The WSBL Run Home
The eight finalists are set, but there are still plenty of important battles for positions within the women's State Basketball League top eight. For information on each team's remaining schedule and the tiebreaker scenarios, check out the WSBL Run Home.
1. Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers (18-3) - The Run Home: East Perth (A). The Tigers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Perry Lakes so will finish first regardless of their result against East Perth. Predicted finish: 19-3, 1st.
2. Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks (17-4) - The Run Home: Mandurah (A). Perry Lakes is guaranteed to finish in second spot. Predicted finish: 18-4, 2nd.
3. Mandurah Magic (14-6) - The Run Home: Perry Lakes (H), Cockburn (A). The Magic control their own destiny to an extent, as wins in both games will guarantee them a top four spot, but they'll finish behind East Perth and in fourth spot if the Eagles win both their games. It's very plausible that East Perth, Mandurah and Wanneroo all finish 15-7 and if that happens, Mandurah finishes fifth. If only Mandurah and Wanneroo finish tied, the Wolves hold the tiebreaker. Predicted finish: 15-7, 5th.
4. Australian Central East Perth Eagles (14-6) - The Run Home: Willetton (H), Perth (A). The Eagles are top of the potential three-way tiebreaker and also hold the individual tiebreakers over Mandurah and Wanneroo. As such, one victory will guarantee a top four spot and one win combined with one Magic loss will see East Perth finish third. Predicted finish: 15-7, 3rd.
5. Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves (14-7) - The Run Home: Stirling (A). Wanneroo needs to beat the Senators and hope the Magic lose at least once or East Perth loses twice to make the top four. Predicted finish: 15-7, 4th.
6. Kalamunda Eastern Suns (12-10). The Suns have wrapped up their regular season but are no guarantee to finish sixth. Since Cockburn holds the tiebreaker, they need Mandurah to beat the Cougars to finish sixth. Predicted finish: 12-10, 6th.
7. Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars (11-10) - The Run Home: Mandurah (H). It's a simple formula for the Cougars. Lose to the Magic and they'll face an incredibly difficult quarter-final match-up with Perry Lakes, but if they beat Mandurah they'll finish sixth and face the Eagles, Wolves or even the Magic again. Predicted finish: 11-11, 7th.
8. Lakeside Lightning (9-12) - The Run Home: Southwest (A). Lakeside will finish eighth and face Willetton in the quarter-finals for the second-straight season. Predicted finish: 10-12, 8th.
9. Perth Redbacks (7-14) - The Run Home: East Perth (H). Not that it matters too much, but the Redbacks hold the tiebreaker over Stirling so are guaranteed to finish ninth, even if they lose to the Eagles. Predicted finish: 7-15, 9th.
10. Western Stainless Stirling Senators (6-15) - The Run Home: Wanneroo (H). Stirling will wrap up a disappointing season in 10th spot. Predicted finish: 6-16, 10th.
11. Southwest Slammers (2-19) - The Run Home: Lakeside (H). Not even the tiebreaker can separate the Slammers and Flames, but Southwest has a superior percentage so will avoid another wooden spoon unless they lose to the Lightning by more than 181 points. Predicted finish: 2-20, 11th.
12. Rockingham Flames (2-20). The Flames weren't far off winning last year's minor premiership, but they'll finish 2011 with the wooden spoon. Predicted finish: 2-20, 12th.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Travis Hayto (Outerbounds Photography)
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