THE Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League (MUVJBL) is back on Friday night with teams to recommence their seasons after a holiday break. For some teams, they will be keen to continue their good form from the first block of games, while for others, they will have stewed for the past fortnight and thought about ways to improve their game and attack Round 6 with vigour and determination.
Ashe Pool:
Geelong Supercats (8th, 2-3) vs. Bendigo Braves (6th, 2-2-1)
Dandenong Rangers (2nd, 4-1) vs. Bulleen Boomers (3rd, 3-2)
Collingwood All Stars (10th, 0-5) vs. Werribee Devils (4th, 3-2)
Eltham Wildcats (7th, 2-3) vs. Dandenong Rangers 2 (9th, 1-4)
Waverley Falcons (5th, 2-2-1) vs. Kilsyth Cobras (1st, 5-0)
In the Ashe Pool there are a number of enticing match-ups, highlighted by Dandenong Rangers hosting Bulleen Boomers. The Rangers suffered their first loss at the hands of Kilsyth Cobras before the break and will be keen to get back on track in Round 6. For the Boomers, they are on a two-game winning streak and lead the log-jam of mid-table teams but cannot afford to lose for that reason. Speaking of mid-table teams, fifth placed Waverley Falcons gets a crack at top-of-the-table Kilsyth Cobras who are the only team yet to drop a game. Sixth placed Bendigo Braves travel to Geelong to face the eighth placed Supercats who after a horror start to the year have strung two wins together. On the opposite end of the form line, Eltham Wildcats have dropped their past three games after going 2-0 to start the season, but will be strong favourites against Dandenong Rangers 2 despite the bottom two side finally getting its first win last round. In the final game of the round, fourth placed Werribee Devils have the worst percentage of the top six sides so they will be keen to make amends against the bottom placed Collingwood All Stars with a big win, but the All Stars are refreshed and potentially attacking the round with a different outlook.
Watson Pool:
Keilor Thunder (3rd, 4-1) vs. Casey Cavaliers (8th, 2-3)
Ballarat Miners (6th, 3-2) vs. Diamond Valley Eagles (5th, 3-2)
Hawthorn Magic (9th, 0-5) vs. Ringwood Hawks (10th, 0-5)
Korumburra Wildcats (4th, 3-2) vs. Nunawading Spectres (2nd, 4-1)
Melbourne Tigers (1st, 4-1) vs. Knox Raiders (7th, 2-3)
In the Watson Pool, only one team will be without a win after tomorrow night as the bottom two sides, Hawthorn Magic and Ringwood Hawks go head-to-head having started the season 0-5. Ringwood is remarkably playing just its second away game, and will be underdogs against Hawthorn who have gone close, but not quite got the chocolates so far this season. Up the other end of the table, the match of the round is an in-form Korumburra Wildcats taking on second placed Nunawading Spectres. The Spectres fell for the first time last round, while the Wildcats are up and about following three straight wins. Meanwhile top-of-the-table Melbourne Tigers bounced back from their first loss with a win in Round 5, and now will look to make it two in a row against seventh placed Knox Raiders. Ballarat Miners can leapfrog Diamond Valley Eagles with a win in their sixth vs fifth clash, as third placed Keilor Thunder hope to catch the top two sides on percentage against the eighth placed Casey Cavaliers who are yet to win on the road.
