South West Slammers all-star guard Tre Nichols earned a spot in the State Basketball League team of the week for the third time in four rounds over the weekend, as he helped the Slammers to a pair of wins against Mandurah and the Goldfields.
The duo of Nichols and Slammers import Royal Crouch have become increasingly difficult for opposing sides to handle, with the pair helping the Slammers outlast the Magic on Friday night.
Nichols finished with a stunning 32 points, seven assists and seven rebounds while Crouch ended the game with 26 points and nine rebounds.
The Slammers went into the fourth quarter with a six-point lead and held on after an offensive blast from Mandurah in the period.
The Magic tallied 34 points in the quarter but the Slammers fought back with 33 of their own, ensuring a 109-104 point win for the South West.
Centre Clive Weeden returned from a lengthy stint recovering from injury in the match, coming off the bench for five points and four rebounds.
The Slammers backed up their performance against Mandurah with another gritty win against the Goldfields on Saturday.
Nichols was again the star with 37 points and eight rebounds, while Trent Worthington’s work on the glass was astronomical.
The forward finished with 13 points and a whopping 20 rebounds, continuing his good form on the back board.
Worthington now sits in third for average rebounds in the competition with 13.8 per game, while Nichols is first in points per game going at 32.
Facing a nine-point deficit at the end of the third the Goldfields rallied in fourth, but the Slammers again outlasted their opposition.
Goldfields won the quarter by five but could not take the match, as the Slammers finished with a 101-97 win.
The Slammers are currently in seventh place on the SBL ladder.
Women's team fall to Mandurah
The women were not as fortunate as the men on Friday night, being trounced by Mandurah and being sent to the bottom of the ladder.
Adijat Adams tore through the Slammers, recording 26 points and 14 rebounds as her side won the match 43-90.
The South West scored just 17 points in the second half.
Brittany Gliddon led the way for the Slammers with 13 points and seven rebounds while Taylah Kemp tallied 10 points, four rebounds.
The Slammers will face the Cockburn Cougars in round five.
