Hello readers and yet another edition of my column, off The Bench. There has been plenty of talk about my last couple of editions from the feedback I’m getting and mostly it has been positive, so thank you for taking the time out to read my thoughts.

This week Off the Bench looks at the top notch surprises of season 2011 and top 5 disappointments as well.

The season has been entertaining to say the least but here’s my take on what and who has been the biggest surprises of the year thus far.

1 - Jacinta Bourne- leaving Redbacks was a bold move but JB is doing all the right things playing for a very much under strength Flames outfit. It’s tough when you’re the primary scorer in your team and you get the best defensive players any day. You know you’re tough when you can still put up numbers despite the attention.

2 - Sherelle Johnson – Shezz has never looked so good and playing with the ‘Pack may just help the Wolves be able to advance that little closer to title town. She has fitted in really well and looks to be the x-factor that can provide the elevation to the next level. Probably the pickup of the season.

3 - Christine Boyd- Coming out of retirement at her age and with the work needed to get back into shape- wow is the word. She has been a tower of consistency and has really provided the Hawks with that inside presence that they were lacking last season in the big GF against the Tigers. They say you get smaller as you get older, but clearly Boydy is still very much the big post presence she always has been. Defying the law.

4 - Ebony Antonio- I was always intrigued by the athletic girl who couldn’t stick the outside shot but this year she seems to have improved her shot to the 3 point ball. Last season she sat the pine in some games with the Tigers and evidently had some issues as well. This year all must be well because Ebony has been outstanding for mine- well at least she was against us! And drilling a three pointer on me to boot- I won’t forget that too easily!!

5 - Rick Morcom- Slick Rick has not missed a beat in his return from a 2 year hiatus. Not that I expected it to be a downward slide, but still 2 years is 2 years and he has his team right up there in the mix. Not a bad effort so far seeing as replacing Glenn Ellis as coach after he reached the GF with a team that on paper probably over-achieved could’ve presented an interesting scenario. Still, Slick Rick still showing that he hasn’t missed a beat!

Now onwards to the so called disappointments...

1 - Rockingham Flames- The Flames have been decimated by player injury and change of circumstance- this the disappointment in my eyes. Losing Tucks, Casey and Shezz from last year’s team has really pounded this team like a strong wind on dead leaf from the top of the tree to the bottom. I do feel for Pet and his staff but they seem to play hard despite the big margins on the scoreboard. I’m sure they will be back better next year.

2 - Lakeside Lightning- Made finals last year and seem to be struggling this time round with no real change on their roster that I can think of. Heidi is still around and gained Em Fielding from the Senators but they have been low on the win count this year. Still, may get a turnaround in the second half of the season but for now. They have been unlucky and as we all know, they will live and die by the amount of threes they make in any game!!

3 - Perth Redbacks- The semi-finalists from last season are struggling to get form on the board this year and not having Narelle and Brooke consistently on the floor doesn’t help them at all. Losses of Bourne and to a lesser extent Clarke haven’t helped but this team is too good to dismiss. If they make it to finals, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they get through as even the top teams would be nervous about playing this crew. A really good team who if they can get it together in the back half of the year will definitely cause a stir!

4 - Still no womens teams in Kalgoorlie and Geraldton- They need to make a comeback!! Why should the boys have all the fun!

5 - Southwest Slammers- Disappointing for them rather than disappointing in their performance. The poor Slammers team would actually do ok if all the girls who move to Perth somehow still played for them. I know moving up here to study makes it super hard to commute back so in one sense it’s the reality they face, but still names like the Kerr, Fielding twins, Pisconeri added on to the talent they already have and I’m sure poor Russ would have a few more wins on the board!

---

The opinions, views and comments in this article are those of the individual and are not the opinions or views of the State Basketball League or Basketball WA.