Payne-ful loss for Rockingham (Friday Night Wrap)
An incredible individual performance from American star Luke Payne saved men's State Basketball League leaders Lakeside Lightning from a shock loss to the lowly Rockingham Flames.
The Lightning trailed by as many as 13 at one stage and were still behind early in the fourth quarter, but Payne's 50 points helped them to a 100-86 victory.
Payne amazingly hit 11 of his 13 three-point attempts and 19 of his 27 from the field, while Jarrad Prue finished with 28 rebounds, to help Lakeside overcome the absence of Brad Jackson and Ben Beran and win its 11th-straight game, which all but ensured it top spot at the end of the regular season.
Jerel Allen had 23 points for the 13th-placed Flames, who have lost five-straight and are out of finals contention.
And Kalamunda Eastern Suns finals chances were dealt a huge blow with their 104-83 loss to Perry Lakes Hawks.
The Suns will have to overcome a nightmare schedule and win at least three of their remaining six games to make the top eight after import Anthony Lee (28 points) led Perry Lakes to its fifth win from its past six matches.
The fourth-placed Hawks struggled in the first period but dominated the second, where they outscored the Suns 33-17, and were never challenged from there.
Joel Questel top-scored for Kalamunda with 14 points.
In women's action, Kalamunda caused one of the upsets of the season, beating Perry Lakes 84-76.
The Hawks had won 14 of their previous 15 games to move within one game of league leaders Willetton, but Kalamunda import Leah Rush (26 points and 15 rebounds) sparked the shock victory, which all but ensured the Suns will make the finals.
And Lakeside's fourth-straight win, a 91-45 thrashing of Rockingham, was a huge boost to its finals hopes.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Darren Speedie (Vision Inspired Photography)
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