Tigers could slide down, but East Perth's destiny in its own hands
Defending men's State Basketball League champions Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers could finish the regular season as low as seventh spot after losing 98-91 to Australian Central East Perth Eagles on Friday.
The Tigers will finish sixth and have a more favourable quarter-final matchup against Cockburn if East Perth beats Perth on Saturday night, but a win for the Redbacks by less than nine points would see Willetton finish seventh.
That would set up a nightmare quarter-final series for the Tigers against second-placed Wanneroo, which won by 64 points the last time the two sides met.
Meanwhile, East Perth's fourth-straight win sets up a better scenario for it on the final night of the season. Victory against the Redbacks will guarantee a fifth-placed finish and a likely quarter-final matchup with Perry Lakes.
But if the Eagles lose to Perth and Stirling upsets Wanneroo, they would slump to eighth position and have to face Lakeside in the first round of the finals for the second-straight year.
East Perth overcame a bout of illness, which swept through the camp in the lead-up to the game, to see off a gallant Willetton side.
The Tigers jumped out to an early nine-point lead but East Perth responded with a 20-4 run in the second quarter to take control of the game.
From there, the Eagles threatened to blow the game open at times but the Tigers stayed with them and even cut the margin to two early in the fourth quarter.
But with Rob Cassir, Travis Moore, Adam Nener, Mark Jones and Ian Callaghan all in foul trouble at different points in the game, it eventually caught up with the reigning champions and the Eagles were able to hold on for victory.
Perth Wildcats guard Drew Williamson top-scored for East Perth with 30 points and centre Tom Jervis overcame back soreness, which saw him start the game on the bench, to finish with 27 points and 14 rebounds.
Willetton import Robert Kampman played almost a lone hand for his side, finishing with 37 points and nine rebounds.
Despite the absence of centre Matt Knight and the foul trouble Moore was in, the Eagles were unable to establish any dominance in the paint, only winning the rebound count by one, while Willetton scored 18 second chance points to East Perth's two.
Eagles coach Matt Parsons said his side's intensity in the lead-up to the finals was particularly pleasing.
"We grinded that one out and did what we needed to do, so I'm over the moon," he said.
"That was a great game and it was really what we needed at this time of year. We needed to be tested, they're the defending champions and their defence has been impeccable in the past few weeks."
Article by Jacob Kagi at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre
Photo by Ashley Pearce (Vision Inspired Photography)
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