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THE Joondalup Wolves flexed their muscles with two wins in the ID Athletic Women’s Round on the weekend while the Willetton Tigers, Perry Lakes Hawks, Lakeside Lightning and Warwick Senators all continued their winning ways.

Round 9 in the Women’s SBL got underway on Friday night with the Willetton Tigers beating the Perth Redbacks 94-68 at Willetton Basketball Stadium, the Joondalup Wolves defeating the Cockburn Cougars 84-68 at Wally Hagan Stadium, and the Perry Lakes Hawks held out the Rockingham Flames 75-69 at Bendat Basketball Centre

There were another three games in the Women’s SBL on Saturday night with the Lakeside Lightning beating the East Perth Eagles 86-36 at Herb Graham Recreation Centre, the Warwick Senators downing the South West Slammers 100-71 at Eaton Recreation Centre, and the Joondalup Wolves defeating the Mandurah Magic 84-57 at HBF Arena.

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Following nine rounds of the 2019 season, that leaves the Joondalup Wolves out on top of the Women’s SBL at 10-1 just ahead of the Lakeside Lightning who are 9-1.

The Willetton Tigers have now won six straight to be 9-3 with the Warwick Senators 6-3 to round out the top four with the Rockingham Flames (5-4), Perry Lakes Hawks (5-5), South West Slammers (4-6) and Mandurah Magic (4-6) making up the rest of the top eight.

Then just outside is the Kalamunda Eastern Suns (3-7) and Perth Redbacks (3-7) with the Cockburn Cougars (2-6) further back and the East Perth Eagles still winless at 0-11.

FRIDAY

WILLETTON TIGERS 94 defeated TEXTURE WA PERTH REDBACKS 68

The Willetton Tigers continued their hot form in the Women’s SBL on Friday night ending the winning run of the Perth Redbacks with a 26-point triumph.

Willetton came into the game in stunning form having won its past five matches while Perth had also won its past three to be building some momentum too after opening the campaign with six consecutive defeats.

The game had some added intrigue too with Craig Allen coaching against Willetton for the Redbacks for the first time since moving on from being assistant coach to the Tigers under Simon Parker

But Willetton shot out of the blocks on Friday night with 30 points to 18 in the first quarter and never looked back.

The Tigers added another 26 points to 18 in the second period to open up a 56-36 half-time advantage.

Perth was able to hold Willetton to 11 points in the third quarter and bring the deficit back to just 14 points, but the Tigers pulled away further in the fourth term to come away with the 26-point win.

The victory is a sixth straight for the Tigers who now hold a 9-3 record while the Redbacks are 3-7.

It was an impressive shooting performance from Willetton who went at 34/71 from the field at 47 per cent and 10/18 from three-point territory at 55 per cent. They also shot 16/20 at 80 per cent from the foul line.

Movement of the ball was impressive by the Tigers too as they had 32 assists on 34 made field goals while also having eight more rebounds than the Redbacks on top of forcing Perth into 20 rebounds from which they scored 21 points.

Emma Gandini top-scored for the Tigers with 23 points to go with seven steals, three assists and two rebounds.

Desiree Kelley added 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Willetton with Laina Snyder contributing 18 points, nine boards, three assists and three blocked shots, Wendi Bibbins 16 points and eight rebounds, and Hayley Winter 11 points, 15 assists, three boards and two steals.

New Redbacks import Morgan Pullins produced 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals with Lauren Mansfield finishing with 15 points, five boards, four assists and three steals.

Rosie Deegan also had 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

ROUND 1 FITNESS COCKBURN COUGARS 68 lost to CHAMBERS FRANKLYN JOONDALUP CITY WOLVES 84

The Joondalup Wolves made a strong start to their double-header weekend heading to Wally Hagan Stadium on Friday night and coming away with the 16-point victory.

The Wolves came into the contest on top of the Women’s SBL and on a five-game winning run but the Cougars were always going to throw everything at them on their home floor.

The Lady Wolfpack did lead 23-17 at quarter-time, but the Cougars stuck with them through the second quarter and the Wolves only managed to lead 38-31 at the main break.

Cockburn then outscored Joondalup in the third quarter 23 points to 19 to give themselves a shot at the win. But the Wolves took it away from them in the fourth period with 27 points to 14 to claim the 84-68 win.

The Wolves did outrebound the Cougars by 11 but Cockburn did force them into 20 turnovers to offset that in a more competitive contest than the final margin suggests.

Kayla Steindl proved the difference on the night between the two teams with the Perth Lynx WNBL star producing 30 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Lady Wolfpack.

Mikayla Pirini added 20 points and five assists in her 100th SBL appearance while Isabelle Miotti put up 11 points, three rebounds and two steals in her first game against her old side.

Amber Land also had eight points, 14 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals for the Wolfpack, and Amy Kidner six points, seven boards and three steals.

Kisha Lee did all she could to give the Cougars a chance at avoiding their fifth straight defeat, finishing with 35 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Vanessa Michael also had 10 points and four rebounds for Cockburn while Jodee Sontay had eight points, six rebounds and four steals, and Ruby Benn five points and six assists.

SCARBORO TOYOTA PERRY LAKES HAWKS 75 defeated CLASS 1 ORTHODONTICS ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 69

The Perry Lakes Hawks ensured they enter a week off with some strong momentum producing a tremendous performance to lead big over the Rockingham Flames and withstand their charge for a six-point win on Friday night.

Perry Lakes came into the game on the back of winning its past two games but Rockingham started well on the back of consecutive triples from captain Chelsea Petrik.

Paris Duffield came on and hit another to give the Flames a 9-4 start but a triple soon after for Perry Lakes from Jamie Cherry had them one point down, and then ended up working their way on top to lead 27-16 by quarter-time.

The Flames did score the opening five points of the second period, but the Hawks soon got going again and their lead grew to double-figures after a make inside from Kristan Teasdale.

The Lady Hawks still led 44-37 by half-time before Cherry started the second half with a three to put the home team back up by 10.

Another Cherry triple made it 12 soon after and with Gabby O’Sullivan finished the third period with seven quick points, Perry Lakes turned at three quarter-time in control at 61-51.

Perry Lakes then led 71-57 when Annika Renkema made a strong layup with five minutes remaining. She couldn’t make it a three-point play and then the Flames threw everything at the Hawks starting with the full-court press.

It worked too and when Maddie Allen scored with 1:20 remaining, the Flames were suddenly only five points down.

Ariana Hetherington then made it a three-point game after the Flames forced the Hawks into another turnover.

But they wouldn’t get any closer with Teasdale making a free-throw for Perry Lakes. The Lady Hawks then got possession back and when the Flames didn’t elect to foul, Perry Lakes was able to take time off the clock for the six-point win.

Jamie Cherry top-scored for the Hawks with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals despite shooting just 4/16 from the field. She did hit 3/7 from deep and 8/9 from the free-throw line.

Sarah Donovan added 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Lady Hawks while Gabby O’Sullivan produced 11 points and six rebounds, Nikita Martin nine points, five assists and boards before going off with an ankle injury, Kristan Teasdale seven points and seven rebounds, and Rebecca Benson seven points, four assists and three boards.

Maddie Allen finished with 19 points and six rebounds for Rockingham with Janelle Adams contributing 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Chelsea Petrik 14 points.

Christina Boag was hindered by foul trouble and played just 18 minutes for five points, eight rebounds and four assists with Ella Kennedy finishing with seven points, four boards and three assists.

SATURDAY

SCHWEIGEN EAST PERTH EAGLES 36 lost to LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 86

The job was always ahead of East Perth hosting Lakeside on Saturday night, and it proved the case with the defending champion Lightning ending up beating the Eagles by 50 points.

East Perth was back at Herb Graham Recreation Centre on Saturday just trying to be competitive against Lakeside who came into the contest on a four-game winning run and having lost just once to start their championship defence.

But the Lightning came into the game minus coach Craig Mansfield and captain Courtney Byrnes who were getting married, with the second import to replace Ali Schwagmeyer still yet to arrive.

East Perth, though, wasn’t in position to take advantage with Cameron Flynn available, Eryn Fisher not back from college, Mya Dimanlig injured and Sam Jackson, Ashley Munrowd-Harris and Kalypso McCallum-Smith no longer around.

There were Lightning players ready to grasp their increased opportunities and they managed to lead 21-7 by quarter-time.

Lakeside then put up 30 points to 12 in the second quarter to head into half-time with a 51-19 advantage.

The Lightning didn’t let their foot off the gas in the second half either, ending up leading by as much as 51 points and going on a 15-0 run before winning the game 86-36.

Lakeside has now won five straight to improve to 9-1 while East Perth is 0-11 and now lost its past 43 matches.

Ash Grant top-scored for the Lightning with 22 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocked shots.

Claire Jacobs produced a career-best 17 points also for the Lightning while shooting 3/4 from long-range while Ellyce Ironmonger finished with 12 points and five rebounds, GeAnna Luaulu-Summers 10 points and six assists, and Jess Van Schie eight points, six assists, four boards and three steals.

Janee Johnson had a mixed night for the Eagles with the import forward spending 25 minutes on the court but only showing interest and effort for part of that time.

Her natural talent still meant she had 12 points and eight rebounds but also just shot 5/15 and had four turnovers as she continues to struggle physically and to adjust to being on a team that is trying to find a way to compete.

Rose Aryang added eight points and six rebounds for the Eagles, and captain Fiona Heart seven points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals as she fought valiantly to try to inspire teammates who in some cases are nearly a third her age.

PRINT SYNC SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 71 lost to BETHANIE WARWICK SENATORS 100

The Warwick Senators bounced back from two losses last weekend in impressive fashion on Saturday night beating the South West Slammers by 29 points.

The Senators had been in some impressive form up until losing to Rockingham and Joondalup on successive nights in Round 8 ahead of their trip to Eaton Recreation Centre.

The Slammers were also celebrating the 200th SBL appearance of co-captain Courtney Bayliss while looking to end their own three-match losing streak.

But it was the Senators who started strongly on the road racing to a 29-12 lead by quarter-time.

They remained in control of contest from there to end up leading 55-25 at half-time with the contest all but over.

The Senators extended their advantage in the second half as well to come away with the 100-71 victory to improve to a 6-3 record on the season. The Slammers have now lost four straight to be 4-6.

The Slammers dominated the boards in remarkable fashion collecting 51 rebounds to just 31 from the Senators. But cancelling that out were 31 turnovers from South West from which Warwick managed to score 39 points from.

The Senators also had 28 assists on their 39 made field goals while shooting well at 46 per cent from the field and 48 per cent from beyond the arc, made up of 14/29.

Stacey Barr had a tremendous shooting night to lead from the front for the Senators with 21 points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists while going 7/12 from the floor and 5/7 from deep.

Sam Roscoe added 17 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks in her best performance back at the Senators while Maddison Hooper produced 15 points, Caitlyn Jones 13 points and four rebounds, Samaria Howard nine points and four assists, and Tayla Hepburn nine points, six rebounds and four assists.

Kate Fielding top-scored for the Slammers with a season-best 22 points and five rebounds while Courtney Bayliss finished with 20 points and six boards in her 200th SBL game.

Brittni Montgomery added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Slammers who sorely missed the services of Makailah Dyer.

CHAMBERS FRANKLYN JOONDALUP CITY WOLVES 84 defeated CACHET HOMES MANDURAH MAGIC 57

The women took centre stage as part of ID Athletic Women’s Round at HBF Arena on Saturday night and the end result was a 27-point win for the Joondalup Wolves over the Mandurah Magic.

The Lady Wolfpack were coming off a big win on Friday night in Cockburn against the Cougars to give them six wins in succession, and they were able to continue that momentum on Saturday night against a Magic team who has played off in the past two Grand Finals.

Despite the Magic being at full strength with Carly Boag, Ginka Palusna and Bree Klasztorny all playing together in the front court for the first time, but things just aren’t quite clicking yet under coach Craig Watts and the Wolves took full advantage.

The Magic started the game well enough in the first quarter going on a 6-0 run and leading 23-16 by quarter-time, but from there the home team took over.

The Lady Wolfpack turned the tide in the second quarter with 29 points to just six to head into half-time up 45-29.

It was a tight third quarter but then Joondalup pulled further away in the final period to claim the 84-57 victory to improve to 10-1 on the season on a seven-game winning run.

The Magic have lost three straight now to be 4-6.

Georgia Denehey had her best scoring night since joining the Wolves, top-scoring with 15 points on 6/8 shooting from the field and 2/3 from beyond the arc.

Kayla Steindl delivered another 14 points and eight rebounds while Isabelle Miotti contributed 10 points, six assists and five boards, Amber Land nine points and 10 rebounds, Mikayla Pirini nine points and three assists, and Amy Kidner nine points and five boards.

Ginka Palusna top-scored for Mandurah with 14 points to go with six rebounds and four assists while Casey Mihovilovich had 11 points, Delany Junkermeir 10 points and four rebounds, Emma Klasztorny eight points and nine boards, and Carly Boag five points and 10 rebounds.