Team captain Chudier Pal starred with 22 points and 18 rebounds but it wasn’t enough for a Mandurah Magic victory as they fell to the Men’s State Basketball League powerhouse Joondalup Wolves at HBF Arena on Saturday.
Pal’s efforts led the way but they did little to change the result as Mandurah took a 107-75 loss.
The Magic were behind from the get-go when Joondalup flexed their muscles in the first quarter, storming out to an 18-point lead after outscoring Mandurah 34-16 in the period.
The Wolves hit the young Mandurah line-up with a full team attack as nine of their players hit the scoreboard led by Brian Sullivan’s six points.
It was an initial shock the Magic wouldn’t recover from, but they did their best to level the contest.
They managed to minimise the damage in the second quarter before outscoring Joondalup in the third.
All-star point guard Shaun Stewart recorded 11 of his total 19 points in the third quarter, teaming with Pal’s seven to help Mandurah outscore the hosts 25-21.
But their run was short-lived as Joondalup put the Magic to the sword in the final quarter, adding a further 16 points to their lead in a powerful display.
Jalen Billups and Trian Iliadis led the way in the scoring sheet for the Wolves with 19 apiece, while Sullivan chipped in with 16.
Pal led the game in both points and rebounds, while Jamal Shabazz accumulated his own double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Mandurah remains in 12th on the ladder despite the loss, while Joondalup remains in first with a whopping 14-1 record.
The Magic are back at home in round 12, as they look to pick up another win against the 13th-placed South West Slammers who they toppled in round two.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
