Tigers hoping Lightning doesn't strike twice (WSBL Preview)
Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers will be looking to keep their hopes of a third-consecutive women's State Basketball League title alive as the playoffs continue this weekend.
The Tigers suffered a shock 81-74 loss to southern suburbs rivals Lakeside Lightning in game one of their best-of-three quarter-final match-up last Saturday.
Willetton's third-straight defeat left it needing to beat the Lightning on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon to ensure their season doesn't end before the Grand Final for just the third time since 2003.
The minor premiers struggled to contain Lakeside's Heidi McNeill in game one and will have to do a better job against her to progress, while Willetton will be hoping for more production from star centre Zoe Harper, who had just seven points last week.
After a tough loss in game one, fourth seed Mandurah Magic will be trying to salvage their hopes of winning their first championship by turning things around against Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves.
The Wolves held off a late Mandurah comeback to win game one 68-61, but they still have to win once at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, where the Magic lost only twice this season, to advance.
Mandurah missed all 11 of its three-point attempts in game one and must do a better job to take the series, while Wanneroo need Rebecca Mercer to continue her stellar form and lead it to victory once again.
Australian Central East Perth Eagles suffered a shock eight-point loss to sixth seed Kalamunda Eastern Suns in game one but return home for the final two games this weekend.
The game one loss ended East Perth's nine-game winning streak, but they'll be confident of taking the series if Kate Fielding can improve on her disappointing performance in the series opener and they can do a better job of containing Suns import Leah Rush.
Last year's runner-up Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks will be favoured to close out their series against Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars.
The Hawks comfortably won the opening game and should be too strong for the sixth-placed Cougars, who have lost five of their past six games.
The third game of each series is only played if necessary.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Grant Lauterbach
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