IT is hard to see the National Basketball League (NBL)1 West competition get a case of the second-year blues. The league kicked off last year in its inagural season, after 32 years going as the State Basketball League (SBL). There was plenty of exciting action throughout 2021, with exciting contests and big seasons both at an individual and team level in the men’s and women’s competition. The upcoming season should produce something similar, with all sides well and truly settled at the level of competition.
Season 2021 saw the two strongest sides claim their respective titles in a deserving manner. In the men’s competition, the title was taken out by the Perry Lakes Hawks, who dominated the home and away season to finish with a record of 18-4. They backed it up in the finals too, cruising through each of their finals matchups, with the smallest margin coming in the big dance, where they claimed a 10-point triumph over the Rockingham Flames. It is hard to go past the Hawks as the competition favourite heading into the 2022 season, but there will be a number of contenDers looking to dethrone last year’s champs.
In the women’s competition, the Willetton Tigers owned the competition for much of the year and it culminated in a championship at the end of the season. The Tigers were dominant in the home and away season, with a record of 15-3, but it wasn’t as one sided as the men’s competition. The Joondalup Wolves matched their record with 15 wins, and it all came together in a blockbuster grand final. Willetton emerged as 11-point winners and the maiden champions. There is no doubt that the Tigers are a strong chance to back it up again in 2022, but the Wolves and a number of other sides will be hot on their tail.
Round 1 kicks off on Friday night, with a number of cracking contests on the cards across the two competitions. None will gather more excitement than the women’s grand final rematch between the Tigers and the Wolves. They were the benchmark for the 2021 season, and the Wolves will be out for revenge after a tough loss in last year’s decider. The Hawks will get the opportunity to defend their title on Friday night when they take on the Senators.
Check out the full fixture below:
Round 1 Fixture
Men’s
Cockburn Cougars vs East Perth Eagles, Friday April 8 @ 8:30pm, Wally Hagan Stadium
Eastern Suns vs Perth Redbacks, Friday April 8 @ 8:30pm, Ray Owen Sports Centre
Perry Lakes Hawks vs Warwick Senators, Friday April 8 @ 8:30pm, Bendat Basketball Centre
Goldfields Giants vs Lakeside Lightning, Saturday April 9 @ 5:30pm, Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium
South West Slammers vs Geraldton Buccaneers, Saturday April 9 @ 7:00pm, Eaton Rec Centre
Willetton Tigers vs Joondalup Wolves, Saturday April 9 @ 7:00pm, Willetton Basketball Stadium
Rockingham Flames vs Mandurah Magic, Saturday April 9 @ 8:00pm, Mike Barnett Sports Complex
Mandurah Magic vs Geraldton Buccaneers, Sunday April 10 @ 12:00pm, Mandurah Aquatic and Rec Centre
Perth Redbacks vs South West Slammers, Sunday April 10 @ 2:00pm, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre
Women’s
Cockburn Cougars vs East Perth Eagles, Friday April 8 @ 6:30pm Wally Hagan Stadium
Eastern Suns vs Perth Redbacks, Friday April 8 @ 6:30pm, Ray Owen Sports Centre
Perry Lakes Hawks vs Warwick Senators, Friday April 8 @ 6:30pm, Bendat Basketball Centre
Willetton Tigers vs Joondalup Wolves, Saturday April 8 @ 5:00pm, Willetton Basketball Stadium
Rockingham Flames vs Mandurah Magic, Saturday April 9 @ 6:00pm, Mike Barnett Sports Complex
Goldfields Giants vs Lakeside Lightning, Saturday April 9 @ 7:30pm, Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium
Perth Redbacks vs South West Slammers, Sunday April 10 @ 12:00pm, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre
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