THE Goldfields Giants are eyeing a top-two spot in the State Basketball League play-offs, but coach Stephen Charlton knows they probably need to win their last five regular season games to get it.

The Giants are evenly poised in third position at 16-5 and face another title contender in the Wanneroo Wolves at Kalgoorlie’s Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium tonight.

But a loss could quickly put the chances of a top-two finish out of reach and jeopardise the Giants’ position in the top four.

“From second to fifth spot there is not much room,” Charlton said.

“We’ve got to keep winning because there is a lot at stake and second spot is definitely up for grabs.”

Wanneroo sit in fifth spot at 14-7, but the Wolves have won three of their last four games and are on a roll after knocking off Geraldton for the second time this season.

Former Perth Wildcats team-mates Jeff Dowdell and Alex Loughton are also tipped to reunite for the Wolves tonight.
Loughton, a 206cm forward, has recently returned from the Australian Boomers training camp.

Loughton averaged 25.2 points per game in five appearances in May, but has not played since.

Dowdell is by far Wanneroo’s leading scorer this season, averaging 23.8 points per game, including a season-high 42 points against Kalamunda last month.

“We’re not sure, but we’ve heard Alex will be back and we’ll just have to prepare as if he will be here,” Charlton said.

“They’re both high-quality NBL players and it would be a big challenge for us.”

If the Wolves’ tall timber does play, Goldfields import Alonzo Hird will have a big say in the result after his impressive 14-point, 22-rebound game in last Sunday’s 95-84 win over Kalamunda.

Imports Scott and Marcus Moore will provide a headache for Giants guards Shamus Ballantyne and Ryan Hulme, who combined for 42 points against the Eastern Suns.

Hulme suits up for game No.299 tonight and is set to reach the milestone against second-placed Geraldton at home next Saturday.

Charlton, who tonight draws level on 112 games with Jeff Williamson for the most games by a Giants coach, said the side had placed a big emphasis on “work rate” at training this week.

“We’ve spoken about the fact we need to be working hard and training flat out all the time to make sure we’re better prepared in tense situations,” he said.

“We need to maintain the big-game mentality because we’ve got a big finish to the season.

“It’s all about working hard to make sure we keep improving.”

Article by Jarrod Lucas (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson - Andmedia/Sports Vision ©2009.