news

THE Perry Lakes Hawks have the chance to advance straight to the Women’s SBL semi finals with a win against the Cockburn Cougars at Wally Hagan Stadium on Friday night.

The Cougars hosting the Lady Hawks in Game 2 of their quarter-final series is the only Women’s clash on Friday night in the second week of the SBL finals.

If Cockburn is able to win at home, then Game 3 will be at Bendat Basketball Centre on Saturday night.

The other three Game 2 matches are on Saturday night with the Willetton Tigers hosting the Stirling Senators, the Joondalup City Wolves playing the Lakeside Lightning and the Perth Redbacks facing the Mandurah Magic.

All Game 3s, if required, will take place at the opposite team’s venue on Sunday afternoon.

TRISCARI REMAINS CONFIDENT IN COUGARS UPSETTING LADY HAWKS 
WEEK 1 SATURDAY NIGHT WOMEN’S QUARTER FINALS SBL RESULTS 
PARKER’S FOCUS ON GETTING BEST OUT OF TIGERS NOT FACING CLARKE 
UCICH DARING TO DREAM OF LIGHTNING’S SECOND WOMEN’S TITLE 
LADY WOLFPACK AIM TO TURN UP PRESSURE ON LIGHTNING

The lone Friday night match sees the Hawks try to close out the Cougars after a vastly more competitive Game 1 than the scoreline suggested.

Perry Lakes beat Cockburn 83-68 in the finish but only after Toni Farnworth took over the contest when the Cougars were on top midway through the third quarter.

Having finished on top of the standings after the regular season, the Hawks will like their chances of advancing to the semi finals, but the Cougars aren’t short on confidence about their game plan working in unsettling Perry Lakes.

If Cockburn is able to claim Game 2 at Wally Hagan Stadium on Friday, it will set the tone for a fascinating Game 3 on Saturday night at Bendat Basketball Centre.

The Game 2 action on Saturday night begins with the defending champion Tigers hosting the Senators at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

Willetton needs to win to force the Game 3 after Stirling prevailed last Saturday night 79-74 in a heated and spirited affair on their home floor.

The Tigers’ chances weren’t helped in the absence of Emma Lobb and then Kate Malpass hurting her shoulder in the third quarter with the Senators getting good service out of Jasmine Martin, Kisha Lee, Amber Land and Taylor Roberts.

Now the Tigers need to win on Saturday night to avoid elimination. A win and Game 3 will be Sunday at Warwick Stadium.

Also on Saturday night, the Joondalup City Wolves could be playing their last ever Women’s SBL game at Joondalup Basketball Stadium in Game 2 against the Lakeside Lightning.

The Lightning proved too strong in Game 1 last Friday night winning at home 76-58 meaning the Lady Wolfpack have plenty of work to do to try and turn that around for Saturday night.

If they can, Game 3 will be at Lakeside Recreation Centre on Sunday.

Then there is the Redbacks hosting Game 2 against the Magic at Belmont Oasis.

Mandurah finished the regular season in second position and dominated early in Game 1 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre before winning 66-59 last Saturday night.

But the Redbacks will take heart out of winning the second half and if they can keep that going, will try to force the deciding Game 3 back in Mandurah on Sunday.

GAME 2 WOMEN’S QUARTER FINALS SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Cockburn Cougars v Perry Lakes Hawks – Wally Hagan Stadium 6.30pm (Hawks lead 1-0)

SATURDAY
Willetton Tigers v Stirling Senators – Willetton Basketball Stadium 6pm (Senators lead 1-0)
Joondalup City Wolves v Lakeside Lightning – Joondalup Basketball Stadium 6pm (Lightning lead 1-0)
Perth Redbacks v Mandurah Magic – Belmont Oasis 7pm (Magic lead 1-0)

GAME 3 WOMEN’S QUARTER FINALS SBL FIXTURES (if required)
SATURDAY
Perry Lakes Hawks v Cockburn Cougars – Bendat Basketball Centre 7pm

SUNDAY
Stirling Senators v Willetton Tigers – Warwick Stadium 12pm
Mandurah Magic v Perth Redbacks – Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre 12pm
Lakeside Lightning v Joondalup City Wolves – Lakeside Recreation Centre 2pm

Photo by Belinda Pike (Croc Photography)