Round 16 made for another weekend of hits and misses for the South West Slammers men's and women's teams.
The squads headed north to take on the Perry Lakes Hawks. Having defeated the Hawks in May, both Slammers’ teams felt confident.
This time around, the Hawks women’s side was unstoppable from the opening tip-off.
A devastating performance from centre Natalie Burton (scoring a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds) stunned the visitors.
Carried by guard Tayah Burrows (10) and Charlotte van Kleef (8), the Slammers were valiant but fell to a nine-point deficit at the first break.
Hawks forward Antonia Farnworth (14) and captain Kate Anthony (11) drove through the Slammers’ defenders, extending the home side’s lead in the second term.
Hampered by an in-form Hawks’ line-up, the Slammers faced a 23-point deficit at the main break.
After gaining a 30-point lead at three-quarter time, the Hawks outclassed the Slammers and scored a 82 to 49 win.
The Slammers men’s side didn’t do much better, with the Hawks claiming a 105 to 73 win.
Collecting a triple-double with 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists, Brian Voelkel assisted the visitors throughout the game.
Despite Voelkel’s efforts, the Slammers were outmatched by Hawk Jacob Holmen.
Securing a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, Travis Durnin kept the visitors going.
Trailing by seven at quarter time, the Slammers were determined to close the gap.
However, the Hawks continued their blistering run to further extended the margin.
The Slammers – scoring 21 to the Hawks’ 34 in the second term – failed to halt Perry Lakes’s momentum.
Hopes of a Slammers’ victory faded as Lochlan Cummings (25) and captain Ben Purser (15) added to the Hawks’ total in the third term.
The home side went on to claim a 32-point win and its 13th victory of the season.
Up against the Goldfields Giants the following day, the Slammers’ men clinched their fifth win of the year.
Voelkel went on the attack early, collecting the first five points of the game with two lay-ups and a free-throw.
In a stellar weekend for Voelkel, he collected another triple-double with a mighty 31 points, 27 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Durnin (32) and Matthew Leary (6) worked their way around the court, found targets, and took chances inside the three-point line.
The Slammers extended their 11-point quarter-time lead in the second term, before Jeylyn Sharpe (34) brought the visitors back.
Strong performances from Sharpe and Kyle Sovine (22 points, 10 rebounds) helped the Giants to a one-point lead at half time.
Slammers captain Michael Lay (10) kept the Slammers in the contest, before the Giants edged in front at the final change.
With both sides desperately needing a win, the game then turned into an all-out battle.
Holding the Goldfields’ side at bay in the fourth term, the Slammers walked away with a well-deserved 95 to 86 win.
The Slammers will play two do-or-die clashes in round 17, with both teams going up against Lakeside Lightning and Perth Redbacks this weekend.
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