The Perth Redbacks’ Men’s State Basketball League team bounced back from their previous two losses to comprehensively beat the 14th placed Rockingham Flames 124 to 83.

Redbacks’ forward Blake Bender sent a strong message to the league in the approach to the play-offs with his game-high 39 at a field goal percentage of 70% along with 14 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Point guard Joel Wagner had 11 assists and scored 18 at 53% while shooting guard Jarrad Prior scored 16 at 37% and had two steals.

18-year-old rookie Jamieson Lewis made the most of his 21 minutes on court by scoring 15 at 70% along with three assists and two steals.

The Redbacks’ men now have 13 wins and 10 losses and remain in sixth-place in the 14-team competition.

The Redbacks’ Women’s team continue to struggle in the absence of centre Marita Payne and point-guard Rachel Watman, going down to the third-placed Flames 60 to 86.

This sees them drop one position to sixth in the 12-team competition with 12 wins and eight losses.

Veteran shooting guard Narelle Henry top-scored for the Redbacks’ women with 18 at 40% along with six steals, four rebounds and two assists.

Forward Alix Hayward put in a strong defensive effort in making six steals while scoring six at 60%.

With only two weekends left in the qualifying rounds all remaining games for both Redbacks’ teams assume major importance in securing a top-eight play-off position.

This Friday they play the Stirling Senators in a home-game fixture at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre, with tip-off for the women’s game being at 6.30PM and 8.30PM for the men’s game.

They then play an away-game against the Willetton Tigers on Saturday, with the women’s game starting at 6PM and the men’s game at 8PM.

Article by Redbacks Media
Photo by Marg Prior