IT WAS a disappointing weekend for the Mandurah Magic men losing to both Joondalup and Stirling.
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The Magic were up for the challenge on Friday night against the league leaders Joondalup but were unable to capitalise late in the game to lose by 14 points, 113-99.
The scoreboard didn’t reflect the true tightness of the game with the Magic trailing by just two points heading into the final period.
The Magic hit the lead with 10 minutes left on the clock in a see-sawing final term.
Joondalup hit back and lead for the next five minutes before the Magic tied scores up with four minutes remaining at 97 each.
The Magic squandered their opportunities scoring just two more points for the game, and despite still trailing by six points with one minute remaining lost by 14.
Ben Smith led the way for the Magic with 24 and was well supported by Paul Hafford with 22.
The lost to Joondalup may have been disappointing but a 120-107 loss to Stirling, a team that had won just six games for the season, was more disappointing.
Once again the Magic were in the game in the final term, trailing by just two points with four minutes remaining.
However, in almost a mirror image of the Joondalup game, the Magic scored just two more points for the game to end up losing by 13 points.
Smith top scored for the Magic with 30 points and again was assisted by hafford with 20.
On the back of three-straight losses, the Magic have now slipped seventh with 11 wins and 10 losses with five games remaining.
The Magic face another tough task when they face Willetton, who are level on wins, on Saturday at 8pm at the Willetton Basketball Centre.
