Jewel Williams.
Camera IconJewel Williams. Credit: Supplied/Sports Imagery Australia

Basketball: Kalamunda Eastern Suns men rise into SBL playoff contention

Justin BianchiniMidland Kalamunda Reporter

THE Kalamunda Eastern Suns men closed in on a playoff position in the State Basketball League beating the Lakeside Lightning last Saturday night while the women came up short ahead of a critical double-header.

The Eastern Suns were first up on Friday night on the road to the East Perth Eagles in Morley.

The Suns women did well beating the winless Eagles 76-69 on the back of 17 points from Jewel Williams; Alex Ciabattoni also had 14 points and six assists, and Jennie Rintala 14 points and eight boards.

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The Eastern Suns men followed up with a narrow loss with East Perth claiming the 106-98 victory to snap a five-game losing slide.

Kalamunda big man Kevin Davis had 22 points and 13 rebounds.

It was back to Ray Owen Sports Centre on Saturday night against the Lightning with the Eastern Suns women going down to the league-leading Lakeside 99-77 despite 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists from Ciabattoni.

The Eastern Suns men then had a night to remember shooting into playoff contention hammering the Lightning 116-89.

Kalamunda turned it on with 26 points and 15 rebounds from Davis while Louis Timms added 16 points, Courtney Belger 14 (13 assists), Ryan Blanchett 12 and Logan Viskovich 12.

It is a potentially season-defining double-header this weekend for both Eastern Suns teams starting Saturday night against the Rockingham Flames at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

The Suns women have a chance to knock off a team inside the top four while for the men, the Flames are a team they are locked in a battle with for a playoff berth.

It is on to Warwick Stadium on Sunday afternoon against the Stirling Senators. Kalamunda’s women need to win to stay ahead of Stirling while the men could potentially replace the Senators in the top eight with a win.

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