Flames return from bye in top-of-the-table clash

THE top two women's SBL teams do battle on Friday night and Rockingham Flames coach Ryan Petrik is intrigued to see how his team comes out after the bye against the Lakeside Lightning.

The Orange Autos Rockingham Flames travel to the Lakeside Recreation Centre to face the Lightning on Friday night with a victory for the Flames guaranteeing the minor premiership while the Lightning can stay in slight contention if they prevail.

Both Rockingham and Lakeside have dominated the women's SBL so far in 2014 with the Flames going on a 17-game winning run before now sitting on 18-1 while the Lightning have won six straight to hold a 16-3 record.

With a combined 34-4 record between the two teams and being less than a month out from the playoffs now, it should be a fascinating battle on Friday night.

The Flames are coming off the bye last week is hoping that rest has done his girls some good and hasn’t led to any rest creeping in.

"It's the old rest versus rust argument this weekend against Lakeside with us coming off the bye," Petrik said.

"Our top 11 girls have all been elsewhere during the last two weeks (Bali, Europe, Collie, Kalgoorlie, Melbourne, and a school camp); meaning that whilst they'll be fresh come Friday night, we don't know rusty we'll be.

"We had a similar situation coming off the bye earlier this year and played quite well, so here's hoping we can replicate that again."

The Flames might have plenty of star power in their own right in the form of Samantha Whitcomb, Darcee Garbin, Jacinta Bourne, Kaye Tucker and Talisia Bourne, but Petrik is fully aware just how good the Lightning are at both ends of the floor.

Kari Pickens has now won two straight Player of the Week awards for her outstanding form with Lakeside while Emily Fielding, Krystal Stoneking, Ashleigh Grant and Courtney Bayliss are all in good form as well.

"Lakeside have been terrific all year. The two teams have a combined 34-4 record between them, which is in large part to do with the continuity of the two programs, both teams have very similar squads and playing styles to 2013," Petrik said.

"Pickens is a stud for them, at the time of saying this she's probably just won her second straight Player of the Week award.

"I agree with Mansfield (Kalamunda Eastern Suns coach, Craig) and think they're the best offensive rebounding team in the league, whilst I think we're best transition team in the league, which will cause issues come Friday.

"If they send too many to the glass we'll run out and hurt them at the other end; but if we leak out early they'll have 100 second chance points."

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin




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