NBL1 West 2022: South West Slammers have sights on victory over Kalamunda Eastern Suns

Although his side has a brilliant chance against the Kalamunda Eastern Suns on Saturday night at the Eaton Recreation Centre, South West Slammers men’s coach Shane Goff is well aware things will not be easy. Especially given the fact the Eastern Suns are coached by Ben Ettridge, formerly of the Joondalup Wolves, who has enjoyed sustained success in WA State basketball. “I have watched their last couple of games,” Goff said. “Every Eastern Suns team I have ever coached against, from under 12s to D-League, have always loved to let it fly. If we let them off the hook, they will try to match our pace. “The Eastern Suns love to run the ball up the court, and crash (penetrate the offensive basket) a bit early. It will probably just be whether they have the legs to run it out across four quarters, as will be the case for my athletes. “It should be an intriguing game. “I am not taking anything for granted. It is going to be nice playing a team who are around our level of experience as well. Being one or two spots above us on the ladder, it also will be a really good opportunity for us to get a win. “We have played all of the top four pretty much twice now.” Goff took tremendous heart from his side’s 99-84 loss against the Wolves on Saturday night, with his defence working hard to limit the impact of massive American import CJ Turnage. Despite scoring eight points in the opening three and a half minutes, Turnage could manage only an additional 10 points for the remainder of the night, after the Slammers players routinely jammed his running lanes under the offensive glass. Scouting report (Eastern Suns) League position: 12th; last round: lost to Rockingham Flames 108-75; top performer (v Flames) — Albert Almanza (17 points — 4/6 field goal attempts, 3/10 three-point attempts, 0/0 free throw attempts, five rebounds, two assists)