Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks coach Dion Dagostino is confident his side can win its first championship in seven years despite the absence of NBL star Peter Crawford.

Crawford, who plays for the Townsville Crocodiles, has missed the Hawks' first 17 games of the men's State Basketball League season because of his NBL commitments, difficulties obtaining a clearance and a leftover suspension from last year.

And with the 32-year-old swingman, who averaged 13 points per game for the Crocs last season, to go to into camp with the Australian Boomers squad in late June, he won't be able to play the nine games necessary to qualify to play in the finals.

But Dagostino said the likes of Anthony Lee and Joe-Alan Tupaea could help his side overcome Crawford's unavailability for the finals and lead Perry Lakes to its first title since 2004.

"It looks like Crawford will be available in about two or three weeks to play, but it looks like he won't be able to qualify for the finals," Dagostino said.

"We might use him in and out to keep him fresh, but he's not going to be a big part of it.

"But he wasn't ever planned to be a big part of it, if he played he was just going to come off the bench and enjoy being around, so it's not a big letdown.

"It's disappointing we couldn't have him involved, but he still trains with us and he's a great part of the club."

Perry Lakes' win on Monday against Goldfields saw it establish a two-win lead in fourth spot, but Dagostino said finishing with home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs wouldn't be a big factor in his side's attempt to win its fifth championship.

"Top four doesn't concern us too much, but it is great to be one game into that now," the coach said.

"As long as you make the eight, like we have done the past two years, that's what we'll do. It's nice to be up there, but we're just working on our stuff and we'll hope that everything will fall into place."

Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Helen Theoharakis (Hoop Shots)

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