Basketball: Slammers’ weekend of wins

The Collie Crane Hire SouthWest Slammers women’s side remained undefeated and the men won their second game as the club enjoyed its best weekend yet in the 2012 State Basketball League season.

Picture by Jon Gellweiler: Slammers’ Zoe Harper prepares to drive in her side’s win over Kalamunda on Saturday night

The women powered to the summit of the ladder with a come-from behind 71-64 win over Cockburn in Perth on Friday night, before a convincing 27-point victory over Kalamunda on Saturday at the Eaton Recreation Centre.

Despite suffering a crushing loss to the Cougars on Friday evening, the club’s men’s side bounced back to record 13-point win over the Eastern Suns on Saturday.

The result was achieved in the absence of injured captain Trent Worthington, and returning veterans Lee Smith and Aaron Edwards, who both played on Friday but were unavailable for the second game.

Disappointing showings either side of half-time on Friday night gave the men little hope of toppling Cockburn at Wally Hagan Basketball Stadium.

Although the difference was just four points at quarter time, the Slammers were outscored 30-17 and 29-14 in the second and third periods en route to the 107-72 loss.

But they turned things around the following night, despite missing some key playmakers.

Led by imports Senario Hillman (30 points, 11 rebounds) and Carlos White, who brought down an incredible 26 rebounds and 17 points the Slammers overcame a eightpoint deficit at the first break to level the scores by three-quarter time before powering to their second win of the season.

Young gun Mitchell Bradbury was another standout, with 15 points.

Meanwhile, the women’s side survived a major scare on Friday night when they trailed Cockburn by 14 points at half-time.

But a 16-4 third period, in which the Cougars scored just one of their 19 attempts from the field, turned the match on its head and ensured the visitors were right back in the game.

Zoe Harper led from the front with a double-double (12 points, 16 rebounds) while Bianca Donovan led the Slammers scoring with 16 points and Donnelle Wallam chimed in with 11 in the 69-55 win.

On Saturday night, Harper and ValerieOgoke both scored 25 points and hit double figures in the rebounds column, while Kara Hargreaves scored 22 points as the Slammers defeated Kalamunda 94-67.