So five weeks into the 2016 SBL Season and I think the highlight for the season so far has definitely been the consistent high scoring across the entire League. This is highlighted by the fact that the only team without a win so far in 2016 in the Suns, are averaging over 100 points per game For… The negative being they are averaging over 110 points per game Against hence their current record. High scoring games keep the spectators happy and if the fans are happy, then they are more than likely going to come back the following home game and watch your team(s) play. More fans, more $$ for the clubs = Everyone’s happy!

An interesting thing to look at as we are roughly ¼ of the way into the season is Individual Stats leaders. This usually is a great indication of where teams are and judging by the current leaders, this rings very true. Kenny Manigault has got his fair share of attention given his great start to the season for the Silverlake Resources Goldfields Giants, but what may surprise many is the fact that it is the Goldfields Captain Jacob Holmen who currently leads some of the more important Stat Categories heading into Week Six – Avg Points / Game (34.4); Avg Rebounds / Game (16.1); Free Throw % (93.9) shows just how much he is leading from the front, with some fantastic support from Manigault, is a major reason why the Kalgoorlie-based club currently sits in 4th spot on the League Ladder. Taking a look at individual stat leaders from the League-leading Lapa Brazilian BBQ Cockburn Cougars and aside from gun import Najee Lane leading the league in Avg Steals / Game (3.7), they do not have any players who lead any other category at the moment. This is a great testament to how many contributors they have across the board and why they are such a tough matchup for opposition teams, particularly when in front of their parochial fans at the Cougar Den.

So we head into Week Six and the ANZAC Day Long Weekend. From an Australian point of view, probably our most meaningful Public Holiday on the Calendar and one which every Australian can relate to and have that sense of pride, honour and passion for your club & country whilst paying respects to those that laid the foundations for what we have today in one of the greatest countries in the world! Here is my preview for this ANZAC Day Long Weekend of SBL – Lest We Forget.

Cougars (1st 6-1) @ Joondalup (2nd 4-1) Joondalup Basketball Stadium 8:30pm Fri Night **Game of the Week**
What an absolute cracker of a game to get Week 6 underway. Joondalup convincing winners over the visiting Hawks last Saturday night, with Iliadis & K-Davis leading from the front once again for the Wolfpack. The League-Leading Cougars didn’t have it entirely all their own way down at Eaton against the Slammers, but on the back of a 49 – 36 second half performance, had far too much polish down the stretch for the boys from the South West. All sorts of exciting matchups to be had in this one… DT vs Iliadis / Field vs Salinas / Lane vs Davis / Goode vs Huntington… meaning it should be somewhat near a full house spectator wise up at the JBS!! I am almost tempted to catch the train up to South Gero and watch this one, but then I will be behind the Mic down at Mike Barnett for the Magic v Hawks clash! The two form sides of the competition clash and my oh my it is hard to see who comes out on top. I will go with the Wolfpack at home, to get up in one of the games of the season defeating Cockburn by 2

Hawks (8th 3-3) @ Mandurah (13th 1-5) Mike Barnett Sports Complex 8:30pm Fri Night
It really is hard to explain to the average punter out there how Mandurah have performed so far in 2016, particularly in the two games I have seen them in action at Mike Barnett versus Goldfields & Willetton respectively. Both of those games they headed into the Half Time break with a double digit lead, and in both the corresponding third quarters it would see that lead disappear quicker than a gas deposit in a stiff sea breeze if you get my logic!! The most puzzling thing for me is the fact that, everything the Magic do to get these leads – in the second half it almost seems like they actively do the complete opposite and subsequently find themselves in the position they are currently in at 1 – 5 when in all reality, and no disrespect to the Giants or Tigers, but they should probably be 3 – 3 at worst. Hopefully for Coach Jason Kyle, they rectify this anomaly soon or it could very much be a season of the “Could’ve / Should’ve / Would’ve’s” for the boys from the Peel. They take on a Hawks team who posted their lowest points total to date this season, a paltry 62 in their 31 point loss to the Wolves up in Joondalup last Saturday night. It’s only been a week, but Nixy needs Hobbs back ASAP if he doesn’t want to see his finals aspirations fade away fast given the Hawks next five games including this one are against relatively tough opponents (@ Magic; vs Giants; vs Eagles; vs Buccs; vs Tigers). This game will be won and lost inside, with Carlwell & Purser to lock horns with Mully & Smith. Whoever gets the upper hand in those two clashes, should more than likely see their respective team get the W here. Hate to use the term Déjà vu but expect the Magic to be up by around 15 at the half, their challenge is can they keep that lead this week… Hawks to break Mandurah hearts in a thriller, winning by 3

Senators (3rd 5-2) @ Geraldton (7th 4-3) Eighth St Stadium 7:30pm Sat Night
Another home game for the Buccs in Week Five, another win… this time over a Flames side that were gallant in defeat but yet still became the third consecutive side to lose up in the Midwest. Stirling make the journey north after a close fought win over the visiting Redbacks last Saturday night up at Warwick, with that man Cody Ellis once again guiding the Senators from the front with 29 pts, 9 boards and 4 assists. Much different task facing Stirling here though, as I doubt very much that the Buccs will shoot more three’s than two’s like the Redbacks did against them last weekend, as well as the two gun guards for Gero in Ralphy and Samuelson who will cause Wroe, Coburn & Co all sorts of problems if they get going early in front of the Midwest Maniacs. Stirling continuing to impress in 2016, holding form and not just riding the coat-tails of Cody either with young guns Coburn & Litterick providing great support for Coach Ellis… However they now face the toughest road-trip in the League against a Buccs team yet to lose this season at the fortress that is Eighth St Stadium. Cody may have to drop 40 but I still don’t think it will be enough, as Gero win a close one by 4 over this tough Senators outfit

Giants (4th 5-2) @ Lakeside (9th 3-3) The Church 7:30pm Sat Night
Lakeside with somewhat of an upset win last Friday night at home over the visiting Eagles, with Daniel ‘The Axe’ Alexander going off for 36 points at an incredible 74% (14-19) from the field. They welcome a Goldfields side who were three seconds away from being the first team to lose to the Suns in 2016, and then in stepped Jerome Reid with the buzzer beater for the 120-119 win, which I imagine from personal experience – would have sent Brookman St Stadium into absolute pandemonium up in Kal! Two of the better import pairing’s in the League will more than likely play a major part in deciding the winner in this clash in South Lake. The athletic Manigault (Hopefully A Bowler puts up his incredible Week Four dunk versus Mandurah on the website… it was nothing short of PHENOMENAL!) will cause TJ ‘Talks Junk?’ Hallice all kinds of problems, whilst the battle between sharp shooting Alexander & Giants Captain Holmen will be well worth the price of entry alone. May have to see if the Land boys want to venture up to the Church and watch this one, as it should be a great clash for two teams who I think should play Finals this year. Goldfields to keep their impressive road form (3-1) going, defeating the Lightning by 7

Slammers (10th 3-3) @ East Perth (12th 1-5) Morley Sport & Rec 8pm Sat Night
Had it not been for a strong rumour I heard over the weekend that T Harrelson will be suiting up for the Slammers as of this weekend, I would have almost been prepared to say that for the loser of this clash in Morley – it would almost mean season over as far as Finals aspirations go… And that could still hold true for the Eagles if it happens to be them on the losing side of the ledger come 10pm Saturday night. Season definitely on the line here for East Perth if they want to have any aspirations of playing Finals basketball, whilst the Slammers will hit the road for only the second time this season with five of their first six games being down at Eaton. If Ty plays, it really does make South West a completely different team and with Weeden gradually regaining his fitness – it’s actually feasible to say that whilst Harrelson is suiting up for the Slammers, they are a genuine Top Four chance. The second part of that rumour I heard revolved around a former Eagles junior now suiting up alongside his College coach in Harrelson… That of course being Sunday Dech. Again only a rumour but could be a massive ‘home coming’ should he line up against a few of his former championship winning teammates. So many questions about this clash – and the biggest one being WILL Ty play? If he does it is definitely hard to see the Slammers losing this one, and I will go on the presumption that my mail from the South West is correct and with that, South West to effectively end the Eagles season defeating them by 9 points

Giants (4th 5-2) @ Perry Lakes (8th 3-3) Hawks Nest aka HQ 12pm Sun Arvo
Goldfields on the road on a Sunday always means back end of a Double Header (Though in years gone by it sometimes would’ve meant Game 2 of a triple header… Crazy stuff!) and in this instance, the same can be said for their hosts in Perry Lakes who will be coming off a Friday night stoush with the Magic down in the ‘Ham. If the Giants can manage to get this win, as well as a predicted win over Lakeside the night before in South Lake – it sets them up rather nicely for the rest of the season with a 7-2 record, ahead a tough little stretch where three out of their next four games after this weekend will be against fellow Top 8 sides (vs Magic; vs Wolves; @ Stirling; @ Rockingham) Whilst Carlwell will have the size advantage inside up against Zunic & Hurst, it is hard to see the likes of Purser and Hickert having the athleticism and speed to stay with the Giants gun duo in Holmen & Manigault over the course of the game, particularly when it’s the second game of the weekend. Goldfields to head back to Kal comfortably in the Top 4, defeating the Hawks by 6

Flames (6th 4-3) @ Mandurah (13th 1-5) Mike Barnett Sports Complex 8pm Sun Night
A very rare Sunday night game for the League here and a local derby at that as the Flames get set to take on the Magic for the Coast FM Cup down in Rocko. Great little initiative here by A Bowler & Co at BWA as these two clubs also play each other all day at Mike Barnett in the opening WABL Fixture for 2016 – so expect a very large crowd to hang around and watch these two arch rivals do battle. Rockingham not able to break their recent hoodoo up in the Midwest, but they’re definitely not alone in that category, and even though this is technically a road game, will look forward to playing on their home court here against a Mandurah side that will be somewhat fatigued after a Friday clash with Perry Lakes. Form usually means nothing for this clash and I can see this definitely being the case in this one also. Mullenax vs Pal will be an enthralling battle, as will the shootout between Setty & C Land. Flames being the fresher of the two sides to get the win, defeating Mandurah by 11 points

Eagles (12th 1-5) @ Perth (11th 1-5) Belmont Oasis 3pm Mon Arvo
East Perth, who I am tipping to be coming off a Saturday night loss to the Slammers in Morley – make the very short drive across Garratt Rd Bridge to Belmont to take on a Redbacks side who seem to have taken on the Kalamunda ideology of ‘Shoot 3s at will and see if it works’ based off of their box score from last week versus Stirling. DeMunyck & Vague should shoot themselves into the same amount of points here, so where I see this being won and lost will be between the Wagner brothers & Smith for Perth, up against Joe-Alan, Williamson & Dinnardo for EP. Perth struggling for cohesion at present and will have to battle against something EP do better than most, which is Lackovic’s very well-known kryptonite – a 2-3 Zone. If the Spiders can shoot their way out of that expected zone and force the Eagles to play man, I think it will lead to the Redbacks extending East Perth’s currently winless streak on the road to four. Could be the ugliest game of the season, and more than likely will be a slugfest also… Absolutely no confidence in this one but I will say Perth to get the W by 5 points purely because they are at home!

Lightning (9th 3-3) @ Cockburn (1st 6-1) Wally Hagan Stadium 3pm Mon Arvo
Both sides on the back end of double headers, and I expect both to be coming off losses to their previous opponents (Goldfields & Joondalup respectively) Like the Magic / Flames match the night before, very much a local derby here as South Lake and Hammy Hill do battle. Contrasting seasons so far for both teams, with the depth and experience of the Cougars seeing them high flying out in front like some expensive European sports car, whilst the Lightning’s stop start efforts have me likening them to an model Ford Falcon – when they are going well they can glide smoothly right past you, but at any moment there is the risk of a blown radiator / snapped fan belt and suddenly they’re stuck on the side of Farrington Rd getting their business handed to them by the likes of Goldfields, Gero & Rocko! Unfortunately for the God Squad I see more of the broke down Falcon in their future than I do of the smooth riding version, up against a Cougars team who will be looking for a return to form should they go down up at Joondalup on Friday night. Cockburn to go 1-1 for the weekend, defeating Lakeside by 17

Suns (14th 0-7) @ Willetton (5th 4-3) Willo Basketball Stadium 3pm Mon Arvo
Well Kalamunda what can we say… You were down by as much as 14 I believe it was in the third quarter up in the ‘Goorlie on Saturday night, then gallantly fought your way back into it and after Brandon ‘Money’ McGill hit the go ahead jumper with 11 seconds remaining in the game, you were probably well within your rights to think “This could be it… we are going to break our donut for the year!” Then that all came shattering down as Jerome Reid finished off a Jacob Holmen assist right on the full time siren and suddenly the Gold Bar looked even more appealing after a deflating loss on the buzzer up at what I believe is the second toughest venue in the League. Unlucky boys… just plain unlucky. Willo nearly suffered their own upsets of sorts on the road versus Mandurah last weekend, but after some stern words from Blacky in the sheds at half time – a rejuvenated Tigers side came out and held Mandurah to just 19 points in the second half to get the win. Unfortunately Kalamunda, I see a similar fate which greeted the Magic last Saturday night, awaiting you here against the Tigers at Willo. Willetton to continue their push for that Top 4 spot, defeating the Suns by 11