Lady Hawks Head Coach

Craig (CJ) Jackson

After some highs and lows this season, our team is showing improvement which has led to a very good month of basketball. We’ve played in some tough matches which have tested our team’s will to compete against the top teams and then back the effort up the following night. Last Friday at home, we had a very tough test against the Suns who have beaten the top three placed teams in recent weeks. In the first half we competed but let ourselves down in a few areas which we had been focusing on during the weeks lead up. After my half time speech (which most of Floreat must have heard), we came out in the third and fourth term playing with a lot of heart and determination to win a game - which came down to the last shot by the Suns for the win.

Saturday night we backed up our performance to crosstown rivals, the East Perth Eagles who were determined to get their second win for the season. This was always going to be a difficult game for us given how much energy we spent against the Suns. We started the game well and led by as much as 20 points early. This gave the coaching staff a chance to play some of our upcoming players who did a great job holding the lead. I believe we hit the wall with our energy levels as the Eagles energy levels rose and we were struggling with matching them. My half time speech wasn’t as intense as the night before but more to the point of what is necessary to be a championship team.  We were without our captain Belinda Mayger (rest with calf muscle) and Rebecca Boyanich (knee injury sustained against the Suns).  The girls gutted the game out to guide us to our fourth win in a row.
 
This Saturday night we are back on the road against our other crosstown rivals, the Stirling Senators, who have also been in good form this month. We will be without Nat Burton who is away with the Opals in China and Boyanich will be rested this weekend (recovering with her knee injury). We gladly welcome our captain back into the line-up. We’ve had some outstanding performances from the roster to help us gain confidence knowing we are starting to get better at the business end of the season and set ourselves up to get back into the playoffs.
 
Thank you to all of the volunteers, supporters and the under 14 touring team with the game nights. We have experienced a growth in attendance to our games in which we appreciate. GO HAWKS!