Jamal Shabazz put up another 30-plus point game but it wasn’t enough for Mandurah to claim a victory with the South West’s Brian Voelkel wreaking havoc as his team soared to a huge win.
The Slammers’ triple-double machine was exactly that at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre on Friday night, buoying his side to a 78-101 win on the road.
Voelkel tallied a staggering 19 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists as the South West’s hot form kept on rolling, and was in the thick of things as they jumped out to an early lead.
All-star guard Shaun Stewart tallied the first points of the night for Mandurah, but the South West got motoring after that to escape to a 29-20 lead at the end of one.
The second quarter wasn’t much prettier for the Magic, who slumped to a 14-point deficit at half time.
By the middle of the third it was above 20 points, as the South West kept their foot on the gas until the very end.
Shabazz led all comers with a game-high 32 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists, while Stewart tallied 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists of his own.
The all-star duo were the only two to breach double figures for the Magic, with Chudier Pal (eight points, eight rebounds) and Damon Ballantyne (eight points, four rebounds, five assists) also contributing.
But their efforts couldn’t match the might of Voelkel and his formidable crew.
Along with the star’s triple-double, Brandon Thompson was efficient in the scoring tally with 29 points while Michael Lay put up 21, three rebounds and five assists.
Clive Harvey-Weeden also pitched in with 15 points, 10 rebounds.
The result sees the Slammers leapfrog the Magic on the ladder, with each side sitting in 12th and 13th respectively.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
