Phoenix hopes lifted by Davie

STATE League basketball champions Phoenix will welcome back former Chargers enforcer Corey Davie as the side looks to remain in the hunt for backto-back titles this weekend.

Phoenix dropped two of its first three games in the opening round and faces an uphill battle to reach the final four as round two unfolds in Hobart today and tomorrow.

The return of Davie will give the side a huge boost but to qualify for the finals they need to upset the top three sides from the opening round, including North-West outfits Somerset and Penguin, who swept their matches 3-0. Hobart Moonah (2-1) will be Phoenix’s remaining opponent this weekend.

The Basketball Tasmania High Performance squad lost to Moonah by 10 points in round one but handed Phoenix an eight-point defeat, and will need at least two victories from in contests against Launceston (1-2), Clarence United (0-3) and Kingborough-Huon (1-2).

The women’s competition is slightly clearer following round one, with Penguin, Kingborough-Huon and Hobart Phoenix all tied for first with 2-1 records and likely to progress into the semis.

Launceston Japara (0-2) play three games this weekend and will be bolstered by the addition of Zoe Mitchell, with the game against the BTAS High Performance (1-2) looming as the clash to decide who takes fourth position.

Games are at Kingborough Sports Centre, with the finals weekend in Launceston on November 18 and 19.