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Baskets galore for top shooters

Joondalup Wolves coach Craig Friday addresses his players. Picture: Serene Elise Photography

There were three separate 40-plus point performances and eight more 30-plus showings in men's SBL action over the weekend that now sees the defending champions Lakeside Lightning as the only unbeaten team.

Week 3 of the men's SBL season began on Friday night with the Lakeside Lightning beating the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 123-94 at Lakeside Recreation Centre, and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns downing the Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 108-102 at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

Then on Saturday night, the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers handed the Eagles their second loss in 24 hours with a 123-103 victory at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Also on Saturday, the Mandurah Magic defeated the Perth Redbacks 103-92 at Belmont Oasis and the Stirling Senators beat the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 118-105 at Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium.

There were also three men's clashes on Sunday afternoon with the Buccaneers making it a double-win weekend downing the Perry Lakes Hawks 113-97 at WA Basketball Centre.

The Rockingham Flames also defeated the Wanneroo Wolves 106-105 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium and the Mandurah Magic beat the Cockburn Cougars 107-101 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

Meanwhile, the fixtured women's and men's matches between the Willetton Tigers and Perry Lakes Hawks on Saturday were postponed due to a power outage around Willetton Basketball Stadium.

Following the weekend, there remains only one unbeaten team in the men's competition and that is the defending champion Lakeside Lightning who have won their opening three matches.

Then making up the current top-eight are Rockingham (4-1), Mandurah (3-1), Wanneroo (2-1), South West (2-1), Stirling (2-1), Geraldton (3-2) and Perth (2-2).

Just outside are East Perth (2-3), Cockburn (1-2), Willetton (1-2) and Kalamunda (1-3) while Perry Lakes are winless from three matches, and Goldfields without a win from four games.

Ben Smith was the star of the night on Friday for the Eastern Suns finishing with 36 points on the back of hitting 8-of-13 from three-point range.

Adhar Mayen also added 17 points and 10 boards for the Suns while Louis Timms contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

Kyle Armour did all he could for the Eagles finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while hitting 4-of-7 from three-point territory.

Brad Tinsley led the way for the Lightning finishing with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists with Steven Butler adding 21 points, Caleb Palkert 20, Brad Jackson 18, Darrel Morgan 12 and Jarrad Prue 10 to go with another incredible 24 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

Jonathan Todd Hendley did all he could for the Slammers finishing with 29 points while shooting 12-of-22 from the field.

Odartey Blankson had a standout night for the Buccaneers on Saturday finishing with 42 points and 14 rebounds on the back of shooting 18-of-34 from the floor.

Bennie Lewis also added 28 points and eight rebounds for Geraldton with Aaron Ralph scoring 21 points and pulling in six rebounds, and Carter Cook adding 21 points and 13 boards.

Kyle Armour finished with 25 points for the Eagles while Drew Williamson had 17 points, Austin Kisselev 16, Sunday Dech 13, Joe-Alan Tupaea 12 and Nikola Donlagic 10.

Ben Smith led the way for the Magic with 38 points and 10 rebounds on the back of a superb 14-of-16 shooting from the field, and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.

Taylor Mullenax also added 27 points and 12 boards for Mandurah with Paul Hafford contributing 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

Stan Okoye led the way for the Redbacks with 31 points and 12 rebounds with Joel Wagner finishing with 17 points and nine assists, Dennis Tawhiti 15 points and 13 boards, and Jarrad Prior 15 points and seven rebounds.

Cory Cooperwood led the way for Stirling with 32 points, 15 rebounds and five assists while shooting 12-of-20 from the floor.

Jordan Wild added 27 points, 12 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals for the Senators while Josh Throns had 18 points and five assists, and Austin Bruton 17 points and five assists.

Duran Blue did all he could for the Giants finishing with 33 points and 11 assists with Tommy Hannon adding 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Lordan Franich 16 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

And on Sunday, it was again Odartey Blankson who starred for the Buccaneers with 34 points and 14 rebounds on the back of shooting 13-of-23 from the field, 2-of-4 from long range and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe.

Bennie Lewis added 25 points for the Buccaneers as well with Carter Cook scoring 20 points and five rebounds, and Aaron Ralph 21 points and nine rebounds off the bench on the back of 6-of-11 shooting from the field, and 3-of-6 from downtown.

Josh Garlepp top-scored for the Hawks off the bench with 20 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 8-of-11 from the field.

Justin Cecil also contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds, Ben Purser 14 points, five assists and four boards, Corey Easley 14 points, 12 boards and six assists and Ben Dixon 14 points and six rebounds.

Cooper Land led the Flames to the victory finishing with 40 points, 12 rebounds and three assists shooting 14-of-27 from the floor.

Tom Remmerswaal added 18 points and nine rebounds for Rockingham while Taylor Land finished with 17 points, six boards, four assists and three steals, and Jarryd Griffin 14 points and five rebounds.

Trian Iliadis did all he could for the Wolves with 37 points and five rebounds with Rob Huntington adding 16 points and Seb Salinas 13 to go with 11 rebounds and four assists.

Taylor Mullenax starred for the Magic with 41 points, 23 rebounds and four blocked shots while shooting 16-of-27 from the field.

Ben Smith added 30 points and 15 boards also for Mandurah while Daniel Thomas finished with 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.

FRIDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHESLakeside Lightning 123 defeated Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 94Kalamunda Eastern Suns 108 defeated Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 102

SATURDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHESVorian Agency East Perth Eagles 103 lost to Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers 123Perth Redbacks 92 lost to Mandurah Magic 103Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 105 lost to Stirling Senators 118

SUNDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHESPerry Lakes Hawks 97 lost to Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers 113Wanneroo Wolves 105 lost to Rockingham Flames 106Mandurah Magic 107 defeated Cockburn Cougars 101