Tigers face double challenge (Week 2 Women's SBL Preview)

WEEK 2 of women's SBL action will see an enthralling local derby between Mandurah and Rockingham on Sunday afternoon while before that on Friday and Saturday nights, a host teams will both be looking to remain unbeaten and get their firsts wins of 2014.

The second weekend of action for the 2014 SBL season gets underway with two women's matches on Friday night with the Perth Redbacks taking on the Perry Lakes Hawks and the Rockingham Flames facing the Willetton Tigers.

Both games tip-off at 6.30pm.

There will then be three games on Saturday night with all starting 6pm with the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers facing the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, the Schweigen East Perth Eagles playing the Stirling Senators and the Willetton Tigers taking on the Cockburn Cougars.

There is then just the one match on Sunday afternoon with tip-off at noon and it is set to be a cracker between the Mandurah Magic and Rockingham Flames.

On Friday night, Perth takes on Perry Lakes at Belmont Oasis with both teams looking for their first wins in 2014.

Last weekend, the Redbacks had a horror start to the season firstly losing to Rockingham at home on Friday night by 44 points and then on the road to Stirling by 40 on Saturday night.

Obviously, the Redbacks will be after a vast improvement against the Hawks in their only game of the weekend, but Perry Lakes also lost last Sunday at the WA Basketball Centre by 17 points to the Mandurah Magic so won't want to slip to 0-2 in their only game this week as well.

Friday night's other game in Week 2 action features two teams expected to feature at the business end again of 2014 when Rockingham hosts Willetton at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

Coming off the 2012 grand final and 2013 semi finals, the Flames again look strong in 2014 and showed that last weekend with a first up thumping of the Redbacks at Belmont Oasis.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have a chip on their shoulder coming into 2014 after finishing 2013 as minor premiers but then being bundled out in the quarter finals by the defending champion Slammers.

Willetton then didn’t make the ideal start last weekend losing to the defending champion Wanneroo Wolves by eight points at home, so the Tigers will be desperate not to slip to 0-2 but the Flames are not going to be handing them victory.

Then on Saturday night, the Slammers host the Suns at the Eaton Recreation Centre.

It will be South West's first appearance of the 2014 after the first week bye so they will be keen to come out of the blocks in winning fashion on their home floor, but last year's grand finalists also won't want to slip to 0-2.

Kalamunda made a stirring run into last year's grand final but lost first-up this season on the road to the Cockburn Cougars last Friday night.

The Eagles and Senators also meet on Saturday night at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre with both coming off contrasting opening weekend.

East Perth won just one game in all of 2013 and will be hoping to much more competitive in 2014, but it didn’t get off to the best start last Friday night with a 22-point loss at home to the Lakeside Lightning.

Meanwhile, Stirling did start impressively recording a 40-point thumping of the Redbacks at home on Saturday.

Saturday night's other game should also be a cracker with the Tigers backing up to host the Cougars at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

Much will depend on how the Tigers go on Friday night against the Flames to determine their mood heading into the clash with Cougars.

If they come in 0-2, then Willetton will be angry, hungry and determined to avoid slipping to 0-3 but the pressure will be off somewhat if they beat Rockingham on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Cougars come into the contest after an impressive start last Friday night with a 10-point win at home over the Suns.

Sunday's only game will also be a must-see affair when the Magic hosts the Flames at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

The Magic started the season encouragingly under new coach Randy Miegel last Sunday beating Perry Lakes by 17 points so they will be confident of really taking it up to the more-fancied Flames on Sunday.

WEEK 2 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Perth Redbacks v Perry Lakes Hawks, Belmont Oasis 6.30pm
Rockingham Flames v Willetton Tigers, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6.30pm

SATURDAY
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers v Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Eaton Recreation Centre 6.00pm
Schweigen East Perth Eagles v Stirling Senators, Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 6.00pm
Willetton Tigers v Cockburn Cougars, Willetton Basketball Stadium 6.00pm

SUNDAY
Mandurah Magic v Rockingham Flames, Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre 12.00pm

Article by Chris Pike

Photo by Serene Maisey




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