Giants stumble as Wolves attack - SBL roundup
The Goldfields Giants face an uphill battle to make the men's State Basketball League finals after losing 113-83 to Wanneroo Wolves in round 16.
Goldfields' seventh loss from their past nine matches left them one win outside the top eight and needing to win three of their last four games to ensure an eighth straight finals appearance.
And Wanneroo virtually ensured a spot in the top two, which guarantees home-court advantage up to the grand final, after Greg Hire's triple-double (24 points, 22 rebounds and 12 assists) led the Wolves past the Giants.
Perth Redbacks took advantage of the Giants' defeat with their 125-86 thrashing of Mandurah Magic in Albany.
The Redbacks' third win from four games, thanks to Adrian Majstrovich's 27 points, consolidated their spot in the top eight and left Mandurah in 12th spot.
Willetton Tigers returned to the winners' list with a 90-81 victory against the struggling Cockburn Cougars, who fell to fourth place with their third consecutive loss.
The Tigers had suffered two 60-point losses in as many weeks but bounced back through Robert Kampman (33 points).
The Lightning had to overturn a second-half deficit to beat the 13th-placed Rockingham Flames 100-86.
Import Luke Payne hit 11 of his 13 three-point attempts to finish with an incredible 50 points for Lakeside, which has won its past 12 games.
In the women's SBL, Kalamunda Eastern Suns are all but guaranteed a place in the finals after two vital round 16 victories.
The Suns enter the last three rounds in sixth spot after upsetting the second-placed Perry Lakes Hawks 84-76 and beating Lakeside Lightning 70-66.
Before losing to Kalamunda, the Hawks had won 14 of their past 15 games, but their hopes of finishing second were dealt a massive blow as Leah Rush led the Suns to victory with 26 points and 15 rebounds. Gabby Clayton had 15 points for Perry Lakes.
Perth Redbacks' much-needed 59-49 win against Mandurah Magic in Albany got last year's semi-finalists back into top eight contention.
Four consecutive losses saw the Redbacks drop out of a finals spot but they're just one win outside the eight after Marita Payne had 16 points in her return from injury to lead them to victory.
And defeat continued a downward spiral for the Magic, who have fallen to fourth spot with three straight losses.
Cockburn Cougars slid to seventh spot after their 95-77 defeat to Willetton Tigers.
The Cougars have lost four of their past five after West Coast Waves star Kate Malpass carried the defending champions to their 16th win with 30 points, seven rebounds, four steals and four assists.
Results
Men
Friday 1 July
Perry Lakes Hawks 104 (A. Lee 28; B. Purser 18; J. Dixon 17) defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns 83 (J. Questel 14; N. Franich 11; J. Brown 10)
Lakeside Lightning 100 (L. Payne 50; S. Butler 13; R. Sofoulis 11) defeated Rockingham Flames 86 (J. Allen 23; K. Tribbet 18; T. Gerovich 17)
Saturday 2 July
Geraldton Buccaneers 92 (T. Brown 20; B. Pepper; M. Lay 19) defeated East Perth Eagles 88 (T. Jervis 28; D. Thomas; C. Easley 20)
Goldfields Giants 83 (R. Hulme 22; L. Franich 15; D. Dialls 11) lost to Wanneroo Wolves 113 (D. Matacz 25; G. Hire 24; M. Schmechtig 17)
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 89 (D. Hadley 25; B. Smith 19; J. Brown 17) lost to Lakeside Lightning 101 (L. Payne 31; R. Sofoulis 16; B. Morgan 14)
Perth Redbacks 125 (A. Majstrovich 27; J. Wagner 20; A. Stephenson 16) defeated Mandurah Magic 86 (T. Remmerswaal 23; A. Bowman 13; A. Trahair 10)
South West Slammers 80 (N. Freer 34; M. Smith 14; T. Worthington 11) lost to Stirling Senators 86 (L. Roberts 24; M. Jones 18; A. Bruton 17)
Cockburn Cougars 81 (T. Harrelson 30; S. Van Lit; S. Ocitti 12) lost to Willetton Tigers 90 (R. Kampman 33; A. Prince 13; R. Cassir 12)
Women
Friday 1 July
Perry Lakes Hawks 76 (G. Clayton 15; T. Kelly; B. O'Halloran 12) lost to Kalamunda Eastern Suns 84 (L. Rush 26; M. Moyle 18; A. Jones 13)
Lakeside Lightning 91 (C. Byrnes; L. Higgins 15; C. Bayliss 13) defeated Rockingham Flames 45 (T. Bourne; E. O'Dea 8; S. Meola 7)
Saturday 2 July
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 70 (M. Moyle 19; C. Armstrong 12; L. Rush 11) defeated Lakeside Lightning 66 (H. McNeil 27; C. Byrnes 20; C. Bayliss 8)
Perth Redbacks 59 (M. Payne 16; N. Henry 15; B. Hiddlestone 9) defeated Mandurah Magic 49 (H. Dunham 22; C. Mihovilovich 10; F. Fletcher 7)
South West Slammers 59 (S. McRobert 19; B. Donovan 15; Z. McGowan 6) lost to Stirling Senators 72 (M. Joy 24; E. Berryman 20; K. Ellis 14)
Cockburn Cougars 77 (E. Pass 24; C. Evans; C. Hargreaves 12) lost to Willetton Tigers 95 (K. Malpass 30; M. Marsh 28; Z. Harper 16)
