As most would know, when teams finish equal at the end of an SBL season, they are ranked based on head-to-head results. With five teams currently fighting for the last two playoff spots in the MSBL, this requires a fair bit of calculation. Therefore I have put together this guide to each team's chances. I'll start with the current head-to-head situations:

2-Way Tie

• Tigers hold head-to-head over Buccs
• Tigers hold head-to-head over Suns
• Buccs hold head-to-head over Hawks (due to superior for/against percentage)
• Giants hold head-to-head over Tigers
• Giants hold head-to-head over Buccs
• Giants hold head-to-head over Hawks (due to superior for/against percentage)
• Hawks hold head-to-head over Tigers
• Suns hold head-to-head over Buccs
• Suns hold head-to-head over Giants
• Suns hold head-to-head over Hawks

3-Way Tie

LI>Tigers/Buccs/Giants: Giants 1st, Tigers 2nd, Buccs 3rd
• Tigers/Buccs/Hawks: Hawks 1st, Buccs 2nd, Tigers 3rd
• Tigers/Buccs/Suns: Tigers 1st, Suns 2nd, Buccs 3rd
• Tigers/Giants/Hawks: Hawks 1st, Giants 2nd, Tigers 3rd
• Tigers/Giants/Suns: Suns 1st, Tigers 2nd, Giants 3rd
• Tigers/Hawks/Suns: Hawks 1st, Suns 2nd, Tigers 3rd
• Buccs/Giants/Hawks: Giants 1st, Hawks 2nd, Buccs 3rd
• Buccs/Giants/Suns: Suns 1st, Giants 2nd, Buccs 3rd
• Buccs/Hawks/Suns: Suns 1st, Buccs 2nd, Hawks 3rd
• Giants/Hawks/Suns: Suns 1st, Hawks 2nd, Giants 3rd

4-Way Tie

• Tigers/Buccs/Giants/Hawks: Giants 1st, Hawks 2nd, Tigers 3rd, Buccs 4th
• Tigers/Buccs/Giants/Suns: Suns 1st, Tigers 2nd, Giants 3rd, Buccs 4th
• Tigers/Buccs/Hawks/Suns: Hawks 1st, Suns 2nd, Buccs 3rd, Tigers 4th
• Tigers/Giants/Hawks/Suns: Suns 1st, Hawks 2nd, Tigers 3rd, Giants 4th
• Buccs/Giants/Hawks/Suns: Suns 1st, Giants 2nd, Hawks 3rd, Buccs 4th

5-Way Tie

• All 5 Teams: Suns 1st, Hawks 2nd, Giants 3rd, Tigers 4th, Buccs 5th

Now here are the individual scenarios of each team:

Willetton Tigers (can finish anywhere between 7th and 10th)

• The Tigers will make the playoffs and finish 7th if the beat the Slammers. 
• But if they lose to the Slammers, they can still make the playoffs if:
• The Lightning beat the Hawks, or
• The Hawks beat the Lightning, the Buccs and Giants both lose, and the Suns lose at least one game.

The Tigers will not make the playoffs:

• 1) If they lose to the Slammers, the Hawks beat the Lightning, and the Suns with both of their games, or
• If they lose to the Slammers, the Hawks beat the Lightning, and either the Buccs or Giants win.

Geraldton Buccaneers (can finish anywhere between 8th and 11th)

• The Buccs cannot make the playoffs if they lose to the Redbacks. 
• However, if they beat the Redbacks, they will still miss the playoffs if:
• The Giants beat the Magic, or
• The Suns win both of their games.

The Buccs can only make the playoffs if:

• They beat the Redbacks, the Magic beat the Giants, and the Suns lose at least one of their two games.

Goldfields Giants (can finish anywhere between 7th and 11th)
Will make the playoffs if:

• They beat the Magic and the Suns lose at least one of their two games, or
• They lose to the Magic, but the Buccs, Hawks and Suns lose every game.

Will not make the playoffs if:

• They beat the Magic, but the Suns win both of their games, or
• They lose to the Magic, and either the Buccs, Hawks or Suns win a game.

Perry Lakes Hawks (can finish anywhere between 7th and 11th)

• The Hawks cannot make the playoffs if they lose to the Lightning. 
• However, if they beat the Lightning, they will still miss the playoffs if:

• The Tigers beat the Slammers, and the Giants beat the Magic, or
• The Tigers beat the Slammers, and the Buccs beat the Redbacks, or
• The Tigers beat the Slammers, and the Suns win both of their games.

The Hawks will make the playoffs if:

• 1) They beat the Lightning, and the Slammers beat the Tigers, or
• 2) They beat the Lightning, the Tigers beat the Slammers, the Buccs and Giants both lose, and the Suns lose at least one game.

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (can finish anywhere between 7th and 11th)

• The Suns will make the playoffs if they win both of their games. 
• The Suns won't make the playoffs if they lose both of their games.

If they win one and lose one, they can only make the playoffs if:

• The Redbacks beat the Buccs, the Magic beat the Hawks, and the Lightning beat the Hawks.

If they win one and lose one, they won't make the playoffs if:

• Any one of the Buccs, Giants or Hawks win their respective game.

A Hypothetical:
If all the results went according to ladder positions (and we know they probably won't), here is how these teams will finish up:
7th - Willetton Tigers 13-13
8th - Goldfields Giants 11-15
9th - Perry Lakes Hawks 11-15
10th - Geraldton Buccaneers 11-15
11th - Kalamunda Eastern Suns 10-16

Article by Brad French
Photo by Helen Theoharakis (Hoop Shots)

The scenarios in this article by not been verified by the State Basketball League.