There is a quiet optimism at the WA Basketball Centre as players take to the court in the anticipation of what could be a break out season for the Perry Lakes Hawks Men’s SBL team. It has been over a decade since the team has tasted the ultimate success,  and at a club so steeped in tradition, the feeling is that 10 years is too long! The team boasts a combination of seasoned veterans, rookies, looking to make their mark on the league, and two exciting imports.

The club is hoping to provide the current league champions, East Perth , with a very black Friday. When asked about 2015 Head Coach Charles Nix is “really happy with the progress we have made and the pieces we added in the off season will help make as a defensive force”. Nix spent the off season honing his skills with NBL team the Townsville Crocs and  makes no apologies for his hard, no nonsense approach. Nix feels that the teams “improvement in our overall standard of play and squad improvement and a focus on process will look after the result.”

Hawks Captain Ben Purser is “pretty excited even though it is still early days, we have put together a great team with some of our best players still to come back in.” When asked about the goals for the teams Purser has no doubts “ make the finals, we didn’t make the finals last year which is rare for this club, and ideally a top 4 finish” Club insiders feeling that

If the standards be set in the preseason are anything to go by, these men are ready to play, and play hard and are led by one of the most determined and respected players in the league.

Across the court the Lady Hawks are training hard to put last year’s results behind them and to be seen as a force to be reckoned in 2015. Missing the playoffs in 2014 does not sit well with this determined squad and they are looking to make amends in the most tangible way. Anyone watching Coach CJ Jackson knows these players are in no doubt as to the standards expected, and have been punishing themselves both on the court and off to prepare themselves for the upcoming campaign. The inclusion of Kassi Conditt (Oregon Tech) as the second import in the history of the Lady Hawks, shows just how determined this team is to achieve success.

Jackson is confident that the team will “have a stronger output than we have in the last few years and we are looking forward to the season”. He is building the foundation of this season on “ preparing ourselves the best we can and working as hard as we can to get ourselves into a winning position every week”. If the energy and enthusiasm on training nights is anything to go by, the players are buying in on his message. Captain Kate Anthony feels that the team “recruited well and the team is playing bigger that it ever has. We feel good about 2015. We want to limit the impact of our opponents defence and be the toughest team in the league.”

There is no doubt about the focus for this club, play hardnosed up in your face basketball. Perry Lakes is and organisation looking to regain its halcyon days and they are keen to let every other team in the league know they are here to play. The season tipoff is at the WABC March 13^th 2015, Adult ticket prices are $10 and kids are $5 or free if they wear their Hawks colours 

Article : Steve Matthews  Photos: Sebpix