MSBL Game Previews
The Giants have climbed to third with significantly improved form recently while Lakeside has fallen from first to fourth in two weeks with two losses in its last three games.
Lakeside thrashed Mandurah last round but lost to Willetton the next night, with poor shooting its biggest problem.
The Lightning made just 35 per cent of its field goal attempts in that game and 19 per cent from three-point range and will have to improve those figures dramatically to challenge Goldfields.
Goldfields beat East Perth 91-88 at home with Jimmy Bowler (19 points) and Lordan Franich (17 points, 13 rebounds) key contributors.
Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers meet Southside Mitsubishi Perth Redbacks in another important clash between two of the title favourites.
The Redbacks have lost two of its last four and remain winless on the road so will start as underdogs, but showed real class in a 98-89 win over Kalamunda last week without star import Jon Meriweather, who may return this week.
Perth’s biggest challenge will be defending Ryan Zamroz, who is averaging 33 points per game and had 28 points in Geraldton’s win over Cockburn last week.
Carpet Court Southwest Slammers are in crisis after releasing star import Jessan Gray this week and are unlikely to end its winless run against Titan Interactive Wanneroo Wolves.
Gray has been Southwest’s best player this year and his departure will be a massive blow for it on the court.
Sebastian Salinas continued his great form for the Wolves with 39 points in its win over Perry Lakes and the Slammers must stop him to have any chance.
ATD Stirling Senators should beat Rockingham Flames and consolidate its finals spot.
Ed Morris Jr (26 points, 17 rebounds) led Stirling to an eight point win over Mandurah last week while new Rockingham import Demetrious Hazel (23 points) was in great touch in his side’s win over Southwest.
Australian Central East Perth Eagles and Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks will both be trying to reverse disappointing stretches when they meet.
The Eagles have lost four of five in a dramatic fall from top spot while Perry Lakes has fallen out of the top eight with four straight losses.
The Hawks welcomed back import Bobby Kempf, its only true centre, in its loss to Wanneroo last weekend and his presence will be invaluable against East Perth’s star centres Paul Rogers, Sam Harris and Tom Jervis.
Perry Lakes face a tough task the next night against Southlands Willetton Tigers.
The Tigers moved into top spot last week with its win over Lakeside, which came without star centre Daniel Johnson.
East Perth also has a tough doubleheader with it meeting Cockburn Cougars Saturday.
Cockburn has lost three straight but is 4-1 at home this season and new import Christian Cavanaugh has been in terrific form for it.
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Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Travis Anderson(Andmedia/Sportsvision)
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