THE Mandurah Magic again showed they could be a real threat in the Women's SBL for 2016 but the top four appears set with the Joondalup Wolves, Rockingham Flames, Willetton Tigers and Perry Lakes Hawks all looking solid.

There were two matches on Friday night with the Bethanie Stirling Senators defeating the Perry Lakes Hawks 81-66 and the Mandurah Magic defeating the Texture WA Perth Redbacks 85-59.

Then on Saturday night, the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles beat the Bethanie Stirling Senators 70-59, the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames downed the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 89-68 and the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves defeated the P&J Financial Solutions Kalamunda Eastern Suns 93-67.

Lastly on Sunday, the Perry Lakes Hawks defeated the Print Sync South West Slammers 91-54 and the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves beat the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 94-58.

Week 16 Friday night SBL wrap 
Magic stars fire, send message with win over Redbacks 
Week 16 Saturday night SBL wrap 
Week 16 Sunday SBL wrap 
Veterans lead Lady Hawks to crucial win over youthful Slammers 

Following Week 16 of the 2016 season, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves remain on top of the standings with a 15-2 record just ahead of the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (15-3) and Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (14-3).

The Perry Lakes Hawks look solid in fourth place at 12-7 leaving the Mandurah Magic (8-8), Lakeside Lightning (8-9), Texture WA Perth Redbacks (8-9), P&J Financial Solutions Kalamunda Eastern Suns (7-9), Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (7-10) and Bethanie Stirling Senators (6-12) fighting over the remaining four playoff spots.

Then there is the Print Sync South West Slammers (2-15) and Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles (2-17) battling over the wooden spoon.

There were plenty of strong individual performances right across the weekend with the Senators beating the Hawks on Friday night on the back of 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals from Amber Land.

Kara van Dyke added 18 points and eight boards for Stirling, Lyndal Gardner 14 points, Hannah Throns 11 points and 11 boards, and Brianna Fisher 11 points and five assists.

Deanna Smith finished with 23 points and four assists for the Hawks with Antonia Edmondson contributing 17 points and seven boards.

The Magic also continued their surge up the standings with a strong 26-point win over the Redbacks with Casey Mihovilovich the star with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocked shots.

Annette Davis added 21 points and nine rebounds for Mandurah, Adijat Adams 17 points and eight boards, and Emma Klasztorny 15 points.

Ashley Gilmore top-scored for the Redbacks with 22 points and 17 rebounds.

The Eagles then hurt the Senators' playoff hopes on Saturday night by winning by 11 points at home for their second win of 2016.

Nicole Jorre St Jorre was top scorer for East Perth with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals with Jodee Sontay adding 11 points and six boards.

Amber Land finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for Stirling, and Chelsea Armstrong 10 points and four assists.

The Flames had their three stars up and firing in a 21-point win over the Cougars with Darcee Garbin finishing with 23 points and nine rebounds, Sami Whitcomb 23 points, six boards, five assists and five steals, and Ifunanya Ibekwe 21 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and two blocks.

Candace Williams did all she could for the Cougars with 29 points and 17 rebounds with Cherridy Thornton adding 15 points and seven boards.

The Lady Wolfpack also had a strong win on Saturday beating the Eastern Suns by 26 points with Nikita-Lee Martin finishing with 23 points, Klara Wischer 17 (eight rebounds, eight assists) and Chelsea Belcher 16.

Stacey Barr top-scored for the Eastern Suns with 22 points and seven rebounds with Carley Mijovic contributing 20 points, nine boards and three blocked shots.

Then on Sunday, the Hawks bounced back beating the Slammers by 37 points with Antonia Edmondson (21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals) and Deanna Smith (19 points, five boards, four assists) the standouts.

Kate Anthony added 17 points and Annika Renkema 11 to go with seven rebounds.

Courtney Bayliss top-scored for the Slammers with 18 points and nine rebounds with Dena English contributing 15 points, six boards and five assists.

The Lady Wolfpack backed up their win on Saturday by beating the Eagles by 36 points on Sunday with Amy Kidner delivering 20 points and six rebounds, Klara Wischer 20 points, seven assists and six boards, Nikita-Lee Martin 18 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Ellyce Ironmonger 17 points, 10 boards, four assists and three blocks.

Melissa Winfield finished with 16 points for the Eagles and Gemma Houghton 16 points.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Bethanie Stirling Senators 81 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 66
Texture WA Perth Redbacks 59 lost to Mandurah Magic 85

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 70 defeated Bethanie Stirling Senators 59
Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 68 lost to Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 89
P&J Financial Solutions Kalamunda Eastern Suns 67 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 93

SUNDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 91 defeated Print Sync South West Slammers 54
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 94 defeated Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 58

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin