Fitness no issue for faltering Slammers outfit

PrintSync South West Slammers women’s coach Peter Harper has denied his team has fitness issues, despite lapses after half-time in two of their three games this season.

The Slammers let slip a nine point half-time lead in round one, before conceding a seven-point advantage against the Willetton Tigers at the weekend.

Harper believes his side needed to concentrate harder during games and try not to let their defence lapse in this weekend’s game against the Joondalup Wolves at HBF Arena.

“We need to improve on the defensive end because we have given up too many points in the first three weeks,” he said.

“I do not think it is a fitness issue.”

Harper believes import Tori Fisher would improve on her first two performances for the club.

“We will look to use her a bit better, but it is hard when she has had just the one training session,” he said.

“Her stats at the weekend weren’t fantastic, but she gave us something in the key way defensively and offensively.

“Charlotte (Van Kleef) being freed up on the perimeter helped her game as well.”

The second-year coach said his team had been good offensively.

“We have scored more than 80 points in our first three games,” he said.

“I think we need to tighten up on the defensive end.”

The Wolves have just one win from their first three games, but stars Nikita-Lee Martin and Shani Amos are yet to play their best basketball.

Harper said his side would have to put effort into stopping Amos.

“I think Amos is the key. If we can keep her quite, then it goes a long way to helping us defensively,” he said.

The Slammers take on the Joondalup Wolves from 2pm on Sunday.