Hawks, Suns to test Slammers’ finals credentials

A season defining weekend awaits the Printsync South West Slammers men’s side who need to win at least one of their two games to continue on the path to the play-offs.

The Slammers will host the Perry Lakes Hawks on Saturday night at the Eaton Recreation Centre, before taking to the court at the Ray Owen Sports Centre against the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

Slammers coach Charles Nix conceded his side needed to walk away with at least one win this weekend.

“We have a couple of tough games after this so we are under no illusion that we have to start beating teams ahead of us to play finals,” he said.

Nix said he was confident heading into the game against the Hawks, having spent four years at the club as an assistant and head coach.

“I have a good understanding of their roster, so this week’s analysis will be in depth,” he said.

A number of key match-ups will be pivotal to the contest, but none more than Slammers star Tre Nichols against Hawks import Matt Adekponya.

“Tre is excited to take on the best guard from each team every week,” Nix said.

“He (Adekponya) is the sort of guy that once he starts going, is hard to stop.”

In the centre, Slammers co-captain Clive Weeden will have to battle 211cm Perry Lakes centre Brian Carlwell.

“He is a big man, but both players have different styles,” he said.

“Clive is agile for his size and he is quick on his feet, so it will be interesting to see how Brian contains this.”

Nix said Michael Lay was likely to go head-to-head with Robert Waters, while Bunbury boy Ryan Smith will have to contend with the in-form Brian Voelkel.

Tip-off is 8pm on Saturday.