BEING run well from the point and getting off plenty of good shots was never going to be a problem for the Willetton Tigers in 2016 with Kyle Armour, Jay Bowie and Damien Scott but it's the inclusion of Charles Funches that could continue to make all the difference in the playoffs.

Firstly with Alan Black as coach and now with Steve Black in charge, the Tigers came into the season with a team with an outstanding leader and point guard in Armour along with terrific scorers and shooters in Bowie and Scott.

They also had Josh Johnson as a powerhouse and workhorse inside with the help of the emerging Nic Cody, but perhaps the one missing piece to the puzzle was a long, athletic big man who could be a strong defensive presence, change shots and be a real burst of energy for the Tigers.

That's why when the Tigers were looking at their second import that Charles Funches turned out to be the man they went with and now with just this Saturday's clash against the Perth Redbacks to go until the playoffs, it's been a great decision.

Willetton enters the final weekend of the regular season in third position with a 17-8 record with a top four finish now looking just about certain.

A top four position is something that coach Steve Black admits was a goal set at the start of the year and he has been glad the way the season has turned out. He hopes to enter the playoffs with some continued good form and confidence following wins over Lakeside and Kalamunda last weekend.

"At the start of the year you set yourself small goals and for us being a top four team was one of those," Black said.

"The way the league is it's extremely even and it would be a major bonus to get two home games obviously, but I think for us it's more about the focus on finishing off what we do in games and the season the best we can to put ourselves in the best position we can.

"That will be something that would give us the most confidence moving forward."

There is no doubting the terrific seasons that Bowie (24.4 points, 6.6 rebounds. 2.8 assists), Scott (19.5 points, 4.7 boards, 3.0 assists), Armour (17.6 points, 4.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds), Cody (12.2 points, 7.0 boards) and Johnson (9.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists) have had.

But it's the difference that Funches makes when he is on the floor with his energy, size, length and outstanding defence with some underrated offensive production that could very well allow the Tigers to go a long way in the post-season.

Having arrived with the season already underway, it took some time for Funches to adjust to playing in the SBL for the first time.

But the 27-year-old from New Jersey has got better the longer the season has gone and he is currently playing outstanding basketball at both ends of the floor.

Funches' defence is game-changing and he is averaging over two blocks a game but it's his ability to change shots, protect the rim and also get on the wing and contain some of the dominant players on the league that has been a standout.

Even last Friday night when Lakeside's Daniel Alexander was on fire, it was Funches that did as well as could have been expected containing him in the second half and then up the other end the Willetton big man hit two massive threes, and a crucial long two in the three-point victory.

"Charles is an outstanding defender full stop," Black said.

"He's had some games this year where he's really changed it defensively and he was fantastic on Friday trying to stop Alexander and he made the big shot at the end as well.

"We know a guy like Alexander is pretty special and is going to make some shots, but you can't give him easy stuff and Chuck made it as hard for him as you can."

When the Tigers were weighing up what they needed with their second import earlier in the season, they knew that they had the floor general covered and didn’t need an extra scorer or shooter. They needed a strong, big, long and athletic defender who could bring energy.

Funches could not fit that bill any better and Black is delighted with the way he has settled into the Tigers team to be a real difference maker heading towards the playoffs.

"It was important for us to find someone who could play a role for us and Chuck has been fantastic. He is very coachable and anything I try to talk to him about he tries his best to implement," he said.

"He gets along great with the guys, he plays D and he's capable offensively as well so there's going to be times where he's going to be a big part of what we want to do to be successful. He is definitely showing his value."

Willetton's front court might have looked a little thin with Johnson and Cody coming into the season, but suddenly with Johnson providing the muscle and hustle, Cody being that productive athletic big and Funches the size and athleticism, the trio provide the Tigers with the perfect combination.

"I think they work really well together and that was part of the things that we identified when we did get Chuck," Black said.

"We wanted someone who would complement the guys we already had and that's been a real strength of his since he's come in."

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by June Halliday