WSBL ‘Power Rankings’

 

The All Star Game is fast approaching so there is no better time to update my Power Rankings for the WSBL.

The updated rankings feature the biggest jump from the Cockburn Cougars, and the Mandurah Magic have the biggest slide down the rankings, dropping three spots.

Please be aware that the following rankings and opinions are mine and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State Basketball League.

 

(=) 1.Willetton Tigers (10-1)

Willetton have won their last five games after a narrow one-point loss to the Kalamunda Eastern Suns. The Tigers play excellent basketball away from home, owning a 4-0-road record. The Tigers move the ball well on offense and consistently find open looks under the basket.

Kate Malpass has been sensational in the first half of the season, and Louella Tomlinson continues to dominate on both ends of the floor. The unfortunate and untimely injury to Desiree Kelley will test the Tigers depth with Tomlinson taking a mid-season break.

Interesting Stats: The Tigers are the only team shooting above 30% from the three-point line in the league (30.6%) and have taken the fewest amount of threes so far (147). The Tigers have the most potent offense (81.7ppg) through sharing the ball (league best 221 assists).Willetton have scored 400 points in the paint in 2016.

Next 4: v Eagles @Hawks @Lightning v Wolves

(+) 2. Joondalup Wolves (8-1)

The Wolves have won their last seven games, and have the next best team defensively in the competition after Willetton. Amy Kidner continues to excel in the paint and Klara Wischer is posting MVP caliber numbers.

The Wolves have already split their season series with the Flames, however are yet to meet the Tigers who they play for the first time in Week 14. Joondalup have only played on the road three times.

Interesting Stat: The Wolves take care of the basketball better than any other team in the league, averaging just 15.3 turnovers per game.

Next 4: @Lightning v Magic @Hawks @Tigers

 
(-) 3. Rockingham Flames (10-2)

The Flames are still yet to field a full strength line-up in 2016. Whitcomb, Garbin and Talisia Bourne have all missed games at various times. Ify Ibekwe has arrived, however a calf injury has hindered her preparation to make her long awaited debut.

Ashlee Sidebottom has put up credible numbers this year averaging around eleven points per game and just under five rebounds per outing.

The Flames will be a very different entity when the entire roster is available and firing on all cylinders. The Flames are set to surge up the Power Rankings.

Interesting Stats: The Flames have posted the highest team score this season in the WSBL (107 v Cougars). Rockingham are the most accurate team at the foul line

(71.2% FT)

Next 4: v Hawks v Redbacks v Senators @Lightning

 
(+) 4. Perth Redbacks (6-5)

The Redbacks have gone 3-4 since the last Power Rankings. The three wins were against the Eagles, a tight one point win in overtime over the Senators and a recent win over a depleted Hawks, albeit without Lisa Wallbutton.

The return of Gabby O’Sullivan will allow Jones and Benson to play away from the ball more, and this should provide better balance to the Redbacks perimeter game. Jones has been in great scoring form, with an average of 24ppg over her last three games.

Interesting Stat: The Perth Redbacks have had more free throw attempts (322) and makes (213) than any other team so far this season achieved through drawing a league high 263 fouls.

Next 4: v Suns @Flames v Hawks @Eagles

(-) 5. Perry Lakes Hawks (7-4)

The Hawks have been understrength noticeably in the last few weeks with Smith (Achilles) missing key games and Edmondson away on International duties for New Zealand. Perry Lakes have lost the last two games and since the release of the last Power Rankings have gone 3-4. Wins have come against Mandurah, East Perth and an overtime triumph over Lakeside.

The young Perry Lakes squad unfortunately has suffered crushing defeats at the hands of Willetton by 41 points, the Suns by 35 points and the Redbacks to the tune of 31 points. These defeats may further validate concerns over the depth of the youthful roster.

Interesting Stat: Perry Lakes are one of only three teams along with the Wolves and Tigers to be shooting over 40% from the field through the ten rounds of the season (41.1%FG)

Next 4: @Flames v Tigers @Slammers v Wolves

 
(+) 6. Lakeside Lightning (5-5)

The impressive home record of the Lightning (4-1) is somewhat negated by the 1-4 road record. The Lightning continue to improve and have won the last four out of six games, with defeats at the Cougars and a narrow four point loss in overtime to Perry Lakes.

The recent home win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns was impressive and it was the first time this season that the Lightning scored 100 points in a game. Lakeside had four players contribute with 15 points or more in the victory.

Ali Schwagmeyer was deservedly named an All-Star starter and has been superb throughout. Courtney Byrnes 15 ppg and 6 rpg are up from her career numbers. Jess Van Schie has returned and will provide the young squad with experience and leadership.

The performance of Lakeside against the Wolves this weekend and the match up next weekend against Cockburn will prove if the Lightning deserve to be ranked higher than the Cougars, who defeated Lakeside back in Week Six.

Interesting Stat: The Lightning shoot a league best 48.7% from two point range and lead the league in steals per game at 11.6. Lakeside on average create 21.1 points per game from opponent’s turnovers.

Next 4: v Wolves v Cougars v Tigers @Eagles

(+) 7. Cockburn Cougars (5-6)

Cockburn have won three of their last four after a disappointing 1-4 start to 2016. Mandurah snapped that short winning streak last week at Cockburn. The Cougars have great scoring punch from both of their restricted players, however they have a noticeable lack of scoring elsewhere. Chelsea Evans is the third best scorer for the Cougars with an average of just 6.5ppg.

Without having other viable scoring avenues, the Cougars are averaging just 68.5 ppg in 2016, ranking them ninth in the league offensively.

The next two road games for Cockburn will give an accurate insight to where the Cougars fit in the top eight, with tough clashes against Lakeside and Kalamunda.

Interesting stat:

Candace Williams has recorded a double- double in every game she has played. She is averaging 28ppg and 16rpg. Her lowest score so far in her brief WSBL career is 17 points against the Redbacks, in a game where she grabbed 22 rebounds.

Next 4: bye @Lightning v Eagles @Suns

(-) 8. Kalamunda Eastern Suns (4-6)

The complexion of the Kalamunda lineup has changed dramatically with the addition of Carley Mijovic. After she had a fantastic second half of the WNBL season, Mijovic has created headaches for opposing coaches with the ability to stretch the floor and knock down threes.

The Suns still await the healthy return of Mel Moyle and have had solid contributions from McMahon and Jeridore in the paint. Stacy Barr deserves her spot as a starter in the upcoming All-Star Game with her perimeter shooting and high-energy style of play. The Suns have shown they have the capability to compete with the frontrunners of the competition with the one point win over the Willetton Tigers. They will need to have a greater sustained team effort on the defensive end of the floor if they want to be a top four team.

Interesting Stats: The Eastern Suns average a league high 30.8 three-point field goal attempts per game. Kalamunda are also the most foul prone team in the WSBL, committing 240 fouls this season at an average of 24 fouls per game.

Next 4: @Redbacks v Eagles v Cougars @Magic

(-) 9. Mandurah Magic (4-7)

Without taking away anything from the impressive displays provided by Adijat Adams and Annette Davis, the Mandurah Magic have posted a record of 4-1 with Casey Mihovilovich fit and playing. The Magic are 0-6 with her out of the lineup.

The Magic are struggling to post wins on the temporary ‘home floor’ of the Mike Barnett Sports Complex with just one win and three losses.

Unfortunately, the injury to Mihovilovich has not been the only setback for the depleted Magic squad so far this season. Bree Klaztorny has only appeared in five games, and Ashlee Norman suffered an ACL injury.

After the All-Star Break the Magic will have crucial games against the Suns, Lightning and the Redbacks that could decide the fate of the their playoff push.

Interesting Stat: The Magic are the best offensive rebounding team in the league, pulling down 181 offensive boards this year, at an average of 16.45 per game.

Next 4: @Eagles @Wolves v Suns v Lightning

(-) 10. Stirling Senators (4-8)

The Senators have lost four of their last five games. Unfortunately, Stirling go long stretches of games where they struggle to execute and score consistently. This was evident in their Week Eight clash with the Willetton Tigers. Inexplicably, the Senators had five points in the third term and were held scoreless in the fourth.

Amber Land (13.5ppg and 9.6rpg) always competes hard and Taylor Bestry is an early nomination for Most Improved Player of the Year as she is doubling her career scoring average.

Interesting Stat: The Senators have turned the ball over more times than any other team in the league, committing 279 turnovers in 12 games (23.25 per game)

Next 4: v Slammers @Slammers @Flames v Wolves

(=) 11. East Perth Eagles (1-9)

The Eagles notched their first win over the Slammers, however have lost their last four games. The East Perth offense is sputtering with Jodee Sontay leading the club in scoring with 10.3ppg. Sontay was brilliant against the Cougars recently, posting 25 points in the loss.

Unfortunately, Kelsey DeWit has only suited up for five games in 2016, and her last game was against the Lakeside Lightning back on 15 April. The schedule for the Eagles does not get any easier, starting this week on the road against the league leading Willetton Tigers.

Interesting Stats: The Eagles are currently scoring at a league low 56.7 points per game and average only 8.3 team assists.

Next 4: @Tigers v Magic @Suns @Cougars

 (=) 12. South West Slammers (0-10)

Despite not winning a game so far in 2016, the Slammers have shown signs of improvement, by producing a spirited performance against the defending champions last weekend, eventually losing by ten points.

Dena English will be an All Star starter in a couple of weeks, and Courtney Bayliss provides added scoring punch and much needed assistance on the glass for South West.

Interesting Stat: South West have been to the foul line less than any other team with just 147 free throw attempts in 2016. The 88-78 loss last weekend to Rockingham was the Slammers highest score of the season.

Next 4: @Senators v Senators v Hawks @Suns
 

Tune in to 'SBL Slam' 7pm Tuesday nights on 98.5 Sunshine FM or subscribe to the 'SBL Slam' weekly podcast on iTunes.

Follow Matt on Twitter: @matt_cecins

Article by Matt Cecins

Photo by Grant Lauterbach