NBL1 West 2023: Finding sunshine in the gloom important for South West Slammers women’s team

It has been a lean year for the South West Slammers in the NBL1 West women’s competition.

Despite solid work being undertaken by first-year coach Alex Ciabattoni, the Slammers enter their bye week on the bottom of the ladder with an unwanted 0-11 record.

Concerningly, 10 of these defeats have been by more than 40 points — which can do little for the mindset of the predominantly teenager-based squad.

Rumblings continue to mount in WA basketball, given the Slammers women’s program has lost 64 of their past 65 games.

However there have been a few positives.

With no imports and scant senior experience outside of Ciabattoni to call upon, the Slammers’ acquisition of former Rockingham Flames guard Paris Duffield has been a step in the right direction.

In her first game, Duffield dropped 31 points against the reigning NBL1 national women’s champion Warwick Senators away from home.

Since this impressive debut, the guard has offered important guidance out on the floor to her younger teammates during tough situations.

The performances of elite teens Bree Chalk and Alexis Donovan have also been noticable.

Aside from putting up solid numbers offensively, Chalk has not been afraid to penetrate the offensive glass for her side.

Donovan began Saturday night’s game away to battle-hardened Rockingham like a whirlwind, picking up three rebounds and two assists in her opening five minutes on the floor.

The Slammers return to action at home to face red-hot Perry Lakes Hawks on June 17.