The Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers Men and Women both came up victorious in Round 10 of the State Basketball League defeating the Mandurah Magic  on Friday night.

The Tigers Women, who experienced just their third loss for the season last weekend at the hands of the Rockingham Flames, bounced back ,downing the Magic in what was an impressive fourth quarter performance.

Assisted by Week 7 SBL PowerPlayer of the Week Shelley Boston (32 points, 14 rebounds) the Magic managed to out rebound the Tigers, but with the recent return of Melissa Marsh (16 points) into the line up the Tigers were too strong offensively overpowering the ninth placed Magic 90-73. Kate Malpass led the way for the Tigers with 22 points. Young Courtney Hargreaves stepped up with a solid 19 point, 7 rebound effort.

The win leaves the Women two wins clear of the fourth spot Kalamunda Eastern Suns. With only 9 games remaining in the regular season the Tigers Women will be beginning to eye possible quarter finals matchups for what looks like to be a promising postseason campaign.

The Tigers Men also had a successful night comfortably defeating the Magic men to claim their first back to back victories for the season.

The Tigers, who experienced one of the season's biggest upsets in Round 7 losing to the struggling last placed Magic on the road, didn't break stride in defeating the Magic holding a lead from tip-off to the horn to win 105-79.

Coming against a physically intimidating Tigers line up, the Magic had to pick their poison choosing to defend 7 foot 2 import Chris Christofferson with multiple opponents leaving other scoring opportunities open to other Tigers. Robert Epps was big with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Captain Clint Read was his reliable self for 20 points and 12 rebounds.

The Tigers Men have left themselves a tough task to make the finals having to win most of their final eleven games to scrape into the top eight. But with the league's biggest front court and some strong young guards they are more than capable of completing an end of season run similar to last year.

This week the Tigers Men and Women are away against the Lakeside Lightning. The Lightning Women staged a surprise come from behind victory over the Tigers in week 8. This Friday, the Tigers will have to win away to redeem themselves against a finals hungry, seventh placed Lightning outfit.

The Tigers Men will be faced with a first placed Lightning Men who will be out for a remarkable tenth straight victory. Lightning rebounding machine Jarrad Prue will have his work cut out for him against the likes of Tigers big men Epps, Read and Christofferson.

The key for the Tigers will be shutting down the Lightning's specialist shooting recruit Luke Payne who was firing last time they met. But with a well rounded line up the Tigers Men should be confident of their ability to upset the first placed Lightning.

Article by Tim Friday