IT WAS a remarkable night of men's SBL action with only a combined four points separating the teams in the three matches that saw the Lightning, Slammers and Senators record crucial victories.

Meanwhile the night began with the three women's matches on Friday featuring two big wins for the Lakeside Lightning and Cockburn Cougars, and the Joondalup Wolves prevailing in a thriller.

The results saw the Lakeside Lightning crush the Perry Lakes Hawks 95-52 at Lakeside Recreation Centre, the Soprano Lady Cougars down the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 89-70 at Wally Hagan Stadium then the Joondalup Wolves just defeat the Stirling Senators 83-81 at Warwick Leisure Centre.

The Lightning crushed the Hawks by 43 points at home with the win improving Lakeside to a 14-3 record on the season to remain solid in second position in the standings while the loss is another heavy blow to Perry Lakes' playoff hopes. The Hawks now sit on 5-12 in 10th spot.

Kari Pickens led the way for the Lightning with 19 points, four rebounds and four assists with Krystal Stoneking adding 13 points, Courtney Byrnes 11, Tiahm Flynn 10 and Ashleigh Grant 10 to go with six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.

No Perry Lakes player managed double-figures in scoring with Megan McKay working hard for eight points and 10 rebounds with Rosie Tobin also contributing eight points and nine boards.

The Cougars had a disappointing Week 15 with losses to the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Stirling Senators, but bounced back well on Friday night with a 19-point win at home to the Slammers.

The victory improves the Cougars to a 9-9 record in seventh position while the Slammers remain eighth on 7-11.

Emma Pass led the way for the Cougars with 21 points and eight rebounds on the back of shooting 10-of-17 from the field.

Marita Payne also had a terrific game with 19 points and 14 rebounds while shooting 9-of-14 from the floor with Sam Richards returning and contributing 19 points, nine assists, five boards and two steals on 6-of-11 shooting.

Amy Patton did all she possibly could for the Slammers finishing with 31 points, six rebounds and four steals on the back of shooting 11-of-17 from the field, 4-of-7 from long range and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Catherine Waycott added 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for South West, and Lauren Jeffers 12 points, seven boards, six assists and five steals.

The night's thriller then took place in Warwick with the defending champion Wolves ending up prevailing by just two points over the Senators.

The wins sees Joondalup improve to a 12-4 record in third position in the standings while Stirling is now in fifth spot on 10-6.

Ellyce Ironmonger top-scored for the Wolves finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 7-of-13 from the field.

Nikita-Lee Martin also added 13 points with Chelsea Burns scoring 12 points to go with nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Alex Kerr also had 11 points and six rebounds for Joondalup, Shani Amos 11 points and eight assists, and Amy Kidner 10 points and four rebounds.

Emma Berryman top-scored for the Senators with 23 points while hitting an impressive 5-of-6 from three-point territory.

Hannah Throns also contributed 21 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists with Amber Land and Tegan Walker both adding 10 points apiece.

The three tremendous men's contests on Friday night saw the Lakeside Lightning beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 98-96 at Lakeside Recreation Centre, the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers down the Raw Nutrition Cockburn Cougars 101-100 at Wally Hagan Stadium and the Stirling Senators defeat the Joondalup Wolves 96-95 at Warwick Leisure Centre.

The Lightning beat the Hawks by just two points at home but it was a big result for both teams.

With the win, Lakeside moved further clear in third position in the standings and maintained touch with the second-placed Rockingham Flames while Perry Lakes' playoff hopes took another heavy hit with the Hawks now slipping to an 8-12 record in 11th position.

Caleb Palkert led the way for the Lightning with 25 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots with his night including 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range.

Darrel Morgan added 16 points and five rebounds for Lakeside while Brad Jackson scored 12 points, Jesse Dixon 11 and Jarrad Prue 10 to go with 28 rebounds and four blocks.

Ben Purser led the way for the Hawks with 30 points, six rebounds and five assists with Justin Cecil adding 27 points, nine boards and six assists. Corey Easley contributed 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals as well.

The Slammers recorded a crucial one-point away win against the Cougars with South West holding on to eighth position as a result with an 11-10 record wile Cockburn fell two games behind in 10th with a 9-13 record.

New import Markus Monroe was outstanding for the Slammers with 34 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals on the back of shooting 13-of-22 from the field.

Clive Weeden also contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds, Trent Worthington 21 points and six boards, and playing-coach Ty Harrelson 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Gavin Field worked hard for the Cougars with 30 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots with Damien Scott contributing 18 points, 12 boards, five assists and three steals.

Jaarod Holmes also finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while Seva Chan scored 14 points and Anthony Borden 10.

The Senators then downed the Wolves by a solitary point at home with Stirling improving to fifth position on 11-9 as a result while Joondalup fell all the way out of the top eight down to ninth spot on 10-10.

Cory Cooperwood was the top-scorer for the Senators but it was a strong team performance with five players scoring in double-figures.

Cooperwood led the way, though, with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists with Cody Ellis adding 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

Josh Throns also finished with 18 points for Stirling, Jordan Wild 15 and 14 rebounds, and Tom Witts 11 points.

Seb Salinas was again the star for the Wolves with 24 points and six rebounds with Ephrem Davis contributing 20 points and 12 rebounds.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 95 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 52
Soprano Lady Cougars 89 defeated Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 70
Stirling Senators 81 lost to Joondalup Wolves 83

FRIDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 98 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 96
Raw Nutrition Cockburn Cougars 100 lost to Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 101
Stirling Senators 96 defeated Joondalup Wolves 95

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin