A look at the women's SBL teams not in playoffs
THE South West Slammers, Perry Lakes Hawks, East Perth Eagles and Perth Redbacks missed out on the 2014 women's SBL playoffs and here is a look at how their seasons went.
COLLIE CRANE HIRE SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS
7 wins, 15 losses; 9th position
2013 finish – 11-11, 8th; lost in semi finals
Biggest winning streak – 3 (Weeks 10-12)
Biggest losing streak – 5 (Weeks 16-20)
Home record – 6-5
Away record – 1-10
Likely MVP – Amy Patton
Leading scorer – Amy Patton (20.5 points per game)
Leading rebounder – Amy Patton (12.2 per game)
Most assists – Lauren Jeffers (3.3 per game)
Most steals – Amy Patton (2.9 per game)
Most blocked shots – Amy Patton, Brittany Gliddon, Keryn McGregor (0.4 per game)
The Slammers were coming off two strong seasons where they won the championship in 2012 and then knocked off the top-seeded Willetton Tigers in last year's quarter finals before coming up short in the semi finals, but 2014 was always going to be a rebuilding season.
However, for much of the season the Slammers did look likely finalists that was until a five-game losing run against the Magic, Redbacks, Wolves, Tigers and Cougars to close out their season ended those hopes.
Becoming the first team to lose to Perth spelt trouble for the Slammers, but there were still plenty of strong signs for the future particularly if Amy Patton can be retained and some more help put around her in 2015.
PERRY LAKES HAWKS
6 wins, 16 losses; 10th position
2013 finish – 9-13, 10th
Biggest winning streak – 2 (Weeks 2-4; 6-7)
Biggest losing streak – 5 (Weeks 8-12; 13-17)
Home record – 4-7
Away record – 2-9
Likely MVP – Rosie Tobin
Leading scorer – Kate Anthony (11.5 points per game)
Leading rebounder – Rosie Tobin (7.6 per game)
Most assists – Anna Kovats (4.0 per game)
Most steals – Rosie Tobin (1.6 per game)
Most blocked shots – Rosie Tobin (1.7 per game)
The Hawks were a competitive team throughout the season and wasn’t always easy to beat for the teams now preparing to take part in the playoffs, but two separate five-match losing streaks proved costly particularly with them only winning two of their last 15 games.
Perry Lakes has some nice pieces in the form of Anna Kovats, Chelsea Boyanich, Jessie Clayton, Kate Anthony, Rosie Tobin and Sarah Donovan, but perhaps need a player who can dominate a game if they hope to push into the playoffs in 2015.
SCHWEIGEN EAST PERTH EAGLES
2 wins, 20 losses; 11th position
2013 finish – 1-21, 12th
Biggest winning streak –1 (Week 2; 5)
Biggest losing streak – 16 (Weeks 6-20)
Home record – 2-9
Away record – 0-11
Likely MVP – Stephanie Jones
Leading scorer – Stephanie Jones (17.7 points per game)
Leading rebounder – Stephanie Jones (8.9 per game)
Most assists – Nicole Jorre St Jorre (2.9 per game)
Most steals – Nicole Jorre St Jorre (1.5 per game)
Most blocked shots – Emily Burton (0.9 per game)
Coming off a one-win season in 2013, the Eagles started 2014 encouragingly with two wins over the Stirling Senators and Perth Redbacks in their opening six matches, but things then began to turn sour once again.
The result was losing their last 16 matches on the trot and only narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon.
However, looking forward if Stephanie Jones and Nicole Jorre St Jorre stick around, and East Perth is able to add some talent around them then 2015 could very well be a lot brighter.
PERTH REDBACKS
2 wins, 20 losses; 12th position
2013 finish – 10-12, 9th
Biggest winning streak – 1 (Week 18; 19)
Biggest losing streak – 18 (Weeks 1-16)
Home record – 2-9
Away record – 0-11
Likely MVP – Jess Jakens
Leading scorer – Gabby O'Sullivan (15.5 points per game)
Leading rebounder – Alix Hayward (8.1 per game)
Most assists – Monique Kickett (2.6 per game)
Most steals – Gabby O'Sullivan (2.0 per game)
Most blocked shots – Alix Hayward (1.1 per game)
It was always going to be a rebuilding year for the Redbacks following the departures of a host of star players, and then with Gabby O'Sullivan missing the first half of the year, but they were coming good by the end of the season.
Perth lost its first 16 games of the season but then won two if its last six, with those wins coming over the Slammers and Eagles, while also being competitive against the playoff bound Tigers.
The return of O'Sullivan and continued good form of Jess Jakens, Alix Hayward, Monique Kickett and Jessica Hughes all give the Redbacks plenty to build on now for the future.
Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Serene Maisey
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