WSBL Week One Preview
Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers’ women’s State Basketball League title defence faces an early test when they host Perth Redbacks on Saturday night.
The Tigers will be under strength for the opening round clash with West Coast Waves stars Melissa Marsh and Zoe Harper to miss the clash for the back-to-back champions after they were allowed rest breaks due to their heavy national league schedule.
The Redbacks pushed Willetton to a deciding third game in last year’s semi-finals and again should feature as one of the title contenders, led by 2009 SBL Most Valuable Player Brooke Hiddlestone.
Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks also face a difficult rematch of their 2010 semi-final when they host Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves.
The Wolves lost that series in three games but their young side, led by Waves guard Rebecca Mercer, should provide a tough challenge in Rick Morcom’s first game back in charge of the Hawks.
Rockingham Flames have lost much of the side that led them to second spot at the end of the 2010 regular season, but will still start heavy favourites against South West Slammers.
League MVP Kaye Tucker will miss the early part of the season for the Flames with a shoulder injury while WNBL forward Courtney Hargreaves has departed the club.
The Slammers won just once last season and have lost Waves player Kate Fielding to Australian Central East Perth Eagles.
East Perth set the pace in the early part of last season and will look to make another strong start when they host Mandurah Magic, who finished just one spot below them last year.
Kalamunda Eastern Suns will be out for revenge for missing out on a playoff spot last year when they face Lakeside Lightning on the road.
Kalamunda were pipped by Lakeside for the final top eight spot in 2010 but have added former Willetton star Brittany Morgan to an already talented team and should provide a strong test to the Lightning’s young side.
Western Stainless Stirling Senators and Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars both disappointed last season but will look to bounce back when they meet on Saturday.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Mick Cronin
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