Mandurah’s stars a tall task for young SW team

The Printsync South West Slammers are out to avenge their week two loss to the Mandurah Magic when they travel up the highway tonight.

An 11-point defeat at the Eaton Recreation Centre is still in the minds of the coaching staff and players, and the visitors will look to repay the favour when they hit the court at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre from 8.30pm.

Mandurah stars Chudier Pal (15 points, 10 rebounds), Jamal Shabazz (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Shaun Stewart (20 points, 10 rebounds) all recorded impressive double-doubles in their win over the South West Slammers on March 24.

Stewart will be of particular trouble to the Slammers, with the American guard averaging more than 24 points a game, second only to Willetton’s Jay Bowie.

Both sides have just three wins from 13 games and a victory this weekend will keep one side’s slim finals hopes alive.

Slammers captain Clive Weeden will get the job of playing against Pal and the centre said it was a challenge he looked forward to.

“I have played against Pal a couple of times now and he is definitely a great talent,” he said.

“But he is one (player) that I love to go up against.

“Especially defensively, I match up well against him.

“I am just going to try to give him a headache the entire game and make him work for his points.

“Then I will be there to try to help my teammates and combat this game as a team.”

Weeden said despite results not going their way, the team was heading in the right direction.

“It’s a tough one when you are taking some losses and some by bigger margins than you think you should,” he said.

“But the guys are staying together and working doubly hard during the week.

“There is certainly no quit in these younger guys.

“Everyone wants to win for each other, so it is really exciting what we can do in the run we have coming up.

“We have everyone here now and I am excited for the next few weeks.”

One of the oldest players on the team, Weeden is having a great season at both ends of the court.

“The body is feeling good, but each year it feels a little bit more sore,” he said.

“It is just what you do to try to be there for your team.

“I know that my role now is to be that bruiser and get other guys open for shots.

“I am liking the role and being the elder statesman.

“I want to try to have a positive impact on the rest of the guys, so that we not only start winning this year, but in the years to come as well.”

Weeden said the younger players in the team would give the Slammers a strong future.