So over the next two weeks, I thought I would look at each club from a future perspective – What I feel each team needs moving forward to either be a contender or remain a contender based on where they are this season as well as previous history over the past couple of seasons.

Also a massive thank you to everyone who has either been messaging me or coming up to me at SBL / WABL saying how much they enjoy reading the articles / blog as some people are calling it – It definitely means a lot to see that what is being written is appreciated by the greater Basketball Community! :-)

 

Cockburn Cougars

The Cougars have one of the most experienced line-ups in the League, but looking aside their recent success and into the future – what is the succession plan down at Wally Hagan once the likes of McIntyre, Davey, Della, Thomas & Prince all retire… which could be as early as the end of this season for at least four out of that list. Aside from losing a staggering 1,000+ games of SBL experience, it is the leadership and knowledge which could be the biggest challenge for Coach Parsons to replace. The loss this season of former junior Matt Vinci to neighbours Lakeside is also a worry, as he was a true point guard and something which is lacking when looking forward for the Hamilton Hill club.

 

Likely Losses: Della / Davey / McIntyre / Prince

Promising Juniors: Zac Watkinson / Logan Franich / Mitch Davies / Derek Igbenoba

What Cockburn Need: Further development of locals such as Pesava, Holmes & Harris along with the likelihood of persuading Vinci back to the club to replace DT if he retires with his friends mentioned above or convince him to play as a very decent backup / understudy to DT in 2017 with the viewpoint of making the position his own in one to two years’ time

Big Question: Do the Cougars leave their historical home at Wally Hagan for the new expanses of the Cockburn Community Centre where the Dockers will also be based in the next 12 – 24 months? Six Courts has to be appealing to the Hammy Hill club but they would be losing one of the best home courts in the state in the process not to mention that aforementioned history of the Cougar Den

 

East Perth Eagles

Massive changes up at Morley and very much a redevelopment type feel going on at the club since they won the ‘Ship a couple of years ago under Fordey. How much will the relocation of Tommy ‘The Bassendean Bully’ Jervis to the Brisbane Bullets affect them in 2017 / 2018 if he decides to stay on the East Coast and earn some decent coin in the QBL / SEABL. Then you have Dinnardo & ‘Junior’ Donlagic who are the future for the Eagles and they need to ensure they can build a competitive team around these two moving forward to keep them at the club for years to come

 

Likely Losses: Jervis / Williamson / Tupaea (Player-wise)

Promising Juniors: Hamish Warden / Kyden Edman / Kieran Berry / Julius Chota

What East Perth Need: Quality bigs is definitely something the Eagles will require if they lose both Jervis at the end of this season. Keeping Vague should also be a high priority for the Eagles hierarchy as well as furthering the development of Dinnardo & Donlagic into seasoned and key SBL players into the future

Big Question: Sunday Dech – Does he stay with his junior club from here on out at SBL level or does he head back to College in the US? Provides a huge boost for the Eagles in the back-court with Vague as a solid 1-2 punch and if he were to head back to the States, and Jo-Alan retires from playing duties after a long and illustrious career, it would place a lot of pressure on Dinnardo coming through for 2017

 

Geraldton Buccaneers

Always a powerhouse in the League, it is a common belief amongst many people in SBL Circles that for the League to be successful as a whole, then the two regional teams in the Buccs and Giants need to be successful also – and this is a statement I strongly agree with. Wundenberg & Ralph are the heart and soul of this club and it shows with how they play on court. Well respected around the League, these two Midwest products are one of the main reasons why the Buccs are always mentioned as contenders over the past three to four years and it is why they will go close yet again this year.

 

Likely Losses: None… though it is always wondered how many more seasons Moot & Ralphy have in them but I think it’s safe to assume both will be back in 2017 at the very least

Promising Juniors: Alex Ducas / Brendan Stone / Michael Wright / Daniel Jacques

What Geraldton Need: I could go several different directions with this but I will aim to keep it simple. If the Buccs can keep their core Australian contingent together for 2017 (Wunders, Ralphy, Adekponya & Hussey) as well as re-sign handy US Import Barrow, that gives them the core ingredients to yet again be a contender next season. If they can then recruit one or two 2/3 type aussies and then further develop ‘Bubbles’ Wrensted & young gun Ducas, then once again Gero has to be in that Title conversation in 2017 and beyond!

Big Question: Has Trahair done enough up in the Midwest this year to earn himself a gig up there for 2017? And if he has, can the Buccs help the poor guy find a job!! Baffles me how he didn’t just take over as GABA Development Officer like Hezz was doing when he was in charge up there but obviously there must be other factors at play for him not to be in the role.

 

Goldfields Giants

A decade is a long time in general, but more so for the Giants who this time ten years ago were entering into their glory days – three consecutive Grand Final appearances under Charlie which would see them win back to back ‘Ships in 2007 & 2008. Now an integral part of that success as a player in Haney, looks to lead the Kalgoorlie side back to that success as their Coach and provide some hope in a town heavily affected by the Mining downturn and subsequent job losses that came with that.

Likely Losses: None confirmed but you would imagine there would be serious question marks around Franich / Goodluck / Forlano / Zunic & Nikora. Goldfields have never had a problem enticing talent up to Kal, but their biggest challenge this year, particularly if they miss out on the Finals, will be to convince the talent they do have – to stick around in 2017 or face the very real prospect of having to do a massive recruitment drive yet again to remain competitive next season and into the future.

Promising Juniors: Dion Gulley / Jacob Basten / Justyn Beattie

What Goldfields Need: Local juniors to stick with it. Looking back at the previously mentioned Championship teams of 2007 & 2008, you had Kalgoorlie products Hulme, Bowler & Earle who were key players in that success. Footy is a major competitor to the Giants both on and off the Court, so perhaps it’s time that much like the Midwest, BWA & DSR really invest in the sport in the Goldfields / Esperance region and get a Development Officer up there to place a stronger focus on getting future Giants the development and support they so desperately need up there

Big Question: Does Haney stay on for another year in charge? Has always hinted he would like to move down to the big smoke with his young family and some of my close friends up in Kal think it is only a matter of time before it becomes a reality. It would be a massive loss for the Giants if he does decide to depart the Goldfields club and would place even more pressure on whoever does stay around from this year’s playing squad.

 

Joondalup Wolves

The reigning Champions are one of the few clubs who do have a strong development system in place connecting their WABL & SBL programs through a strong period of success and forward planning in getting some of their more promising juniors in their SBL Squad / D League side. One final year at JBS in 2017 before moving up to the redeveloped Arena Joondalup as of 2018 and with it, should hopefully allow the Wolfpack to expand their competition even further with the new facilities on offer.

 

Likely Losses: Damian Matacz

Promising Juniors: Jamie Hepburn / Jonny Lutula / Daniel Vlahov / Kye Chamberlain

What Joondalup Need: Not much to be honest. A strong SBL program which is equally matched by a very strong Wolves Boys WABL Program with regular Wolves representation in WA State teams, the culture that Joondalup have built within their ranks from juniors all the way to SBL level is something to definitely be envious of. The biggest challenge for the Wolves will be to keep those promising juniors coming through from going elsewhere (Stirling comes to mind) if in 2-3 years’ time they can’t get an SBL contract due to the sheer talent and the fact that many of the Wolves SBL Stars (Sebba, Trian, Rob H) have all got at least 3 – 5 years left in the League. Time will tell how the Wolfpack Board handle this ensuing dilemma.

Big Question: Will this be the final season we see Hire in a Wolves singlet? Getting more NBL responsibilities with each passing year and the Mayor of Joondalup not getting any younger, managing niggly injuries or just wanting time off in between NBL seasons could be reason enough that this may very well be the last time we see one of the Wolves much loved products representing them at SBL level whilst he is still playing NBL

 

Kalamunda Eastern Suns

Prior to their heavy loss to Joondalup, I would’ve actually suggested the Suns had finally started to turn a corner under Clarke and were beginning to be consistently competitive… Then the Wolves reminded us all just how far that gap still is between the Suns and the competition’s elite teams with a 60 point mauling up in the Hills showing that Kalamunda are still a fair ways off from where they need to be. The question I have with the Suns is just where are their juniors coming through into the SBL squad / team? All of their ‘stars’ are on the latter side of 25 and from the outside looking in, there needs to be more done with the U16s – 18s up in the Hills so that their program is sustainable both in the short term and long term to make them a truly competitive club against all other teams in the League, not just the cellar dwellers.

 

Likely Losses: Sad to say but you can’t see anyone from Kalamunda leaving as they have what all players want – Court time if you are prepared to work hard and play to the Coaches style.

Promising Juniors: Joshua Kelly / Rene Reddingius Jr / Kenny Griggs Jr

What Kalamunda Need: Years to develop. They have to work from U14s up with a view to have an SBL team in five to seven years’ time made up solely of Hills products along with two quality imports, to make them a sustainably competitive team for years to come. Also to give their Coaches the time to put in place key platforms to allow that development and pathway to get to a required point which is needed to be successful at the next level.

Big Question: How long does Coach Clarke stay with the VCU style of game before the Suns Board lose patience with him, or his own players do? It’s all well and good to have a style of play that works at the Collegiate level, but you can recruit players to suit that style of play over in the US with thousands of hopefuls each year willing to give up most things just to get a College Scholarship and fulfil their own personal dreams. The problem the Suns have is quite simply they don’t have the ‘cattle’ to run that system and despite a couple of wins here and there this season, the multiple 30+ point defeats prove that fact. Hopefully for both Coach Clarke & the Suns sake, they come up with a game plan which suits them better given their talents and makes them more competitive in the long run.

 

Lakeside Lightning

Gone are the glory days under Andy’s reign at The Church. The Lightning have gone from being one of the most respected and feared opponents in the League to a team who if you stop their Imports, are very easy to scout and subsequently defeat – even on their much vaunted home court. They do have some promising juniors coming through however and it will be up to Coach Oatman & the Lakeside WABL coaches to nurture this talent through to a place where the Lightning are once again regular contenders as they were some five to ten years ago

Likely Losses: Not sure if likely is the right word, but it will be interesting to see if Vinci doesn’t head back down to Cockburn in 2017 or if Shervill and Johnson don’t head back to the Tigers either.

Promising Juniors: Rowan McKenzie / Jamie Whitson / Ben Johnson / Matt Burd

What Lakeside Need: To start having their junior teams available for Touring in U14s. That way they won’t lose valuable juniors (As happened this year with the 14 Girls who went up to Kalamunda) to other clubs and can develop their future stars from within rather than having to recruit externally (See Vinci, Shervill, Johnson etc)

Big Question: Will the Lightning continue with Coach Oatman in 2017? Lakeside genuinely need some stability within their SBL ranks and I think the best way to do this would be to have the same head coach in charge of the program for a number of years and establish a set culture within the club under that coaching system. That way their upcoming juniors will know what is expected of them to play at that level and current SBL players can get used to running the same plays / coaching style each season rather than chopping and changing like they have in recent years since Andy’s departure.

 

It would be remiss of me not to mention the amazing effort by our four Under 16 State Teams over at Kilsyth last week. To Ty, Fleur, Coops & the Metro Boys – Congratulations on bringing us back a Bronze Medal for the first time in many years!! An amazing effort by all concerned and one which will hopefully get us a lot more respect now from the other states around the country. Also congrats to Tom Knowles and the U16 Metro Girls who won the Tournament Fair Play Award. Another great stat is that all four of WA teams won their playoff games on the final day – which just goes to show some of our talent coming through in the regional areas is also starting to really develop and the more we can focus on being competitive as an entire state, not just at a Metro level on the National Stage – only good things can come from it!

 

Back to the SBL and only three weeks out from the Finals and realistically only nine teams left in the Playoff race. A lot of interesting games this weekend which could play a pivotal role in determining just who finishes where inside the Top 8 in a little over three weeks’ time. Here is my look at Week 18 of the Men’s State Basketball League:

 

Slammers @ Lakeside (The Church 8:30 Fri Night)

Both teams well and truly out of Finals contention, so this one is all about pride. Whilst he may not be the most flashy import, is Daniel Alexander one of the most efficient we have ever seen in the League? Regularly shoots it at a very good clip and his triple double last weekend against Perth goes to show just how important he is to the Lightning. I hope for their sake they can get him to sign on the line before he heads back to the US, to be back in the Purple & Black next season. Slammers picking up the L in both their games last weekend, with the unexpected result being the double digit loss to the Suns down at Eaton.

Whoever wins this one probably ensures their team doesn’t get the ‘pleasure’ of winning the Wooden Spoon in #SBL2016. Lakeside at home to get the W, defeating the Slammers by 9

 

Magic @ Kalamunda (Shed in the Sticks 8:30 Fri Night)

Much like the first game preview, both these sides with nothing to play for here except the need to not be the team to finish on the bottom of the Ladder. Mandurah coming off two tough losses at ‘home’ last weekend to the Eagles and Wolves respectively, head up the Hill to take on a Suns team who definitely pulled off one of the upsets of the round knocking off South West on the road.

Tough one to predict but being up at Kalamunda, and after the confidence boosting win down south – I’ll go with the Suns to get up in a close one here, winning by 4

 

Hawks @ Cockburn (Wally Hagan 8:30 Fri Night)

In the great words of Frank the Tank “We’re streaking… C’mon lets go we’re streaking up to the quad and the Gymnasium” That gymnasium would be Wally Hagan and the ‘We’ he was referring to could very well be the Cougars who currently sit on a League-best ten game winning streak that sees them only half a game clear of the reigning champions, with a significant gap then back to the chasing pack in 3^rd to 8^th. They needed overtime to beat the Senators up at Warwick but the streak remains alive and with it, comes a new challenger in the Hawks who were outplayed, out-hustled and out-muscled up in the Midwest by the Buccs on Saturday night, which puts a major dent in their Finals aspirations.

Perry Lakes desperate to get a win to catch up to the 8^th placed Eagles, but their 3-9 record away from Headquarters leads me to believe they could very well struggle in this one. Cougars by 17

 

Flames @ Stirling (Warwick Stadium 8:30 Fri Night) **Game of the Week**

Rockingham head into this one on the back of an impressive double digit win up in the Goldfields last Saturday night and their 6-4 record on the road will have the Senators more than a little worried here. Stirling on a two game losing streak after a heartbreaking loss to Cockburn in OT last weekend and knowing just how close these games have been between these two sides in the past, expect another classic up at Warwick for this one!

The Senators won their clash earlier in the year by 6 down in the ‘Ham but with a lot to play for being 5 vs 6 on the League Ladder, expect this to be decided in the last ten seconds! Flames in a thriller by 1

 

Eagles @ Geraldton (Eighth St Stadium 7:30 Sat Night)

Massive loss here with Jervis now relocated over to Brisbane on Sunday. Whilst the big man was coming off the bench for East Perth, he was still his dominant self and a lot of pressure will now fall on the likes of Donlagic & Osayande inside. They will head to in my opinion the best venue in the League outside of HQ to take on a Buccs side who sit half a game behind the third placed Tigers and it will be very interesting to see how those two teams results chop and change over the next two weeks which could lead to a huge final week of games.

Jervis’ loss is too big to replace – especially at the most intimidating venue in the League against a Gero side who have only lost once on their floor this season. Buccs in a fairly easy one by 19

 

Giants @ Cockburn (Wally Hagan 7:30 Sat Night)

Second home game in as many nights for the League Leaders and this time they welcome a Giants to who all but had their Finals aspirations extinguished by the Flames last Saturday night up in Kal. Whilst still a mathematical chance of making the 8, it’s hard to see that happening given the Giants’ tough draw for the final few weeks. Cougars on the quick backup after hosting Perry Lakes the night before, but I am expecting them to have a fairly comfortable win in that one so their stars should be rested well enough for this clash.

Cougars to make it twelve on the trot, putting the final nail in the Giants season as they win by 25

 

Redbacks @ South West (Eaton Rec Centre 8:00 Sat Night)

Very tough double header for the Slammers as they head back down to Eaton to host the Spiders, after a tough away game at The Church on Friday night. Still no Wagner or Vigor for the Redbacks and that was a major factor in the loss to the Lightning last week, and could mean once again their bigs in Lokan & Thomas get placed under pressure by Worthington, Weeden & Co from the Slammers.

Somewhat of a danger game here for Lackovic’s charges and a loss here could see them facing an uphill battle to overcome the sixth placed Flames in the final two weeks. Slammers in an upset by 4

 

Suns @ Joondalup (JBS 8:00 Sat Night)

These two sides only met a couple of weeks ago and that margin was 60 odd on the Suns home court. Up at the Wolves Den, this unfortunately could be a lot worse than even that was if the Wolves shoot like they did on Saturday night against Mandurah!

Joondalup to make people like Frenchy get the record books out, winning by 75

 

Tigers @ Rockingham (Mike Barnett 8:30 Sat Night)

Final home game for the season here for the Flames and it comes up against a Tigers side who were bought back to earth with a thud against the Wolves last Friday night up in Joondalup. Expect a finals like atmosphere in this one and it could even get a little bit fiery with two sides that always play that little bit harder against their southern rivals.

Tigers no good things on the road, but being the fresher of the two sides should have enough to get up by 5 here

 

Giants @ Perth (Belmont Oasis 12:00 Sun Arvo)

Both these sides will be a bit worse for wear here, coming off tough Saturday night games against Cockburn & South West respectively. Goldfields not without a hope in this one, and if they can keep it close heading into the fourth, especially if Perth go down the night before in Eaton… It could cause more than a few nervous moments for the Redbacks coaching staff and players alike

Redbacks to survive a scare from the Giants, winning by 7


Article by Travis Young
Photo by June Halliday