Eagles Rd 14 Preview | Away v Giants

Image credit: Mark Filpo (@codexdesignstudio)

It's back to a single game in First Nations Round of the NBL1 West for the East Perth Eagles but to do that it's a trip to Kalgoorlie with the women trying to move closer to the top four and the men into the top eight.

After consecutive double-header weekends this NBL1 West season, the Eagles now jump on the train to Kalgoorlie to take on the Goldfields Giants this Saturday night at the newly redeveloped Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium.

The women's clash between the Eagles and Giants gets underway at 6pm with the men's contest to follow at 8pm.

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WOMEN

The Eagles women have the chance to further close in on a top four position in the NBL1 West by taking on the Goldfields Giants in Kalgoorlie on Saturday night.

Coming into First Nations Round this weekend and the Eagles currently sit in fifth position in the standings to be two wins clear of the sixth placed Perry Lakes Hawks and but the one win back from the fourth placed Willetton Tigers.

That means that should East Perth go on a winning run, destiny is in their own hands in terms of trying to lock away a top four finish and earning a double chance come finals time.

That puts extra emphasis on making sure there's no slip up against the Giants on Saturday night in Kalgoorlie with Goldfields currently on a nine-game losing streak and with a 2-12 record on the season.

That doesn’t mean the Eagles can afford to take them lightly, though, with Goldfields possessing two quality imports with Nici Gilday and Erin Antosh along with some emerging talent Kiriana Hawaikirangi, Josephine Odude and Chloe Zorzi, and with the addition of Hazelle Yam.

The Eagles come into the game fresh off consecutive double-header weekends which saw them record wins against the Perth Redbacks and Lakeside Lightning, but suffer defeats to the Cockburn Cougars and Perry Lakes Hawks.

East Perth did host Goldfields at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre back on Sunday June 1 when the Eagles prevailed by 33 points.

In that win, Sasha Goodlett had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Madi Torresin 17 points and eight boards, Awatea Leach 13 points and six rebounds, Abby Cubillo 10 points, nine boards and seven assists, and captain Tessa Morrison 10 points, three assists and two rebounds.

Eagles veteran Taylor Roberts knows that it's never easy making the trip out to Kalgoorlie to play but also is fully aware how important it is for East Perth to come back with the points.

"The trek to Kalgoorlie always makes for a tough game and they have some really good players that can get going and create a headache for us," Roberts said.

"With our preparation leading up to this weekend and following our scout, we’ve done everything we can to win on Saturday. We just have to go out there and execute it now."

MEN

The Eagles men have had a mixed bag over the past fortnight but have a chance to return to the top eight this weekend with a win in Kalgoorlie against the Goldfields Giants.

The Eagles currently sit in ninth position in the NBL1 West after going 2-2 over the past two weekends with a pair of double-headers.

East Perth enjoyed both Friday night match ups at home at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre beating the Perth Redbacks and Perry Lakes Hawks by a combined 52 points.

However, the Saturday night trips backing those up south of the river proved more challenging with East Perth suffering losses to the Cockburn Cougars and Lakeside Lightning by a combined 21 points.

That leaves the Eagles in ninth position with a 7-9 record ahead of the clash against the Giants but it shapes as a pivotal one in the context of the season for both teams with Goldfields currently sitting in sixth place coming into Round 14 at 8-8 but having lost six of their past seven games.

Last time the two teams met was on Peter Campbell Basketball Arena on June 1 with the Eagles delivering a big finish to score the 79-74 Sunday victory.

In that win, Lee Roberts had 16 points and 11 rebounds, Matthew Lang 15 points, seven boards and three assists, Chier Maker 13 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Max Rice eight points, five boards and three assists.

Jonah Antonio also had 11 points, four rebound and four assists, and he will return to the Eagles line-up after missing the past four games while with the Australian Gangurrus at the 3x3 FIBA World Cup in Mongolia.

East Perth coach Carl Filpo is fully aware what's at stake in the match up given the Eagles and Giants are virtually locked in a battle over one of those last positions in the top eight.

"We're feeling really good about it even though we know they are a great team who are really tough," Filpo said.

"They have had some big wins and we had a good battle against them a few weeks ago, but I don’t think the travel will bother us. I like going there and I'm looking forward to seeing the new stadium for the first time, and we feel good.

"We know that it's going to be a challenge and they will be tough. They have a few really talented guys and Shaun Stewart's always a handful, De'Sean Parsons is elite, Duach is really shooting it and those guys are all very talented players who on their night can beat anyone.

"We know that we're the same and on our night we can beat anyone too. It's going to come down to the night and how we play, and how the guys get it together and if they can play our style of game or how we want to play for long enough."