Tigers looking to bounce back (Round 15 WSBL Preview)
Reigning women's State Basketball League champions Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers will be desperate to get their season back on track with a pair of wins in round 15 action.
The Tigers suffered a shock loss to Lakeside Lightning last weekend, which was just the league leader's second defeat of the season, and will have to beat Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves to ensure they finish the round in top spot.
Fourth-placed Wanneroo has won five-straight games and shapes as Willetton's greatest test, but the Suns, who sit seventh, got back into form with a big win last weekend and could cause an upset.
The Wolves also face Rockingham Flames but will be heavy favourites against a side which has lost its past six games and is bottom of the league.
Lakeside could finish the round in the top eight if they can beat Perth Redbacks on Friday.
The ninth-placed Lightning resurrected their finals hopes with their upset of Willetton and could knock the Redbacks, who have won just one of their previous five games, out of the top eight.
But Perth will be expected to comfortably beat Southwest Slammers at home on Saturday. The Slammers are on a 15-game losing streak and have lost their last three matches by an average of 45 points.
Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars will be out to maintain their good form with victories against Australian Central East Perth Eagles and local rivals Lakeside.
But the sixth-placed Eagles have won two of their last three games and have only lost twice at home all season, so they should provide a tough challenge for the Cougars, who sit fifth.
East Perth also meets Mandurah Magic, who had their seven-game winning streak ended by fellow top four side Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks last week and will be looking to bounce back.
Second-placed Perry Lakes will be desperate to maintain the pressure on Willetton with victory against Western Stainless Stirling Senators.
The Hawks moved within one game of the Tigers last weekend and should be too strong for the Senators, who need to end their four-game losing streak to rescue their finals hopes.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Darren Speedie (Vision Inspired Photography)
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