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ROUND 12 of the Women’s SBL was packed with five games on Friday night with especially big wins for the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Willetton Tigers while the South West Slammers then made quite the statement in the lone Saturday night fixture.

It was a massive night on Friday to open the WA Day long weekend of action in the Women’s SBL with 10 of the 12 teams in the competition all in action.

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns stayed in touch for a playoff position with a 77-62 win over the Perry Lakes Hawks at Ray Owen Sports Centre with the Lakeside Lightning bouncing back from a rare loss to beat the Perth Redbacks 88-83 at Belmont Oasis.

The Mandurah Magic won a tight one 60-57 against the Cockburn Cougars at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre with the Warwick Senators also beating East Perth Eagles at Herb Graham Recreation Centre, and the Willetton Tigers defeating the Rockingham Flames at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

The two teams who weren’t in action on Friday night then did battle on Saturday night at HBF Arena and it was the South West Slammers producing a tremendous second half to beat the Joondalup Wolves 80-69.

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That all led into the All-Star Game on the WA Day Monday public holiday which saw the Australian All-Stars beat the World team 103-72 at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Following 12 rounds of the 2019 season in the Women’s SBL, the Lakeside Lightning (10-2) are back on top of the standings just ahead of the Joondalup Wolves (11-3), Warwick Senators (10-3) and Willetton Tigers (11-5).

The Rockingham Flames (6-6) sit fifth but that’s where things get tight with the Perry Lakes Hawks (6-6), Mandurah Magic (6-6) and South West Slammers (6-7) rounding out the top eight, and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns (5-8) just outside.

Then there is the Perth Redbacks (4-9), Cockburn Cougars (2-10) and East Perth Eagles (1-13).

ROUND 12 WOMEN’S SBL

FRIDAY

KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 79 defeated SCARBORO TOYOTA PERRY LAKES HAWKS 62

Kalamunda was back home on Friday night looking for consecutive wins but standing in the way was a Perry Lakes Hawks team on a four-game winning run.

That set the stage for a tremendous contest between two teams locked in the battle for a playoff position and who have both added important pieces of late, with the Eastern Suns welcoming import Katie Yohn and the Lady Hawks welcoming back WNBL star Nat Burton.

Perry Lakes had won its past four games and then started strongly at Ray Owen Sports Centre to open up a 19-14 lead by quarter-time.

But Kalamunda turned things around in the second term holding the Lady Hawks to just 14 points and scoring 23 themselves to head into half-time leading 37-33.

The Eastern Suns then continued that momentum after the break and turned up the defence a notch further to restrict Perry Lakes to just nine third quarter points.

Kalamunda scored 22 points themselves and ended up leading by as much as 18 points in the second half before winning by 15 to improve to 5-8 on the season while the Lady Hawks are 6-6.

The number of contributors the Eastern Suns had on the night was ultimately their key to victory when depth had been a struggle for them through the first half of the season.

New import Katie Yohn was impressive top-scoring with 15 points to go with eight steals, seven rebounds and two assists as she flirted with a triple-double.

Rebecca Motroni finished with 12 points and two assists while hitting 4/9 from three-point range with Jewel Williams contributing 14 points and four assists ahead of playing in the All-Star Game on Monday.

Jennie Rintala also produced 11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two assists for Kalamunda while Carla Drennan contributed nine points and three boards, Georgia Adams six points and two assists, and Lauren Jeffers four points, six assists and five rebounds against the team she won a championship with in 2017.

Jamie Cherry top-scored for Perry Lakes with 12 points, five steals, four assists and three rebounds but no other Hawks player managed to reach double-figures.

Nikita Martin finished with nine points and 11 rebounds, Rebecca Benson nine points and four assists, and Nat Burton eight points and 13 rebounds.

CACHET HOMES MANDURAH MAGIC 60 defeated ROUND 1 FITNESS COCKBURN COUGARS 57

The Cockburn Cougars made the trip to Mandurah desperate for its first win since Round 2 but the Magic themselves needed to build on the momentum from a win over Cockburn the previous week.

The two teams had only met 13 days earlier with the Magic winning on that occasion at Wally Hagan Stadium by 16 points. Since then the Cougars lost a tight one to Perry Lakes while Mandurah hadn’t played with their men’s side making the trip to Kalgoorlie.

So the teams were familiar with one another and the Cougars started well at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre to take a four-point lead into the quarter-time break.

Things remained tight in the second term with the Cougars still managing to maintain a 37-34 lead heading into the half-time break.

It remained a low-scoring grind with the pressure building in the third quarter with the Cougars outscoring the Magic 13 points to 10 to still lead 50-44 at three quarter-time.

The Cougars still led by five when Kisha Lee knocked down a three two minutes into the fourth quarter and when Kahlia Morgan added two more points, they were up seven with 6:45 remaining.

Their lead then grew to nine when Morgan scored with a layup and now there was only five minutes left with time running out for the Magic.

But Cockburn wouldn’t score again for the game with the Magic’s run starting with a jumper from Casey Mihovilovich. Carly Boag then made a layup on an assist from the legend Milo.

The 478-game captain Mihovilovich then scored again for Mandurah to make it a three-point game before she drained a three with 1:45 remaining to tie scores up.

Who else but Mihovilovich then made a free-throw and hit another jump shot to put Mandurah up by three and they went on to win 60-57 with the stunning 12-0 run to close the game of which Mihovilovich scored 10 of while assisting the other two.

It was a season-best outing from Casey Mihovilovich leading the Magic with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals on shooting 11/19 from the field and 4/8 from downtown.

Emma Klasztorny added 16 points and 12 rebounds for Mandurah while Carly Boag contributed 10 points, 13 boards, six assists and six steals, and Bree Klasztorny three points and four rebounds.

It was a tough loss for Cockburn to take given the winning position they were in. Matilda Muir top-scored with 15 points and seven rebounds with Alina Hartmann adding 10 points and four assists, Haylee De Sousa nine points and five boards, Kisha Lee nine points and four rebounds, and Kahlia Morgan eight points and three boards.

TEXTURE WA PERTH REDBACKS 83 lost to LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 88

The Lakeside Lightning and Perth Redbacks fought over the minor premiership in the Women’s SBL last year and the Redbacks even handed the Lightning their only defeat but they haven’t quite been able to replicate that so far in 2019.

That meant the challenge was ahead of the Redbacks entering Friday night’s clash at Belmont Oasis as they looked to stay in touch for a playoff berth up against a Lightning team coming off a rare defeat.

The Redbacks came into the game with a 4-8 record as they look on a Lightning team still looking good at 9-2 but having tasted defeat at the hands of the Warwick Senators the previous Friday night.

Perth did come into the game minus Jess Jakens, though, while Lakeside was playing with new import Hannah Stewart for just the second time forming a big starting line-up alongside Ellyce Ironmonger and Ash Grant.

The Lightning then came out starting strongly to lead 29-20 by quarter-time and then continue on with that in the second quarter to head into half-time leading 53-37.

The Redbacks were able to stem the tide in the third period and then they finished all over the Lightning in the fourth quarter.

By the time Taylor Roberts drained a three with 1:30 remaining, suddenly the Redbacks had reduced the Lightning lead to just four points before GeAnna Luaulu-Summers responded in kind for Lakeside to restore the seven-point lead.

Ash Grant then also hit a bomb from downtown to put Lakeside back up by 10 and while the Redbacks hit the game’s last five points they ran out of time to seriously challenge.

It was a three-point barrage from the Lightning as they finished with 15/38 at 39 per cent from downtown. In the end, they had 25 assists on their 29 made field goals for the night.

The Redbacks ended up going at 36/80 from the field at 45 per cent and 8/25 from three-point range at 32 per cent but they got to the foul line only four times opposed to 20 occasions for the Lightning.

GeAnna Lualu-Summers had a terrific night for Lakeside finishing with 33 points, three rebounds and two assists while also hitting 9/13 from three-point range.

Hannah Stewart showed what she is capable of too producing 22 points and eight rebounds with Ash Grant contributing 12 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, Ellyce Ironmonger nine points, eight boards and four assists, and Courtney Green eight points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Nes’eya Williams continued to show what a bright star she is going to be leading the Redbacks with 23 points, seven rebounds and five steals while shooting 10/16 from the floor and 3/7 from deep.

Lauren Mansfield also produced 22 points and eight assists while Rosie Deegan contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds, Morgan Pullins seven points and five boards, and Taylor Roberts six points, three rebounds and two steals.

SCHWEIGEN EAST PERTH EAGLES 72 lost to BETHANIE WARWICK SENATORS 109

Stacey Barr put on another clinic on Friday night to lead the Warwick Senators to a fifth straight victory beating the East Perth Eagles 109-72 at Herb Graham Recreation Centre.

East Perth has been an improved outfit in recent weeks including snapping a 43-game losing streak stunning the Willetton Tigers, but it was another significant test on Friday night even at home to the deep and in-form Senators.

Warwick came into the game having won four straight games with Sam Roscoe, Maddison Hooper, Rebekah Throns and Hannah Throns blending into a line-up that did already include Stacey Barr, Tayla Hepburn, Samaria Howard, Caitlyn Jones and Bianca Villegas.

In the end, throughout the evening East Perth was able to look an improved offensive team and scoring came easier to them than it has at other teams over the past couple of years.

But defensively trying to keeping the Senators in check proved a challenge.

The Senators put up 35 points in the first quarter and while the Eagles weren’t playing too badly, they still found themselves down 15 points at quarter-time.

Warwick went into half-time having extended its lead to 57-36 and then by full-time the Senators went on to win the game 109-72 to make it five straight victories and improve to 10-3 on the season while the Eagles are now 1-13.

The Eagles did well in the effort areas and they even outrebounded the Senators 54-49 including 24 boards on the offensive end for 16 second chance points. But the Eagles did rack up 27 turnovers from which the Senators scored 23 points.

The Senators also moved the ball well with 33 assists for their 41 made field goals.

Stacey Barr ultimately was the difference between the two teams finishing with 25 points, six rebounds and four assists on an efficient shooting 9/13 from the field, 3/6 from long-range and 4/6 at the foul line.

Sam Roscoe added 16 points, six rebounds, six blocked shots and three assists for the Senators while Tayla Hepburn contributed 15 points, three boards and three steals, Maddison Hooper 12 points, Georgina Harding 10 points and Samaria Howard nine points, three rebounds and three steals.

Cameron Flynn continued to be a breakout star this season for the Eagles again top-scoring with 16 points, four steals and three assists.

Ella Dimanlig contributed 14 points for East Perth, Janee Johnson 12 points and six rebounds, Eryn Fisher 12 points and 10 boards, and Bree Fisher 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

CLASS 1 ORTHODONTICS ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 69 lost to WILLETTON TIGERS 75

The Rockingham Flames and Willetton Tigers are trying to show that they deserve to be in the championship race in 2019 setting the tone for a tremendous contest on Friday night at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

The Flames came into the game with quite the intimidating frontcourt made up of Darcee Garbin, Maddie Allen and Christina Boag, but they only sat at 6-5 having lost three of their past four games.

The Tigers have been a fascinating case in recent weeks going from the form team of the competition capping a seven-game winning run with a win over the Joondalup Wolves before becoming the first team to lose to East Perth in two years.

They then backed up with a 25-point loss to the Warwick Senators leading into Friday night in Rockingham.

Willetton started strongly with 22 points to 15 in the first quarter and continued on a similar path in the second term to lead 45-34 by half-time.

Rockingham tried to mount a fight back in the second half, but it wasn’t to be and the Tigers came away with the 75-69 road victory to steady to an 11-5 record while the Flames slipped to 6-6.

It was the fact that the Tigers had four players scoring in double-figures and seven with six or more points that proved the difference and saw them overcome the huge night of Darcee Garbin for Rockingham.

Wendi Bibbins top-scored for Willetton with 17 points and four rebounds with fellow import Laina Snyder contributing 14 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

Desiree Kelley also had 12 points and five rebounds for the Tigers with Emma Gandini contributing 10 points, six steals and five boards, Zoe Harper nine points, Taryn Priestly six points and Hayley Winter six points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Darcee Garbin had a monster night for Rockingham with 42 points and four rebounds on 14/22 shooting from the field, 4/5 from three-point range and 10/12 from the foul line.

But she didn’t receive enough help with Christina Boag finishing with eight points and 10 rebounds, Chelsea Petrik six points, four boards and four assists, and Maddie Allen six points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

SATURDAY

CHAMBERS FRANKLYN JOONDALUP CITY WOLVES 69 lost to PRINT SYNC SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 80

The South West Slammers produced their best performance of the season to make a statement about their abilities and they did so on their longest trip to beat the league-leading Joondalup Wolves at HBF Arena on Saturday night.

The game both presented the Slammers biggest challenge of the season up against a Joondalup team on top-of-the-table even without Perth Lynx WNBL star Kayla Steindl, but it also provided an opportunity to make a statement of what they are capable of.

The Slammers then started well to lead 22-16 on Saturday night at HBF Arena by quarter-time, but then Brittni Montgomery got in foul trouble leaving Cian Parsons to have to step up significantly and go to battle against experienced inside Wolves pair Amy Kidner and Amber Land.

The Wolfpack did work their way on top in the second quarter and went into the half-time break narrowly leading 33-32.

But it was an inspired Slammers outfit that came out after half-time and it all started with Montgomery sitting on the bench with the three fouls.

Throughout the third quarter, the Slammers would go on a 9-0 run and two separate 7-0 runs while their defensive pressure went up a gear and forced the Wolves to be under the pump getting into their offence.

In the end, the Wolves had just 10 points and six turnovers for the third period with the Slammers scoring 25 points themselves to turn that one-point half-time deficit into a 14-point three quarter-time advantage.

South West’s lead then grew to 16 when Cian Parsons scored to open the fourth quarter. Joondalup was always going to hit back but in the end couldn’t get any closer than nine points during the last term and the Slammers steadied to by 11 points.

The win improves the Slammers to 6-7 on the season to consolidate themselves in the top eight while the Wolves are now 11-3 having suffered their first loss on the home floor for 2019.

Courtney Bayliss hit some massive shots for the Slammers to be instrumental in the victory finishing with 26 points and nine rebounds including nailing 6/13 from three-point territory.

Makailah Dyer continued her hot form too with another 24 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 8/15 shooting from the field and 7/11 from the foul line.

Brittni Montgomery was restricted to 25 minutes because of foul trouble but still had 12 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists while Kate Fielding contributed 10 points, eight assists and five boards, and Bianca Donovan six points, four rebounds and four assists.

Up against her former team for the first time, Georgia Denehey had her best performance for the Lady Wolfpack finishing with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Amber Land also finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Wolves with Amy Kidner producing 10 points and nine boards, Mikayla Pirini nine points, two rebounds and two steals, Chelsea Belcher nine points, three assists and three steals, and Isabelle Miotti eight points and five boards.

MONDAY

AUSTRALIAN ALL-STARS 103 defeated WORLD ALL-STARS 72

The local talent in the Women’s SBL put on quite the show in the 2019 All-Star Game at Bendat Basketball Centre on Monday with the Australian All-Stars beating the World All-Stars 103-72.

The Festival of Basketball held at Bendat Basketball Centre on the WA Day public holiday saw the main events being the SBL All-Star Games with the new approach in 2019 of pitting the Australian and World teams against one another.

It provided the local talent the chance to test themselves against the best of the imports across the league, and on this occasion it was the Australian team who proved too strong.

The Australian All-Stars pulled away in the second quarter with 31 points to 13 and they went on with the job in the second half to end up winning the game, 103-72.

Young Perth Redbacks star Rosie Deegan top-scored for the Australian team with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two assists.

Sam Roscoe was a late addition but was tremendous with the new Warwick Senators centre and Lakeside championship winner from last year producing 17 points.

Willetton Tigers captain Desiree Kelley was named MVP of the All-Star Game for her 17 points and six rebounds which included knocking down 5/6 of her three-point attempts.

Another emerging star, Nes’eya Williams of the Perth Redbacks, had a strong showing too with 14 points and eight rebounds with Christina Boag also producing 11 points and six boards, Jewel Williams seven points and seven assists, and Ash Grant six points and seven rebounds.

Kisha Lee top-scored for the World All-Stars with 18 points and three rebounds with Jennie Rintala adding 10 points, three rebounds and three assists, Samaria Howard 10 points and nine boards, GeAnna Lualu-Summers seven points and six rebounds, and Brittni Montgomery seven points and five boards.

Meanwhile, Cockburn Cougars star Kisha Lee won the Women’s SBL three-point shootout, edging out Mikayla Pirini of the Joondalup Wolves and Jewel Williams of the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.