Western Stars Remain in Hunt for 2013 WNWBL Title

The Western Stars remain second on the Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League (WNWBL) ladder after the second round of matches at Perth’s Herb Graham Recreation Centre.

The Stars recorded a comfortable 97-37 win over the MineCraft Comets on Friday night before announcing themselves as competition challengers with a tremendous 64-45 win over rivals Victoria on Saturday. They missed the opportunity for a perfect weekend however, after a 24 point loss in their final match of the round against the Stacks Goudkamp Bears (30-54).

The loss to the Bears will not detract from what has been an encouraging start to the 2013 season for the Stars. Their victory against a star studded Victoria line-up showed they have the right mix of scoring potential with excellent defence.

It is equal measures, WAIS athlete Amber Merritt has been in scintillating form, and scored 43 points in the Stars Friday night thrashing of the Comets. It was the dual defensive pressure from low pointers Sarah Vinci and Clare Nott – both WAIS athletes – that ified Victoria on Saturday, with Merritt again the major contributor in attack with 32 points.

A win over the Bears would have taken the Stars to the top of the WNWBL table, but impressive performances from Australian Paralympian Kylie Guaci (12 pts and 11 assists) and a 28 point haul from Japanese import Mari Amimoto secured bragging rights for the visitors.

The weekend results see Victoria continuing to lead the competition ahead the Stars and the Bears, with the 2013 champion almost certain to come from this group. The offensive dominance of Merritt sees her as a likely candidate to push the Stars for glory, but the attacking options of both Victoria and the Bears will guarantee both remain a potent threat from round three onwards.

The third round of the WNWBL starts on Friday 12 July from the Northern Suburbs Basketball Centre in Sydney.

For further details visit the WNWBL website.