SKILLED Goldfields Giants coach Stephen Charlton has labelled this weekend’s State Basketball League triple-header as season-defining as the squad prepares for its most gruelling road trip to date.

The reigning SBL champions face the Mandurah Magic, Bunbury Slammers and Perth Redbacks in the space of three days.
Charlton conceded the draw was less than ideal, but said his charges wouldn’t shirk the challenge.

“It really tests us, I come back from it exhausted and I don’t actually have to do anything,” Charlton said.

“It amazes me the boys can not only get through it, but over the course of time we’ve always been pretty successful at them.

“I think we’ve only lost two or maybe three games all-up over the triple-headers so physically the boys know they’ll be okay.

“It’s a tough assignment, but within ourselves everybody thinks we can hopefully get out of it with three wins.”

After last weekend’s triumph in overtime over East Perth, the Giants now sit fourth on the ladder with 10 wins and four losses.

With several teams only one win behind the Giants, Charlton agreed it was his side’s biggest test yet.

“Physically it is (the Giants’ biggest test) and the challenge of the weekend has increased over where it’s been because Bunbury and Perth have improved a fair bit over the last year,” he said.

“If we can get out of this weekend with three wins it would be an exceptional effort and would give us a bit of a confidence boost and set us up for the season.”

When asked if the weekend had been earmarked as season-defining, Charlton replied:

“In my own mind it has been, but we haven’t spoken about that as a group, more because we didn’t want to get ahead of ourselves.

“But I think if we come out and do well it puts us in good stead.

“The difficulty of playing three games in a row means the downside of the weekend is potentially more defining for us than the upside.”

Enjoying six wins on the trot early in the season, the Giants have faltered recently, losing two of their last four.

But Charlton said his side’s form would improve and there was no cause for concern just yet.

“I don’t think anyone is particularly ecstatic with our form, but we’re starting to show glimpses of our best basketball,” he said.

“Our best form is achievable and we’re getting closer and closer to it, we’ve just got to start working hard and stick by the game plan and trust it a little bit.

“Third or fourth last year was the highest (on the ladder) we made it at any point of the (regular) season.

“So as much as it hasn’t been our best basketball to this point, we’re probably in a better position on the ladder than we have been the last couple of years after 14 games.

“I honestly don’t think we’re too far away.”

Meanwhile, the Giants have acknowledged the contribution of indigenous players and volunteers to the sport of basketball in the Goldfields this week. Helping promote Reconciliation Week, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands flag is on display along with a banner featuring handprints of players, coaches, volunteers and members of the Walk The Talk Reconciliation Committee.

Basketball in the Goldfields has been enriched through the talents of many indigenous players and volunteers, including Giants players Ritchie Bourne and Darren Ashwin as well as Jacinta Bourne, who now plays for the Perth Redbacks in the women’s SBL.

Article by Mark Conway (Kalgoorlie Miner)