really came of age, stepping up in a big game with a valuable 26 points, equalling his season high set back in April, to pair with Garlepp to be the lead the scorers for Perry Lakes. Daniel Hawkins was influential at both ends of the court with 17 point and 14 boards; Ben Purser was also active with 15 point and 7 rebounds. The Hawks capitalised on their chances, they shot the ball at a better clip from down town and from the stripe, where as the Giants were somewhat wasteful from long range, connecting on only 7 of 25 attempts, the tale was similar from the bonus with the Hawks hitting 75% of their free throws, with Goldfields turning in a subpar effort of 48%. The result may have swung in favour of the Giants had their inspirational captain, Shamus Ballantyne, played more of a role. He was forced out of the contest in the opening minutes due to a re- occurring wrist injury, failing to make an impact on the contest. Michael Haney tried to lift the visitors with a solid double- double night, leading his team with 26 points and 11 boards, but ran into foul trouble late in the piece. Alonzo Hird’s run of double- doubles continued, he finished with 24 points, 16 boards and 4 blocks, before he fouled out in the 44th minute. Ryan Hulme was among the best of the Giants, netting 18 points and dishing out 4 assists.

Surprisingly the Hawks were trounced in the paint, giving up 52 points to 34 in the keyway, and were beaten in second chance opportunities, with the Giants taking their chances with a further 20 points off the break. But the Hawks were too good with their shooting touch and managed to shut out the highly fancied Giants in game one.

The Giants will host the Hawks for the remaining games of the series, with game two tipping off at 7.30 on Saturday August 15th and game three, if required, the following day at 12 noon, again at the Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium.

In the second game for the weekend the Lakeside Lightning showed the remaining three teams in the finals race why they finished the regular season in top spot. The Lightning delivered a crushing 97- 81 victory of the Geraldton Buccaneers, at Tip Top Stadium on Saturday night. Lakesides penchant for starting and finishing strongly continued, with the visitors skipping away to an 8 point quarter time lead, and ensuring that the win was assured with an impressive 33 point final quarter effort down the stretch. Ryan Sofoulis had a terrific night for the Lightning, falling 2 assists shy of a triple- double; he finished the match with team high figures of 27 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists. Steven Butler was also among the points with 25 and Jarrad Prue had a night out with a 20- 20 game of 20 points and 23 boards, showing his presence of the glass, an area were Lakeside set up their win from. Daniel Thomas played a loan hand for the Bucs at the offensive end, to lead all scorers with a game high 29 points. He also pulled down 12 boards and dished out 5 assists to finish with a double- double in a losing outfit. No other Geraldton player was able to surpass the 20 point barrier, with Tom Witts being the next most productive with 16. Luke Meyer  hit 12 in a quite night before fouling out. Lakeside ticked all the major boxes with their 16 point win in the first game. They shot the ball at a superior percentage form all areas, out rebounded the Bucs, committed less fouls and held an edge in the paint. The Lightning now hold a commanding position over Geraldton heading into the second game, after claiming the away victory they don’t have to move from the Lakeside Rec Centre for a week.

Game two of the three game series will be held at the Lakeside recreation centre, tipping off at 7.30 on Saturday the 15th of August, with game three being held the following day at the same venue, if required, at 2pm.

WSBL

In a major upset the Perry Lakes Hawks went down to the Mandurah Magic, 80- 73, at the Mandurah Recreation Centre on Friday night. Before Friday night the Hawks hadn’t lost since round eleven of the regular season. Being the beast that is finals basketball, it has a knack of undoing even the best teams.

Game two will be held on Friday night, August 15th at Perry Lakes Stadium, with tip off at 7.30. Game three is scheduled for the the following night at 6pm, should the Hawks secure victory in game two.

The Willetton Tigers got the jump in the second semi, claiming a resounding 22 points victory over the Eastern Suns, 77- 55. The Tigers away win puts them in good stead for a shot at the Grand final, with their next two games scheduled for the Willetton Basketball Stadium. The Tigers dominated from the get go, with a 40 point opening half, the final margin would have been even greater had they not fallen away in the final quarter, being he only quarter they lost for the night. Kate Malpass led all scorers with 23 points; she also pulled down 7 rebounds and dished out 5 assists. Jasmine Hooper was also a standout for the Tigers with 18 points and 5 boards, while Ashley Gilmore registered a double- double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, she also racked up 4 steals and 5 assists. Samantha Norwood was the only Sun to cause Willetton any problems, she was the only player to surpass 20 points, she finished with team high stats of 20 points, 14 boards and 3 steals.

The Tigers host the Suns for games two and three, if needed. Game two is on Saturday night, August 15th at the Willetton Basketball Stadium, game tips off at 7.30. With game three scheduled for the following day at 12 noon.

Article by Cameron Wong