Petrik hopes Flames now rise another level with playoffs having arrived
ROCKINGHAM Flames coach Ryan Petrik expects the Cockburn Cougars and Deanna Smith to provide stiff competition in the women's quarter finals, but he's confident his team have saved up an extra gear for the playoffs in an attempt to win back-to-back championships.
The Flames made history in 2014 by winning the club's first ever SBL championship and that was inspired by retiring captain Kaye Tucker.
While the majority of the rest of the squad has returned to try to replicate that success this year led by Sami Whitcomb, Darcee Garbin, Jacinta Bourne, Tarsha Fletcher and Talisia Bourne, and they were able to win the minor premiership again, Petrik has felt for some time now like they were in a holding pattern waiting for the playoffs.
The Flames still finished on top spot at the end of the regular season despite losing to the Willetton Tigers last Saturday night, and now they are gearing up for an intriguing quarter-final match up with the Cougars who are led by playing-coach Smith.
Game 1 of the series takes place on Friday night at Wally Hagan Stadium and Petrik is looking forward to seeing if the desperation levels of the Flames rises significantly now that the playoffs have arrived.
"As I said to Matt (Cecins on SBL Slam on 98five Sonshine FM) the other week, it’s felt a bit like we’ve been going through the motions for most of the year, just to get to these final five weeks of the season in one piece," Petrik said.
"Now we’re finally here, I think we’ll see a different team take the floor, one that’s hopefully just as desperate as the 2014 model."
Petrik knows that Smith will have some tricks up her sleeve both as a coach and player in the series as she looks to cause an upset for her Cougars, and it's a series he is looking forward to.
"They’ve got some elite at the top in Smith, Priestly and Loberg; just as we do with Whitcomb, Garbin and Jacinta Bourne," Petrik said.
"They run some really cool stuff as Deanna knows what we do quite well, and then tries to use that against us. We’ll try and identify these wrinkles ASAP, and adjust the game-plan accordingly."
Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Serene-Elise Photography
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