Slammers suffer weekend losses

The Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers suffered their second loss for the season on Saturday night, going down by seven points to the Perth Redbacks at Curtin Stadium.

The top-of-the-table Slammers were unable to stop arguably the State Basketball League’s best player in Ray Turner on their way to a 118 to 109 loss.

Turner was sensational for the Redbacks, scoring a game-high 34 points, while also taking 14 rebounds in a strong performance.

The Slammers began the game strongly, as the free flowing contest had both sides locked at 30 a piece at quarter time, but the Redbacks outscored the visitors by 16 points in the next two periods to take an unattainable lead.

The South West Slammers fought hard in the last, winning the quarter 35 to 28, but it was little too late as Turner and the Redbacks recorded a much valuable win on their way to a finals position.

Meanwhile, inconsistency continues to plague the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers women’s side, who suffered a five-point loss to the Perth Redbacks at the weekend.

The Slammers usual spread of quality performances was not there at Curtin Stadium on Saturday night, with imports Deonica McCormick and Patricia Bright keeping the visitors in the game as they lost 50 to 45.

Gabrielle Clayton was the star of the match, with the Redback scoring 17 points in the low scoring contest, while also bringing down eight rebounds.

Clayton was well supported by Jessica Jakens (12 points and eight rebounds), while Alix Hayward and Meike Elkington were monsters on the boards, bringing down 11 rebounds each.

Scores were level at half-time of the contest, but the Slammers were unable to impact the scoreboard after the main break and had a poor last period, scoring just four points.

McCormick (15 points) and Bright (19 points and 15 rebounds) had an impact on the contest, but there was little support from the rest of the girls as the Slammers suffered their sixth loss for the season.

The Slammers are now in danger of falling outside the top eight, with a contest against the highly fancied Mandurah Magic presenting itself on Friday night.