Week 6 Women's SBL Preview

THE Kalamunda Eastern will take up the challenge of trying to hand the Willetton Tigers their first loss of the Women's SBL season on Anzac Day as part of Week 6 while one of the East Perth Eagles and South West Slammers will claim their first victory.

It's a monster long weekend in the SBL starting on Friday night when the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves (3-1) host the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (2-4) and the Mandurah Magic (2-2) take on the Perry Lakes Hawks (4-1).

Then on Saturday night, the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles host the Print Sync South West Slammers at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre. Both teams have lost their opening five games of the season meaning the winner will break their duck for 2016.

There is then just the one Women's match on Sunday as well with the Mandurah Magic taking on the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (5-1) at the venue they are sharing for this season, Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

Attention then turns to a monster Anzac Day of SBL action with the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (5-0) facing the Kalamunda Eastern Suns (2-3), the Texture WA Perth Redbacks (3-2) battling the East Perth Eagles and the Cockburn Cougars taking on the Lakeside Lightning (2-3).

Craig Mansfield is in his first season as coach of the Lakeside Lightning following a year off after a successful time at the helm of the Eastern Suns.

He is looking forward to the challenge for the Lightning of taking on the Cougars and their star imports Candace Williams and Cherridy Thornton on Monday, and of the importance of the occasion to get to play on Anzac Day at Wally Hagan Stadium.

"The Cougars have been playing some good basketball lately since the addition of Williams," Mansfield said.

"An ANZAC Day game is a unique opportunity and we want to meet the occasion with our best team effort."

Jason Smith is also in his first season as coach of the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and coming off a tight win over the Stirling Senators prior to the bye last week, he is looking forward to taking on the undefeated Willetton Tigers on Anzac Day at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

"Hopefully we can just build on our game that we played against the Stirling girls the week before last. Stacey (Barr) didn’t have a great shooting game but she still managed to rack up 25 points and that was enough to help get over the line with the win," Smith said on 98five's SBL Slam.

"We just need a team effort and to keep on building on what we have been working on the last few weeks. That includes our defensive philosophy and trying to get up and down the court as much as possible with some quick rotations.

"We are pretty deep and obviously missing Mel (Moyle) is a big loss with her ability to put the ball in the basket, rebound and handle the ball, so it's about working with what we've got.

"I have full confidence in the roster who will be suiting up on Monday against Willetton, but any team with (Kate) Malpass running the point and Louella (Tomlinson) in the paint is a pretty tough team."

WEEK 6 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves v Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars, Joondalup Basketball Stadium 6.30pm
Mandurah Magic v Perry Lakes Hawks, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6.30pm

SATURDAY
Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles v Print Sync South West Slammers, Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 6pm

SUNDAY
Mandurah Magic v Orange Autos Rockingham Flames, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6pm

MONDAY
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers v Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Willetton Basketball Stadium 1pm
Texture WA Perth Redbacks v Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre 1pm
Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars v Lakeside Lightning, Wally Hagan Stadium 1pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin




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