THE Mandurah Magic teams both lost their last games of the State Basketball League season on Saturday night, with the women gearing up to make a run for the 2017 championship.
On the last night of the regular season, the Magic hosted the Stirling Senators at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
The night began with the second-placed Magic women hosting the fourth-placed Senators.
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READ NOWWhile neither team could move from their position, both wanted to enter the finals in winning form.
But it was Stirling who prevailed, handing Mandurah just their third loss of the season.
The Senators won 90-72, but given the result didn’t affect anything, the Magic will be confident they won’t dent their positivity heading into the quarterfinals.
Carly Boag top-scored for Mandurah with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Nici Gilday also had 12 points, four rebounds and four assists, Emma Klasztorny 12 points and eight boards, and Bree Klasztorny 10 points.
The Magic will now take on the Perth Redbacks in the quarterfinals starting this Saturday night at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
Game two will be the following Saturday at Belmont Oasis, and if required, the deciding game three will be back in Mandurah on Sunday.
The Mandurah men faced a big ask to take on the finals-bound Senators on Saturday night without Taylor Mullenax and Daniel Munday, with import Ricky Kreklow having already departed.
Stirling proved too strong, winning 90-72 to gear up for its quarterfinal battle with the Geraldton Buccaneers, having finished in sixth position.
While Mandurah finish on the bottom of the standings with four wins, it has been a positive season in a lot of ways in Aaron Trahair’s first season as coach, with the development of a host of young players.
Several were again on display on Saturday night, with Sam Julitz delivering 12 points, Chad Simpson 12 points and Akau Deng seven to go with seven rebounds.
Import guard Will McNeill again starred with 32 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
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