As the final round of the Women's State Basketball League dawns the top eight may be set, however the minor premiership is still undecided with the Wanneroo Wolves, South West Slammers and Willetton Tigers all tied in first.

The Tigers and Slammers will face off in a do-or-die clash on Saturday night with the winner potentially looking at the minor premiership depending on the result of the Wolves game against Cockburn Cougars on Friday.

Willetton are in outstanding form and their WNBL trio of Jasmine Hooper, Melissa Marsh and Courtney Hargreaves will go head-to-head with the Slammers own WNBL trio of Zoe Harper, Kara Hargreaves and Bianca Donovan.

South West will also be looking for big performances from imports Valeria Ogoke and Kim Sitzmann, however an ankle injury to Sitzmann has disrupted the Slammers as they have picked up two losses in the past three games.

The Wolves, on top of the standings on percentage, take on the tenth place Cougars on Friday night, the Wolves have returned to peak form on a five game winning streak and will be favoured to pick up the crucial win.

A win would almost ensure the Wolves top spot with their head-to-head record against the top four teams standing strong for any potential tie-breaker however a loss could be disastrous.

Kalamunda Eastern Suns have a big opportunity to push for a top four berth this weekend with back to back games against East Perth Eagles and Cockburn Cougars.

The Eastern Suns are two wins behind the top three teams and one behind the fourth place Flames, two wins would put the Eastern Suns in pole position for a top four position and home court advantage.

Holding strong in fourth place the Flames host the Stirling Senators, despite last weekend’s loss the Flames will be confident going into the match with the Senators sitting in eleventh place with just four wins.

The Flames were on a ten game winning streak before last weekend’s loss and it is that form that they will be looking to channel as the side pushes for a top four spot heading into finals next weekend.

Lakeside Lightning hit the road to take on the ninth place Perry Lakes Hawks, the Lightning cannot move higher or lower than seventh and last weekend’s loss to the Cougars left the Hawks out of finals contention.

Article by Hannah Coleman
Photo by Helen Theoharakis (Hoop Shots)