# 2017 State Basketball League season

The 2017 State Basketball League season was the 29th season of the State Basketball League (SBL). The regular season began on Friday 17 March and ended on Saturday 29 July. The finals began on Friday 4 August and concluded with the women's grand final on Friday 1 September and the men's grand final on Saturday 2 September.

## Pre-season

The 2017 SBL Pre-Season Blitz was held at Warwick Stadium over Saturday 4 March and Sunday 5 March. The tournament featured the Malaysia women's national basketball team.

## Regular season

The regular season began on Friday 17 March and ended on Saturday 29 July after 20 rounds of competition. All games over the Easter Round were played on a Thursday night with six venues all hosting games before the league took a break for the Easter long weekend. Anzac Round took place again in round 6 of the competition with the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Willetton Tigers continuing their Anzac Day game tradition while being joined this year by the Cockburn Cougars hosting the Rockingham Flames on the Tuesday afternoon. There was also Women's Round in round 9, Rivalry Round in round 12, and Heritage Round in round 16.

### Standings

| Pos |
| Pos | Team | W | L |
| 1 | Willetton Tigers | 20 | 6 |
| 2 | Joondalup Wolves | 20 | 6 |
| 3 | Geraldton Buccaneers | 19 | 7 |
| 4 | Perth Redbacks | 16 | 10 |
| 5 | South West Slammers | 15 | 11 |
| 6 | Stirling Senators | 15 | 11 |
| 7 | Cockburn Cougars | 15 | 11 |
| 8 | Perry Lakes Hawks | 12 | 14 |
| 9 | Lakeside Lightning | 12 | 14 |
| 10 | Rockingham Flames | 11 | 15 |
| 11 | East Perth Eagles | 8 | 18 |
| 12 | Goldfields Giants | 8 | 18 |
| 13 | Kalamunda Eastern Suns | 7 | 19 |
| 14 | Mandurah Magic | 4 | 22 |
| Pos |
| Pos | Team | W | L |
| 1 | Perry Lakes Hawks | 20 | 2 |
| 2 | Mandurah Magic | 19 | 3 |
| 3 | Lakeside Lightning | 17 | 5 |
| 4 | Stirling Senators | 15 | 7 |
| 5 | Willetton Tigers | 13 | 9 |
| 6 | Joondalup Wolves | 12 | 10 |
| 7 | Perth Redbacks | 8 | 14 |
| 8 | Cockburn Cougars | 8 | 14 |
| 9 | Kalamunda Eastern Suns | 6 | 16 |
| 10 | South West Slammers | 6 | 16 |
| 11 | Rockingham Flames | 6 | 16 |
| 12 | East Perth Eagles | 2 | 20 |

## Finals

The finals began on Friday 4 August and consisted of three rounds. The finals concluded with the women's grand final on Friday 1 September and the men's grand final on Saturday 2 September.

### Men's bracket

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| 1 | Willetton Tigers | 80 | 85 | 90 | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Perry Lakes Hawks | 90 | 84 | 87 | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Perry Lakes Hawks | 90 | 84 | 87 | 1 | Willetton Tigers | 81 | 92 | X | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Perth Redbacks | 85 | 101 | X | | | | |
| 4 | Perth Redbacks | 94 | 107 | 87 | 4 | Perth Redbacks | 85 | 101 | X | | | | |
| 5 | South West Slammers | 97 | 99 | 81 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | South West Slammers | 97 | 99 | 81 | | | | | | Perth Redbacks | 103 | X | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | Joondalup Wolves | 70 | X | X |
| 2 | Joondalup Wolves | 90 | 90 | 86 | | | | | | | | | | Joondalup Wolves | 70 | X | X |
| 7 | Cockburn Cougars | 83 | 120 | 65 | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Cockburn Cougars | 83 | 120 | 65 | 2 | Joondalup Wolves | 77 | 87 | 93 | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Geraldton Buccaneers | 84 | 84 | 81 | | | | |
| 3 | Geraldton Buccaneers | 89 | 80 | 84 | 3 | Geraldton Buccaneers | 84 | 84 | 81 | | | | |
| 6 | Stirling Senators | 80 | 93 | 82 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Grand Final summary

* 2 September 2017 7:30 pm
* Box score Report Highlights
Joondalup Wolves 70, Perth Redbacks 103 :
| Scoring by quarter: 16–24, 21–22, 19–30, 14–27 |||
| Pts: Ben Ironmonger 15 Rebs: Ryan Wright 10 Asts: Ben Ironmonger 3 | Pts: Lee Roberts 28 Rebs: Lee Roberts 17 Asts: Shawn Redhage 6 |
| Perth wins SBL Championship |||
* Bendat Basketball Centre, Floreat MVP: Lee Roberts (Redbacks)

### Women's bracket

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| 1 | Perry Lakes Hawks | 83 | 85 | X | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Cockburn Cougars | 68 | 61 | X | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Cockburn Cougars | 68 | 61 | X | 1 | Perry Lakes Hawks | 93 | 90 | X | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Willetton Tigers | 81 | 62 | X | | | | |
| 4 | Stirling Senators | 79 | 65 | 67 | 5 | Willetton Tigers | 81 | 62 | X | | | | |
| 5 | Willetton Tigers | 74 | 71 | 85 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Willetton Tigers | 74 | 71 | 85 | | | | | | Perry Lakes Hawks | 59 | X | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | Mandurah Magic | 48 | X | X |
| 2 | Mandurah Magic | 66 | 79 | X | | | | | | | | | | Mandurah Magic | 48 | X | X |
| 7 | Perth Redbacks | 59 | 54 | X | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Perth Redbacks | 59 | 54 | X | 2 | Mandurah Magic | 86 | 78 | 67 | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Lakeside Lightning | 76 | 86 | 61 | | | | |
| 3 | Lakeside Lightning | 76 | 73 | X | 3 | Lakeside Lightning | 76 | 86 | 61 | | | | |
| 6 | Joondalup Wolves | 58 | 56 | X | | | | | | | | | |

#### Grand Final summary

* 1 September 2017 7:30 pm
* Box score Report Highlights
Perry Lakes Hawks 59, Mandurah Magic 48 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–16, 13–14, 14–12, 17–6 |||
| Pts: Antonia Farnworth 26 Rebs: Natalie Burton 15 Asts: Lauren Jeffers 5 | Pts: Nici Gilday 20 Rebs: Carly Boag 12 Asts: Casey Mihovilovich 3 |
| Perry Lakes wins SBL Championship |||
* Bendat Basketball Centre, Floreat MVP: Antonia Farnworth (Hawks)

## All-Star games

The 2017 SBL All-Star games took place at Bendat Basketball Centre on Monday 5 June, with all proceeds going to Lifeline WA for suicide prevention.

### Men's game
#### Rosters

North All-Stars :
| Pos | Player | Team |
| Starters |||
| F | Maurice Barrow | Geraldton Buccaneers |
| G | Courtney Belger | Kalamunda Eastern Suns |
| C | Kevin Davis | East Perth Eagles |
| F | Shawn Redhage | Perth Redbacks |
| G | Benjamin Smith | Perth Redbacks |
| Reserves |||
| F | Cody Ellis | Stirling Senators |
| G | Jackson Hussey | Geraldton Buccaneers |
| F | Ben Purser | Perry Lakes Hawks |
| C | Rhys Vague | Stirling Senators |
| G | Drew Williamson | East Perth Eagles |
| Head coach: Nik Lackovic (Perth Redbacks) |||
South All-Stars :
| Pos | Player | Team |
| Starters |||
| G | Kyle Armour | Willetton Tigers |
| F | Jalen Billups | Cockburn Cougars |
| G/F | Julius Bowie | Willetton Tigers |
| F | Jacob Holmen | Goldfields Giants |
| G | Tre Nichols | South West Slammers |
| Reserves |||
| F | Gavin Field | Cockburn Cougars |
| F | JB Pillard | Goldfields Giants |
| G | Damien Scott | Willetton Tigers |
| F | Ray Turner | Willetton Tigers |
| F | Brian Voelkel | South West Slammers |
| Head coach: Stephen Black (Willetton Tigers) |||

#### Game data

* Highlights
* 5 June 2017 2:00 pm
* Box Score Report Report
North 126, South 129 (OT) :
| Scoring by quarter: 28–27, 27–38, 29–33, 26–22, Overtime: 16–19 |||
| Pts: Smith (26) Rebs: Redhage (11) Asts: Ellis (8) | Pts: Turner (39) Rebs: Turner (10) Asts: Voelkel (9) |
* Bendat Basketball Centre, Floreat MVP: Ray Turner

### Women's game
#### Rosters

North All-Stars :
| Pos | Player | Team |
| Starters |||
| G | Shani Amos | Joondalup Wolves |
| F/C | Natalie Burton | Perry Lakes Hawks |
| G | Antonia Farnworth | Perry Lakes Hawks |
| C | Emilee Harmon | Perth Redbacks |
| F | Kisha Lee | Stirling Senators |
| Reserves |||
| G | Chelsea Belcher | Joondalup Wolves |
| C | Ellyce Ironmonger | Joondalup Wolves |
| G | Lauren Jeffers | Perry Lakes Hawks |
| F/C | Jennie Rintala | Kalamunda Eastern Suns |
| F | Klara Wischer | Joondalup Wolves |
| F/C | Sarah Donovan | Perry Lakes Hawks |
| Head coach: Deanna Smith (Perry Lakes Hawks) |||
South All-Stars :
| Pos | Player | Team |
| Starters |||
| G | Stacey Barr | Willetton Tigers |
| F | Carly Boag | Mandurah Magic |
| G | Nici Gilday | Mandurah Magic |
| F | Brittany Hodges | South West Slammers |
| G/F | Alison Schwagmeyer | Lakeside Lightning |
| Reserves |||
| F | Courtney Bayliss | South West Slammers |
| G/F | Sydnee Fipps | Lakeside Lightning |
| C | Zoe Harper | Willetton Tigers |
| G | Casey Mihovilovich | Mandurah Magic |
| F | Kersten Mitchell | Cockburn Cougars |
| Head coach: Randy Miegel (Mandurah Magic) |||

#### Game data

* Highlights
* 5 June 2017 12:00 pm
* Box Score Report Report
North 66, South 106 :
| Scoring by quarter: 13–23, 21–27, 20–20, 12–36 |||
| Pts: Burton (18) Rebs: Burton (8) Asts: Wischer (4) | Pts: Boag & Schwagmeyer (18) Rebs: Barr, Boag & Gilday (12) Asts: Gilday (10) |
* Bendat Basketball Centre, Floreat MVP: Nici Gilday

## Awards
### Player of the Week

| Round | Men's Player | Team | Women's Player | Team |
| 1 | Dwayne Benjamin | Geraldton Buccaneers | Chelsea Belcher | Joondalup Wolves |
| 2 | Jalen Billups | Cockburn Cougars | Stacey Barr | Willetton Tigers |
| 3 | Jacob Holmen | Goldfields Giants | Kisha Lee | Stirling Senators |
| 4 | Kevin Davis | East Perth Eagles | Nici Gilday | Mandurah Magic |
| 5 | Jalen Billups | Cockburn Cougars | Emilee Harmon | Perth Redbacks |
| 6 | Jackson Hussey | Geraldton Buccaneers | Alison Schwagmeyer | Lakeside Lightning |
| 7 | Shawn Redhage | Perth Redbacks | Stacey Barr | Willetton Tigers |
| 8 | Ray Turner | Willetton Tigers | Carly Boag | Mandurah Magic |
| 9 | Dwayne Benjamin | Geraldton Buccaneers | Kisha Lee | Stirling Senators |
| 10 | Ray Turner | Willetton Tigers | Klara Wischer | Joondalup Wolves |
| 11 | Jalen Billups | Cockburn Cougars | Alison Schwagmeyer | Lakeside Lightning |
| 12 | Matthew Adekponya | Perry Lakes Hawks | Sydnee Fipps | Lakeside Lightning |
| 13 | Brian Voelkel | South West Slammers | Carly Boag | Mandurah Magic |
| 14 | Jalen Billups | Cockburn Cougars | Nici Gilday | Mandurah Magic |
| 15 | Dwayne Benjamin | Geraldton Buccaneers | Toni Farnworth | Perry Lakes Hawks |
| 16 | Dwayne Benjamin | Geraldton Buccaneers | Sydnee Fipps | Lakeside Lightning |
| 17 | Taylor Mullenax | Mandurah Magic | Alison Schwagmeyer | Lakeside Lightning |
| 18 | James Padgett | Lakeside Lightning | Alison Schwagmeyer | Lakeside Lightning |
| 19 | Brian Voelkel | South West Slammers | Alison Schwagmeyer | Lakeside Lightning |
| 20 | Shawn Redhage | Perth Redbacks | Taylor Roberts | Stirling Senators |

### Statistics leaders

| Category | Men's Player | Team | Stat | Women's Player | Team | Stat |
| Points per game | Shawn Redhage | Perth Redbacks | 27.53 | Chastity Reed | Rockingham Flames | 23.44 |
| Rebounds per game | Brian Voelkel | South West Slammers | 16.13 | Carly Boag | Mandurah Magic | 12.5 |
| Assists per game | Brian Voelkel | South West Slammers | 8.65 | Shani Amos | Joondalup Wolves | 5.00 |
| Steals per game | Rob Brandenberg | Kalamunda Eastern Suns | 2.73 | Carly Boag | Mandurah Magic | 3.30 |
| Blocks per game | Donovon Jack | Rockingham Flames | 2.00 | Samantha Roscoe | Lakeside Lightning | 2.46 |
| Field goal percentage | Mathew Wundenberg | Geraldton Buccaneers | 65.22% | Brittany Hodges | South West Slammers | 55.00% |
| 3-pt field goal percentage | Lochlan Cummings | Cockburn Cougars | 44.36% | Sydnee Fipps | Lakeside Lightning | 38.69% |
| Free throw percentage | Shawn Redhage | Perth Redbacks | 87.14% | Nici Gilday | Mandurah Magic | 85.37% |

### Regular season

* Men's Most Valuable Player: Jacob Holmen (Goldfields Giants)
* Women's Most Valuable Player: Alison Schwagmeyer (Lakeside Lightning)
* Men's Coach of the Year: Charles Nix (South West Slammers)
* Women's Coach of the Year: Randy Miegel (Mandurah Magic)
* Men's Most Improved Player: Corey Shervill (Lakeside Lightning)
* Women's Most Improved Player: Chelsea Belcher (Joondalup Wolves)
* Men's All-Star Five:
** PG: Tre Nichols (South West Slammers)
** SG: Dwayne Benjamin (Geraldton Buccaneers)
** SF: Brian Voelkel (South West Slammers)
** PF: Shawn Redhage (Perth Redbacks)
** C: Ray Turner (Willetton Tigers)
* Women's All-Star Five:
** PG: Nici Gilday (Mandurah Magic)
** SG: Stacey Barr (Willetton Tigers)
** SF: Alison Schwagmeyer (Lakeside Lightning)
** PF: Carly Boag (Mandurah Magic)
** C: Natalie Burton (Perry Lakes Hawks)
* Men's All-Defensive Five:
** PG: Kyle Armour (Willetton Tigers)
** SG: Courtney Belger (Kalamunda Eastern Suns)
** SF: Maurice Barrow (Geraldton Buccaneers)
** PF: Ben Purser (Perry Lakes Hawks)
** C: Kevin Davis (Joondalup Wolves)
* Women's All-Defensive Five:
** PG: Lauren Jeffers (Perry Lakes Hawks)
** SG: Casey Mihovilovich (Mandurah Magic)
** SF: Alison Schwagmeyer (Lakeside Lightning)
** PF: Ellyce Ironmonger (Joondalup Wolves)
** C: Natalie Burton (Perry Lakes Hawks)

### Finals

* Men's Grand Final MVP: Lee Roberts (Perth Redbacks)
* Women's Grand Final MVP: Antonia Farnworth (Perry Lakes Hawks)