Round 18 saw the Slammers men’s and women’s teams take down the Cockburn Cougars.
Following two hit-and-miss weekends of State Basketball League action, the Slammers had to face two fearsome Cougars’ sides at Wally Hagan Stadium.
Cockburn’s women’s side got the better of the Slammers in the first quarter, as Brianna Moyes (26 points) and Ruby Benn (15) found their targets.
Meanwhile, Slammers’ star Courtney Bayliss (29) made her presence known throughout the first term.
Fearing a loss at home, the Cougars pushed in front by five midway through the second quarter.
Slammers Tori Fisher (19) and Charlotte van Kleef (16) put their side back on track, with Fisher’s free-throw skills helping to level the scores before half time.
Testing Cockburn in the second half, van Kleef, Fisher, and Bayliss rallied to keep their side in the game.
Despite an impressive run from Tayah Burrows (12) late in the third term, the Cougars held onto a four-point lead at the final change.
The Slammers took the lead early in the fourth and went on to score an 83 to 80 victory.
In the men’s game, Slammer Clive Weeden – returning after a two-week hiatus – troubled the Cougars with 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
He, Travis Durnin (23), and Brian Voelkel (scoring a triple-double with 15 points, 21 rebounds, and 13 assists) gave the Slammers a 10-point lead at quarter time.
In the second term, scorching performances by Cougars Brandon Sebirumbi (27 points, 13 rebounds) and captain Gavin Field (26) kept their fans engaged.
Slammers captain Michael Lay (16) and Brandon Thompson (11) pushed the visitors’ lead out to 14 at the main break.
The Slammers maintained a comfortable buffer in the third quarter, before Weeden and Cory Richardson (10) extended the lead to 20.
Making up for last weekend’s losses, the Slammers stormed home to a 99 to 80 win.
The Slammers women’s side remains ninth, while the men’s side now sits in 12th place.
They face a double-header in round 19, with the Geraldton Buccaneers and Stirling Senators heading to Eaton this weekend.
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