STIRLING Senators coach Glenn Clarke couldn’t be happier with the team he has or the way they have started the 2017 Women's SBL season with them willing to sacrifice for one another a big key to that.

The Senators missed the playoffs in Clarke's first season in charge in 2016 but based on the opening month of the 2017 campaign there's every chance to expect to see him back at the helm of a team capable of being a real contender.

Amber Land did a power of work for Stirling last season but just didn’t receive enough support.

That has changed dramatically in 2017 with the arrival of Kisha Lee who has shown she can get the job done inside and out, starting the season with some dominant numbers.

Jasmine Martin is the second import and is providing a steady hand at point guard while Taylor Roberts, Rebekah Throns, Maddison Hooper, Emma Berryman, Hannah Throns, Holly Moore and Caitlyn Jones are all playing a role and having their moments.

The result has been the Senators winning their last three games now over the Rockingham Flames, Cockburn Cougars and South West Slammers following an opening night defeat at the hands of the undefeated Perry Lakes Hawks.

Week 4 Sunday Women's SBL Results 

Clarke knows all about building successful teams after his tremendous run at the Willetton Tigers and he is sensing a similar chemistry with this group he has at Stirling in 2017.

They all enjoy each other's company and are willing to sacrifice for one another, and know when it's time to switch on and get serious. For Clarke, that all makes for the perfect mix in a successful side.

"They are just a great bunch of girls, they really are. It's all about confidence and winners are grinners, but one thing is that the group all gets along so well," Clarke said.

"They all understand what their role is and they all accept that. Emma Berryman's minutes have come down but she is quite happy with that. She is the leader of our team and she wants to get our girls on the right foot from the bench.

"We are able to have a joke with each other but they also know when it's time to switch on and that's important.

"Because Kisha and Jasmine have never been coached by me before and we've got Holly as well so they don’t know exactly what grumpy Glenn is like yet because he hasn’t had to come out.

"They all know what we are working towards together and it's all going well so far. I reckon we can end up in the top-four because if we hit our straps I know we are going to be hard to beat."

Getting some more help for Land was a big focus for Clarke and the Senators in 2017 after the tireless amount of work she continued to deliver often against numerous opposition big bodies.

There's no doubt the arrival of Lee in particular has more than provided her with the support she deserved.

"Amber is another year older as well and it helps her to find her feet where she is now with Kisha in the team," he said.

"There is a lot of stuff we aren’t doing right now still that we would like to do, but we are getting there. But give it another three, four or five weeks and it's scary how good we could be."

What Lee has shown already this season after four games is that she deserves to be in the MVP discussion.

She even still played well in Sunday's win over the South West Slammers with another 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds despite having returned from Brisbane the night before.

"Kisha was actually in Brisbane since our last game and only came back on Saturday night so she probably had a bit of jetlag from that, but she still played well," Clarke said.

"One of the things with her is that she will get open but our philosophy is to take a read and take what the defence gives you, and she loves it. She just wants to play.

"Then we've got Amber on the other side so if they try to get Kisha out they have to contend with Amber. Then if Amber has a bad game, Kisha steps up or one or the other. It's not too bad."

Clarke is also delighted with what Martin is providing for the Senators in the guard spot with her having another nine points, six rebounds and five assists in Sunday's home win over the Slammers.

"Jasmine celebrated her birthday on Sunday so she was stoked with that. Because it was her birthday she might have felt a bit of homesickness as well. She is doing a great job for us and is doing a bit of everything," Clarke said.

"She actually has her ball in hand for 30 or 35 minutes, and last week she didn’t have a turnover and this week she only had one. Our whole idea is to have her running things for us and defensive-wise she is as strong as a bull."

The Senators will look to improve on their 3-1 record up against the winless Kalamunda Eastern Suns on Thursday night at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

Photo by Vikki Hile