The Mandurah Magic women remain poised for a playoff berth despite an up-and-down weekend with a win and a loss in their double-header against Willetton and Kalamunda.
Star guard Casey Mihovilovich continued her return from injury through a rotation role and was outstanding coming off the bench in a booming 81-54 win over fellow finals aspirant Willetton, but the Magic hit a road block when a poor third quarter led them to a 74-78 loss against the Eastern Suns.
An efficient from all-star point guard Anita Brown was the dominant factor in the Willetton win, as she compiled 21 points on eight-of-15 shooting along with four rebounds and four assists.
The Tigers had the hot hand outscoring Mandurah 24-18 in the first quarter, but the Magic found their rhythm in the ensuing quarters to take complete control.
Mandurah was undaunted taking on the fifth-placed Willetton in their own building as they bullied their opposition in the second and third quarters, outscoring them 40-15 to take a 19-point lead into the final quarter.
With Brown and import centre Regina Palusna (16 points, nine rebounds, three assists) leading the way, Mandurah’s dominance continued into the fourth quarter where they piled a further eight points onto the lead.
Mihovilovich finished with an impressive 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals coming off the bench, while Emma Klasztorny (11 points, five rebounds, four assists) and Kelly Bailey (six points, six rebounds, three assists) were productive.
Brown’s hot form got even hotter in Saturday’s home game against Kalamunda, but it couldn’t eclipse the Suns as a disastrous third period led Mandurah to a loss.
The import guard went berserk dropping 36 points going at 48 per cent from the field, but Mandurah was thumped in the third quarter 24-10, seeing them go into the fourth quarter down 16 points.
Their final quarter was a more than valiant effort, as they clawed back into the contest with 35 points in the 10-minute period, but it wasn’t enough to see them to the victory.
Mihovilovich tallied an impressive stat line with eight points, four rebounds, five assists and seven steals, while Klasztorny recorded 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The mixed weekend keeps Mandurah in a playoff position with just two rounds left in the regular season.
They currently sit in sixth with nine wins and 11 losses, a record they share with Perry Lakes and Stirling who reside in seventh and eighth respectively.
But a loss could see their claims to a finals spot in peril, with the South West Slammers just one win behind the three in ninth spot.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
