Final showdown for state clubs
DEFENDING state basketball champion Phoenix women will enter the semi-finals as the team to beat but first must avoid a repeat of an earlier match against KingboroughHuon.
The men’s and women’s titles go on the line this weekend, with the semi-finals today and the grand finals tomorrow in Launceston.
Phoenix finished the round-robin series with a 5-1 record to be clear favourite to go back-to-back but semi-final opponent Kingborough-Huon won the round 1 encounter, with Lauren Mills nailing the winning bucket.
She forms a three-pronged offensive arsenal beside Josie Greenwood and Taya Stevenson, but Phoenix is armed with its own firepower with Kylie McCauley, Sharna Thompson and Kate Berry, plus Dimitria Jaynes, Reagan Davie, Clare Lapham and Britt Parker providing ample support.
The other women’s semifinal pits Penguin against BTAS High Performance.
The undefeated Penguin Blues enter the men’s semis as raging favourites, with the side stacked with a deep and talented roster. Ryan Cook, Fraser Eaton, Joe Chilcott, Zac White and Cam Brown are all averaging double figure points a game while Joel Beveridge, Tyler Kelly, Jaylen Beveridge and Blair Diprose are all capable of catching fire.
Opponent Launceston Lightning, dubbed the Cinderella story of the competition after most pundits expected it to be at the bottom of the table, did take it up to Penguin in round 1 before the Blues finished the match on a 32-8 run. Somerset and Moonah square off for the other finals spot.