Hornsby Spiders stung the Hunters 91-76 at The Brickpit and leaders Manly ended Maitland's four-game winning streak with an 88-71 triumph at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, extending their own victory stretch to 10 matches.

Newcastle were fourth on the ladder and Maitland were third before the weekend.

The top three teams will host games in the opening round of the six-team play-off series, then the three winners and the highest-ranked losing side from those matches will progress to the final four weekend at Broadmeadow on August 14-15.

The Hunters shot poorly from the free-throw line - 19 of 33 (58%) - and were even worse from three-point range - one-of-14 (7%) - against the struggling Spiders, to slip to an 11-7 win-loss record.

Big men Marcus Vanderheide (24 points, 15 rebounds), Nick Freer (21 points, 14 rebounds) and Jono Howe (11 points, six rebounds) posted solid numbers.

But the Hunters could not contain Spiders guard Jarrad Weeks (33 points, five assists).

Howe and guards Adam Stanger and Cameron Springall all fouled out for Newcastle.

Scott McGregor (27 points, 14 rebounds) did his best for the Mustangs, who are 11-6 with three more away games to complete the regular season.

Maitland and Manly were locked at 16-16 at quarter-time but the Sea Eagles pulled away in the next three periods, outshooting the Mustangs from the field (48% to 32%), the perimeter (33% to 22%) and the free-throw line (81% to 65%).

Newcastle's hopes of making the WABL women's play-offs slipped when the Hunters fell 84-72 to Hornsby on Saturday, despite the efforts of Katie Ebzery (20 points, eight assists, five rebounds) and Amanda Bendeich (14 points, 11 rebounds).