Flames cling to minor premiership despite losing in final round (Week 20 Women's SBL Wrap)
THE defending champion Rockingham Flames have still finished as the women's SBL minor premiers despite losing to the Willetton Tigers on the final night of the 2015 regular season.
The lone women's match on Friday night in the final round saw the Perry Lakes Hawks beat the Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 77-59 at Bendat Basketball Centre.
There were four women's matches on Saturday night to close the regular season but all attention was on the battle for top spot with the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers beating the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 67-63 at Willetton Basketball Stadium.
The Mandurah Magic also defeated the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 72-58 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves downed the Schweigen East Perth Eagles 59-43 at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre while the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers prevailed over the Perth Redbacks 73-62 at Eaton Recreation Centre.
That means now that the top eight finished as the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (20-2), Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (20-2), Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves (18-4), Mandurah Magic (15-7), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (12-10), Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers (10-12), Perry Lakes Hawks (10-12) and Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars (9-13).
The quarter-final matches are the Flames against Cougars; Tigers against Hawks; Wolves against Slammers; and Magic against Eastern Suns.
The season is now over for the Schweigen East Perth Eagles (8-14), Perth Redbacks (5-17), Stirling Senators (4-18) and Lakeside Lightning (1-21).
The final weekend of the regular season also saw some terrific individual performances starting on Friday night where Kassi Conditt led the way for Perry Lakes with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals for the game.
Danika Pisconeri added 14 points, six boards and two assists while shooting an efficient 6-of-8 from the field and nailing her one three-point and free-throw attempt.
Lucy Stewart finished with 10 points also for the Hawks while Megan McKay contributed nine points and five rebounds, and Lauren Jeffers seven points, 15 assists, 10 boards and three steals.
Playing-coach Deanna Smith did all she could for the Cougars with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three rebounds while shooting 6-of-10 from the field, and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Taryn Priestly added 10 points and five boards as well for Cockburn while Abbie McDonald finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Then on Saturday night, Patricia Bright led the way for the Slammers with 16 points, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals with Bianca Donovan contributing 14 points, Kate Fielding 14 (12 rebounds, five assists) and Deonica McCormick 11 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Jess Jakens ended up top-scoring for the Redbacks with 19 points while Meike Elkington added 15 points and six rebounds, and Alix Hayward 10 point and eight boards.
Emma Klasztorny top-scored for the Magic without Casey Mihovilovich, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists while shooting 9-of-15 from the field.
Peyton Davis added 16 points, 13 rebounds and three steals as well for Mandurah with Ashlee Sidebottom contributing 12 points and Briana Klasztorny nine to go with five boards, five steals and three assists.
Melissa Moyle led the way for the Eastern Suns with 15 points with Abbey Duinker adding 13 points and seven rebounds, and Jessie Edwards 11 points and four boards.
Ebony Antonio ended up top-scoring for the Tigers with 15 points and nine rebounds with Desiree Kelley contributing 14 points, six boards, four assists and three steals, Zoe Harper 14 points and seven rebounds, and Kate Malpass 12 points, five assists and three boards.
Sami Whitcomb still played 37 minutes and had 23 points, 10 rebounds and five steals for the Flames with Darcee Garbin contributing 16 points and nine boards, and Jacinta Bourne 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Nikita-Lee Martin ended up with 16 points and four rebounds for Joondalup with Shani Amos contributing 11 points, seven boards and three assists, Casey Lockwood nine points and eight rebounds, and Ellyce Ironmonger eight points and 15 boards.
No East Perth player was able to score in double-figures with Kelsey Maffin top-scoring with eight points with Denielle Lipscombe adding seven and Nicole Jorre St Jorre six to go with six rebounds.
FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 77 defeated Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 59
SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 73 defeated Perth Redbacks 62
Mandurah Magic 72 defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns 58
Schweigen East Perth Eagles 43 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 59
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 67 defeated Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 63
Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin
Comments
Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.