Round 11 of the NBL1 West competition this weekend presents a real chance for both Redbacks teams to show what they are capable of against strong Perry Lakes Hawks outfits at Bendat Basketball Centre before the men then back up the next day at Belmont Oasis.
The women’s game begins at 6pm followed by the men’s clash at 8pm and we encourage all Redbacks supporters to get along and support both our teams away from home.
The Redbacks men will then back it up on Sunday at home at Belmont Oasis up against the Geraldton Buccaneers from 12pm.
Starting with the women’s contest on Saturday evening, it’s a big game for both clubs with the Redbacks looking to back up their win last Saturday night at Eaton Recreation Centre against the South West Slammers.
However, the Lady Hawks have now won their past three matches to snap a five-game losing streak prior. So the stage is set for a tantalising matchup between two teams looking to consolidate their spots inside the top eight.
For their part, the Redbacks women had lost three games in a row to tough opponents in Cockburn Cougars, Warwick Senators and Joondalup Wolves before bouncing back last Saturday night to beat the Slammers by 61 points in a confidence-boosting performance.
That improved them to a 5-5 record on the season coming into this Saturday night’s clash.
The Lady Hawks opened their season by beating the Redbacks 74-70 in a thriller at Belmont Oasis back on May 8, but they then lost their next five matches. However, they have responded since to beat the Lightning, Slammers and Cougars to come into this week’s clash with a 4-5 record.
If the Redbacks want to be victorious, they have to avoid getting dominated inside and on the boards. It’s going to be a big job for Maddie Allen and Jess Jakens coming up against the Perry Lakes bigs of Megan McKay, Sarah Donovan and Nat Burton.
Then it’s time for the men’s match up on Saturday night at Bendat Basketball Centre with the Redbacks and Hawks both bringing terrific form into the contest.
The Redbacks are currently in their best patch of form in the season to have improved to a 6-4 record. But coming off reaching the West Coast Classic Grand Final last year, Perry Lakes has been impressive again so far in 2021 currently sitting at 9-2.
It was a shaky start to the NBL1 West season for the Redbacks losing four of the opening six matches, but they have since found some tremendous form winning four in a row against the Cougars, Senators, Wolves and Slammers.
That included two impressive and emphatic victories last weekend at home to the Wolves and away to the Slammers to win by a combined 48 points in the two games.
After a hiccup against the Senators earlier this month, Perry Lakes has now won its last three matches too against Lakeside, South West and Cockburn to set up what should be a tremendous contest on Saturday night.
The Redbacks did welcome back superstar guard Marshall Nelson last Friday night for his first appearance of the 2021 season.
Throw him into a team with Zac Gattorna, Tevin Jackson and Louis Timms all in hot form, and led by the club’s games record holder and the league’s assists leader Joel Wagner, and another strong performance against Perry Lakes will have the competition sit up and take notice of this Redbacks team.
The Redbacks Men then back up at home on Sunday at midday taking on the travelling Geraldton Buccaneers.
The Buccs might be coming into this weekend with a 3-6 record on the season, but they are still led by 2019 championship-winning stalwarts Aaron Ralph and Mat Wundenberg with over 850 games between them, and with superstar Mathiang Muo, the Redbacks can’t afford to take them lightly.