THE Mandurah Magic men’s team is managing to stay in the top four despite a lower percentage than fifth-placed Perth Redbacks and a loss on the weekend.
The Kalamunda Eastern Suns struck down the Magic by eight points 104-96 on Saturday night at the Ray Owen Sports Centre threatening the Magic’s chances of a finals opportunity.
Eleventh-placed Eastern Suns stunned Magic early in the game with a 32-point starting quarter to Mandurah’s 23-point effort.
Kalamunda slowed down at the end of the first half scoring 21 points extending a seven-point lead in front of the Magic which consisted with another 23-point quarter.
Mandurah came back firing after the break scoring 30 points to Kalamunda’s 27 instigating a close match for the last quarter.
But the Eastern Suns clawed its way forward with another 24 points scored at the end of the last half leaving the Magic with 20 points.
Mandurah’s key player Taylor Mullenax had another high scoring game with 33 points to his name.
Taylor Land and Andrew Bowman also contributed in scoring with 25 and 23 points respectively.
The Magic will keep themselves in fourth place over the Redbacks by playing fewer games respectively despite the Redbacks’ six per cent increase on the weekend.
The Cockburn Tigers remain two wins ahead of Mandurah while the Wanneroo Wolves and Lakeside Lightning blister the competition with 34 points to their names.
The Mandurah Magic men’s team will face 10th placed Stirling Senators Friday night at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
The Magic women’s team have not had luck trying to regain composure throughout the year as they were cemented on the bottom of the ladder with a loss to third place Kalamunda Eastern Suns 83-48 earlier Saturday night.
The Eastern Suns kicked off the first half by almost doubling the Magic’s score breaking out of defence with 46 points on the board by the break as Mandurah tried to keep up with 24.
The Magic fought back in the third quarter shooting 14 points and tightening its defence allowing the Eastern Suns to score only 16 points.
But Kalamunda shined through the cracks breaking out with another 21 points in the last half leaving the Magic with 10 points.
Shelley Boston was the highest scorer for Mandurah with 15 points to her name.
The Mandurah Magic women’s team will face 10th place Stirling Senators Friday night at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
