THE defending champion Cockburn Cougars opened their Men's SBL account for 2017 beating the Willetton Tigers on Friday night on the back of a monster effort from Jalen Billups with Lakeside also scoring a win.

Cockburn's new import big man Billups was simply unstoppable against the Tigers on Friday night at Willetton Basketball Stadium. He delivered 39 points and 15 rebounds in just his second SBL game and only two weeks after arriving in the country.

That performance helped the Cougars beat last year's semi finalists Willetton 89-81.

Friday night's other Men's SBL fixture took place at Lakeside Recreation Centre with the Lightning prevailing over a dogged Mandurah Magic 86-79.

Week 2 Men's SBL Preview 

The Lightning went 1-1 in the opening weekend of the 2017 season beating the South West Slammers on the road and going down to the Geraldton Buccaneers at home leading into hosting the young Magic on Friday.

The Lightning made a fast start to open an 11-point advantage by quarter-time. The Magic continued to fight and gave themselves a shot late but Lakeside steadied for the seven-point win.

Devon Atkinson came up big for the Lightning with 25 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Fellow import and co-captain James Padgett delivered 22 points and 17 boards.

Darrell Morgan contributed 10 points off the bench in just 10 minutes for Lakeside. Hayden Bell finished with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists, Daniel Grida nine points and Corey Shervill eight to go with seven boards.

Mandurah showed good fight led by veteran Taylor Mullenax who finished with 34 points and four rebounds.

Fletcher Klasztorny added 18 points for the Magic, Damon Ballantyne 12 (12 rebounds) and Ricky Kreklow 12 (six assists, five boards).

Then at Willetton Basketball Stadium, little separated the Tigers and Cougars all night as two of last year's top four teams looked to make an early season statement.

The Cougars might be the defending champions but they have lost plenty from that team including Marcus Goode, Najee Lane, Sheldon McIntyre, Julian Pesava and Travis Hayto.

The Tigers were again without the injured Ray Turner as well but quite simply, new Cougar Billups was the difference in the game.

He continued to make big play after big play at either end of the floor. He continued to take the ball to the basket and earn three-point play opportunities while down the other end he was a real defensive presence.

With him continuing to deliver and then Gavin Field and Dan Thomas hitting massive three-pointers late in the game, the Cougars took out the six-point victory over the Tigers having come from behind at three quarter-time.

New Cougars coach Adam Nener got to taste his first win as a head coach against the club he was an assistant coach at last year.

"I was a bit nervous there wanting that first win. I thought we were unlucky last week not to get to win so to get that monkey off the back now is very cool," Nener said.

"It definitely is nice to get that first win. Obviously they were missing Ray Turner which is a big body and player for them, but we still didn’t play to our best I don’t think.

"There's still some learning to do with a new coach and players in the system. There's still some learning with the way we want them to play, but I think we are going to get there sooner or later."

Billups delivered a remarkably dominant performance finishing with 39 points and 15 rebounds on 15-of-25 shooting from the field and 9-of-11 from the line.

He was only credited with one block but had several more including some game-defining ones in the second half when Tigers point guard Kyle Armour challenged him in the paint on drives.

Nener was just as impressed with what Billups did defensively as the numbers he finished with.

"What was Kyle thinking?" Nener joked afterwards.

"All college he has played the four/five role and before he came out here he was working on being able to play a three man at the next level. He will get there, he's certainly quick enough on defence to play that.

"He just has to work on his shot a bit more. He has aspirations to go higher and to keep improving, and we'll help him to do that. If he keeps playing like that, people are going to take notice."

Field also continues to show that his nasty elbow injury is behind him with 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists including knocking down four of his six three-point attempts.

Thomas finished with six points, eight assists and six boards for Cockburn as well and the returning Seva Chan five points and six assists.

Meanwhile, Jay Bowie did all he could to try and lift the Tigers with 32 points and 11 rebounds.

Damien Scott added 25 points and seven boards for Willetton, Armour 15 points and eight assists. Andrew Black started in the absence of Turner and pulled in eight rebounds.

Round 2 continues on Saturday night with the Goldfields Giants and Geraldton Buccaneers playing their first games at home for the season, against the Joondalup Wolves and East Perth Eagles respectively.

The Stirling Senators also play the Rockingham Flames, the South West Slammers host Shawn Redhage, Alex Loughton and the Perth Redbacks with the Kalamunda Eastern Suns facing the Perry Lakes Hawks.

FRIDAY NIGHT ROUND 2 MEN'S SBL RESULTS
Lakeside Lightning 86 defeated Mandurah Magic 79
Willetton Tigers 81 lost to Cockburn Cougars 89

SATURDAY NIGHT ROUND 2 MEN'S SBL FIXTURES
Geraldton Buccaneers v East Perth Eagles – Active West Stadium 7.30pm
Goldfields Giants v Joondalup Wolves – Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium 7.30pm
South West Slammers v Perth Redbacks – Eaton Recreation Centre 8pm
Stirling Senators v Rockingham Flames – Warwick Stadium 8pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Perry Lakes Hawks – Ray Owen Sports Centre 8.30pm

Photo by Vikki Hile