Round 13 MSBL Power Rankings
1. Lakeside Lightning (1st place, 15-2 record) - Meet one of the two sides to beat them this season when they host Willetton on Friday. Will still be keen to avenge their loss in last year's Grand Final and should start as heavy favourites.
2. Wanneroo Wolves (3rd, 13-5) - He may have played limited minutes last week, but the signing of Brad Robbins was a huge boost to Wanneroo's title hopes. The Wolves should be far too good for the Buccs on Sunday.
3. Cockburn Cougars (2nd, 13-5) - Squeezed past the Buccs in Geraldton on Saturday to keep their place in the top two. Depending on which Stirling side shows up, the Senators may provide a tough challenge this week.
4. Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks (4th, 12-6) - Completely thrashed the Slammers last weekend, continuing their impressive form. Should be far too god for the Magic this week as well.
5. Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers (5th, 11-7) - Squeezed past both Perth and Stirling over the weekend, both victories they needed after losing to Geraldton the week before. Lakeside on Friday will be a much tougher test though.
6. Australian Central East Perth Eagles (8th, 8-9) - The addition of Drew Williamson has been huge for the resurgent Eagles, who climbed into the top eight with their win against Perth. Should consolidate their place in the eight with victory against Rockingham.
7. ATD Stirling Senators (6th, 9-9) - Just when it seemed the Senators had moved past the inconsistency that had plagued them in previous years, they lose at home to Mandurah. Need to bounce back with victory against Cockburn on Saturday.
8. SKILLED Goldfields Giants (7th, 9-9) - With defeats in four of their past five games and their poor road form seeming to be spreading to their home court, a finals spot looks far from certain for the Giants. Saturday's game against Perth will be huge for their finals hopes.
9. Perth Redbacks (10th, 8-10) - The return of Jesse Wagstaff hasn't been enough to end Perth's form slump and after a pair of heartbreaking losses over the weekend, the Redbacks are out of the eight. Their trip to Kalgoorlie is almost a must-win game.
10. Kalamunda Eastern Suns (9th, 8-9) - A big victory in Kalgoorlie would have been a huge confidence boost and now the Suns will be desperate to maintain that momentum with victory against Kalgoorlie.
11. Mandurah Magic (11th, 6-11) - The Magic won't be playing in the finals this year, but with Taylor Mullenax in great form and Casey Crevelone back in the team, they could cause a lot of upsets over their final nine games.
12. Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers (12th, 6-12) - A tough season seems to get worse every week for the Buccs. They're playing for little more than pride now, but will be desperate to avoid becoming the first side to lose to the Slammers this year.
13. Rockingham Flames (13th, 6-12) - Were completely shut down offensively against Wanneroo and will need to do much better to upset the Eagles or Suns.
14. Southwest Slammers (14th, 0-18) - The Slammers are quickly running out of chances to break the doughnut and a weekend which sees them play two other bottom four sides (Mandurah and Geraldton) is probably their best chance.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Grant Lauterbach
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