New Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers coach Brad Spicer says his team must make significant defensive improvements to have any chance of winning another women's State Basketball League title.

Spicer has taken over as coach of the three-time defending champions from Glenn Clarke, but several key personnel changes have made his job harder.

The Tigers have lost Women's National Basketball League players Zoe Harper, Ebony Antonio and Kate Malpass have all departed, which Spicer said meant they'd have to make significant changes to their style.

But he said the new look team was capable of big things if they could make those adjustments.

"We think the team can be a lot better defensively and it's something we do need to be better with," he said.

"We don't have the same firepower that we had last year so we've been working pretty hard on our defences so we can restrict other teams.

"We're not just going to outscore people like the team did previously.

"I wouldn't say we're the team to beat, but we feel if we work hard, improve our structures and have a bit of luck then we have a team that can win the title again this year. We feel we have a good opportunity of repeating again."

Spicer said he expected Wanneroo, Perth and South West to be among Willetton's biggest challengers in 2012 but that he felt the WSBL would be more even than in previous seasons.

He said it would likely take time for the Tigers to reach their best because Melissa Marsh, Jasmine Hooper and new recruit Cortney Hargreaves have only just joined in training because of their WNBL commitments.

The Tigers have also brought in WNBL-experienced Queenslander Lara Napier.

"I think our draw suits us a little bit because our men have two [regional] away trips in the first five weeks of the season and we don't have to play then," he said.

"Our first game is against Stirling next Saturday and then we don't play the next weekend so that gives us more time to get things together."

With his side's depth challenged after the losses of Harper, Malpass and Antonio, Spicer said it was important some of the younger players stepped up.

"The club is very keen on developing some juniors and we're going to have to rely on 12 players to be successful this year, so we need some of those kids to lift," he said.

After hosting Stirling on March 17, the Tigers face 2011 top four teams Perry Lakes and Wanneroo in round three.

Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Helen Theoharakis (Hoop Shots)

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