Flames snuff out Magic in two games of wizardry

The Rockingham Flames picked up two huge victories Friday night in Mandurah against the Mandurah Magic.

The men sealed the fifth spot on the ladder and helped eliminate the Mandurah Magic from finals contention heading into the final week of the season with a 106-91 victory, and the women overcame a slow start to win 84-68.

The Flames men's team fell behind by as much as nine points in the second quarter, but rallied to cut the lead to five points at half time.

They owned the second half, as several players stepped up to make key shots every time Mandurah threatened to take control of the game.

Jarryd Griffin, Ryan Godfrey, Taylor Land, and Justin Beard all made crucial three pointers in the fourth quarter. Beard also made his third start of the season and was brilliant on defence the entire night for Rockingham.

Cooper Land kept the Flames in it early with 24 first-half points.

He finished with a game high 31 points and 15 rebounds, and Taylor Land added 17 points and nine rebounds, with most of those coming in crunch time.

Beard, Griffin, Godfrey, and former Mandurah Magic all-star Tom Remmerswaal also scored in double figures for Rockingham.

The women's team found themselves in an unusual situation as they fell behind 10-0 to Mandurah, the only team to defeat Rockingham so far this season.

However, Kate Williams, Lizel Buckley and Talisia Bourne all stepped up and hit big shots to keep the Flames in the game, as they closed the gap to four by the end of the first quarter.

In the second half Sami Whitcomb found mojo and helped the Flames to outscore the Magic by 19.

She finished with 28 points and nine rebounds and Jacinta Bourne notched a double double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and five steals.

Darcee Garbin and Talisia Bourne also scored in double figures.

Up next for Rockingham is the Willetton Tigers on Saturday night at Willetton Basketball Stadium in what is the final game of the regular season.

The men, at 15-10 on the season, cannot finish any higher or lower than fifth, while the women's game will decide who the regular season championship will go to as the Flames sit one game ahead of the Tigers in top spot.