FINISHING in the top four might be out of reach but the Mandurah Magic have good reason to be confident of upsetting one of the top four teams in the quarter finals.

That would be on the back of Casey Mihovilovich still proving herself as an SBL superstar even after more than 400 games while imports Adijat Adams and Annette Davis are standing up.

Emma Klasztorny is having a strong season, Bree Klasztorny returned last Friday, Rachel Halleen is proving another steady hand and some youngsters are providing good support.

Magic stars fire, send message with win over Redbacks 

The Magic had a slow start to the 2016 season winning just two of the first eight games and that was with Mihovilovich having an interrupted start to the campaign, and both Adams and Davis still finding their feet.

But since Mihovilovich has got back up and running to take up her role leading the ship, the Magic have got things on track winning six of their last eight to now hold an 8-8 record and be in fifth position on the standings.

They do sit four wins out of fourth place, though, so it will be tough for Mandurah to finish higher than fifth.

But coach Randy Miegel would back his team to still do well come the playoffs if they continue their current form that has seen them beat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Lakeside Lightning and Perth Redbacks the past three games.

"At the end of the day if we don't make the finals we obviously aren’t good enough because we're playing the teams that are around us. If they beat us on our home floor then full credit to them," Miegel said.

"I think any game on any night in women's basketball can go any way so we need to be ready to go.

"We've learned some lessons the last couple of years playing some really good sides that have gone on to make the Grand Final. We've been exposed to that pressure with most of these girls so I'm hoping it holds us in good stead but it's just a matter of trying to get better every game."

With the slow start to the year and without a true home court in 2016, it could have been a season that went off the rails for the Magic, but Miegel has done a tremendous job ensuring that hasn’t happened with the help of his group of players.

With the redevelopment of their stadium in Mandurah, the Magic have played their home games in Rockingham this season where they have so far won three and lost three. But four of their last six matches are there starting this Friday against East Perth and Saturday against Joondalup.

Miegel has been with how his team has handled the situation and with how a different pre-season approach is playing out.

"I think it's been good. The girls have really adjusted quite well. We obviously don't train there and just go there to play, and full credit to them to go out there and play," he said.

"This is my third year and I think I've probably learnt over the first couple of years that we've had real hard pre-seasons and come out of the blocks quite hard, but this year was completely different.

"We didn’t really hit the court until mid to late January and we did more work in F45 which is a different training system for the girls. We did cop a couple of injuries early in the season which also disrupted us a bit."

It is no coincidence that Mandurah's resurgence this season has coincided with the return of Mihovilovich who has been outstanding the past eight games after missing five of the first eight matches of 2016.

She is showing no signs of slowing down and again last Saturday night was the best player on the court in the 85-59 win over the Redbacks with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocked shots.

Miegel is not only delighted with what she is delivering on the floor, but with how much his young talent like Rachel Pettit, Kasey Miegel, Ashlee Norman, Emmah Gardiner, Georgia Haines and Aimee Coles are learning from her on and off the court.

"Casey's an absolute champion and she has a huge will to win. Every game that she's on the court, it's always a do-or-die battle. The younger girls are learning off Casey as well and when she was away we had some really good games with the girls showing a lot," he said.

"We've got those girls coming off the bench now with a little bit of experience behind them so that's good. On the court of course they learn from her but it's all off the court.

"She is a really good mentor and all the girls are made accountable both on and off the floor so that's important as well. Obviously the court play they learn from the best with that as well."

Miegel and everyone at Mandurah is also delighted with what imports Davis and Adams are delivering. Both are capable of doing so many things at both ends of the floor well that they give the Magic a real chance of a big finish to 2016 while also settling well into life off the court in Mandurah.

"They have both really clicked up a gear. Annette was really good this week and Dij is just a fantastic athlete," Miegel said.

"When you see her on a fast break you can see how quick she actually is in the open floor. They complement each other and we are really happy with them, and the club is happy with what they are doing outside of basketball as well with the development programs."

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Sebpix Photography