SOME lower-ranked teams managed to pull off upset home quarter-final SBL wins on Saturday night with South West beating Willetton in women's action, and Mandurah and Wanneroo also winning in men's matches against Perry Lakes and Geraldton.

The seventh-placed Mandurah Magic pulled off an upset Game 1 win over the second-placed Perry Lakes Hawks in men's SBL action on Saturday night.

The Magic pulled off the 107-96 victory at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre thanks to a 27-19 final quarter.

Taylor Mullenax was on fire for the Magic with 38 points and nine rebounds on 13-of-24 shooting from the field.

Andrew Bowman also had 19 points and five assists for Mandurah, Rhett Della Maddalena 16 points and 10 boards, and Taylor Land 16 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Adrian Majstrovich did all he could for Perry Lakes finishing with 37 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Michael Lay had 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals with Corey Easley adding 13 points and seven boards.

The Lakeside Lightning finished well clear on top of the men's SBL standings but had to fight hard to overcome the BOQ Perth Redbacks 84-79 at Lakeside Recreation Centre.

Justin Cecil top-scored for the Lightning with 26 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Chris Sofoulis scored 18 points and Jesse Dixon 11.

Michael Vigor did all he could for the Redbacks finishing with 21 points and 18 rebounds with Bennie Lewis adding 18 points and Adam Johnston 12.

The People's Choice Eagles scored a thumping 102-70 win over the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers at Eaton Recreation Centre.

Joe-Alan Tupaea top-scored for the Eagles with 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Michael Jones also scored 20 points, Drew Williamson 18, John Taylor 15 and Tom Jervis 14 to go with 13 rebounds.

Clive Weeden scored 21 points for the Slammers with Trent Worthington adding 15 points and 11 rebounds, Wade Hitchcock 14 points and Ty Harrelson 13 to go with 12 assists and five rebounds.

The Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers had perhaps been the hottest form team in the competition heading into the finals but suffered a Game 1 quarter-final hiccup on Saturday with the Australian Belt Scrapers Wanneroo Wolves beating them 96-81 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium.

Trian Iliadis led the way for the Wolves with 24 points and six rebounds with Damian Matacz, Doug Gates, Seb Salinas and Rob Huntington all scoring 12 points.

Rob Kampman scored 33 points for the Buccaneers to go with 15 rebounds with Carter Cook adding 15 points and Daniel Thomas 14.

The eighth-placed Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers upset the top-placed Willetton Tigers in women's quarter-final action on Saturday night.

Last year's champions the Slammers might have finished eighth but pulled off the overtime 67-65 win over the Tigers at Eaton Recreation Centre.

The Slammers got off to a fast start leading 42-30 at half-time but the Tigers fought back well in the second half to force overtime, but South West got the job done.

Kimberly Sitzmann led the way for the Slammers finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Dannielle Smith also had 17 points and 10 boards for South West with Kara Hargreaves adding 12 points, and Lauren Jeffers eight to go with 10 rebounds.

Lisa Wallbutton did all she could for the Tigers with 21 points and 20 rebounds with Antonia Edmondson adding 26 points and seven assists. Willetton dearly missed Melissa Marsh who was unable to play due to work commitments on Saturday night.

The Stirling Senators might have been in some good form heading into the finals but the Wanneroo Wolves were clearly angry from having missed out on top spot to end the regular season and made a big statement with an 84-59 win at Warwick Leisure Centre.

Nikita-Lee Martin finished with 22 points for the Wolves with Shani Amos adding 14 points and five assists and Ainsleigh Sanders 15 points, 11 boards and five blocks.

Lyndal Gardner scored 14 points for the Senators with Amber Land adding 11 and 10 rebounds, and Taylor Lilley 10 points.

The Kalamunda and Lakeside quarter-final series was always going to be a tight one and that played out in Game 1 on Saturday with the Suns winning 65-62 over the Lightning at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

Melissa Moyle had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Suns with Jennie Rintala finishing with nine points and 12 rebounds, and Sarah-Jane Knox eight points and 12 boards.

Courtney Byrnes top-scored for the Lightning with 17 points with Krystal Stoneking adding 11.

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Serene Maisey (Serene Elise Photography)