Tigers set to roar for years to come

Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers coach Glenn Clarke has stopped just short of predicting a sustained period of dominance in the Women’s State Basketball League after their record equalling three-peat.

The third successive title came courtesy of a 72-71 win over East Perth on Friday night.

And Clarke said he believes the young squad still has plenty of growth and also feels Willetton will continue to produce youngsters through the WABL ranks.

“They're a great group of girls. Melissa Marsh is 23 years of age, Jasmine Hooper is in the Waves and she's only 20 years of age, Ebony Antonio, they're all nice and young kids," he said.

“All of these girls are Willetton girls, except for Emma Lobb, who came from the eastern states but Hooper, Harper, Marsh and Kate played juniors for Willetton so it’s a really, really good thing to have.

“They’ll all stay here, all twelve will stay here.

“There are a couple of under-18 girls coming through who are as good. There are a good group of girls coming through.

“Ella Kennedy is the next girl to step up now. So we’ve given her a good feel of it this year, next year she’s going to do really well.”

Kate Malpass, who is co-captain with Melissa Marsh and a senior member of the group at just 23, led the way in the Grand Final with her eventual MVP performance.

Malpass finished up with 24 points and six assists to go with her game winning jump shot with just five seconds left on the clock.

Glenn Clarke praised her ability to step up in the big games: "Malpass is just a big game shooter, for the past two years she is just an absolute big game shooter. With the last ten minutes to go, give her the ball and let her take us home."

But Clarke also took note of how each year the rest of the pack closes in on the WSBL pace setters.

"The first we won by six I think it was, the second we won by a lot but each year it just gets harder and harder,” Clarke said.

"Over the season people scout you more, they want to beat you more. Teams come out and they play their best basketball all season against you."

“It’s just a matter now of regrouping now. We’ve now got the most WSBL titles”

“We’ll be back here next year.”

Article by Ben Cameron at the WA Basketball Centre
Photos by Grant Lauterbach and Mick Cronin

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