MANDURAH Magic men’s head coach Jason Chalk believes his team has what it takes to cause an upset against third-placed Perth Redbacks in the State Basketball League quarter final.
The Magic have played the Redbacks twice this year with the sides winning a game each, both away from home.
The sides first met in round three at the Belmont Oasis Centre with Mandurah coming away with an 11-point win, 103-92.
After trailing by seven points at half time the Magic came out firing in the second half taking a two-point lead into the three-quarter time break which they extended to 11 by the final whistle.
The Magic were led by Ben Smith with 38 points and Taylor Mullenax with 27. Stanley Okoye top scored for the Redbacks with 31 points and will be a player Chalk said the Magic would have to watch.
The sides’ next encounter came in round 13 at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre with the Redbacks claiming a six-point win in a tight contest that went down to the wire.
Scores were level at half time with the Redbacks able to break the deadlock in the third period to lead by one point at three-quarter time.
In a see-sawing last quarter the Redbacks were able to gain ascendency and hold on to claim the win, 119-113.
Chalk said despite the loss the Magic wouldn’t change a lot heading into this weekend’s game.
“We made a few bad decisions on the offensive end that resulted in fast breaks at the other end,” he said.
“We just have to take the better option.”
Okoye was again damaging for the Redbacks with 35 points however he was topped by teammate Lee Roberts who scored 36. “Those two are players we will have to try and limit” Chalk said.
“With guys like that you’re not going to stop them; they’re too good of players to stop but you have to limit them to 25 points, not 35.”
Mullenax top scored for the Magic with 32 and was well supported by Smith (20), Paul Hafford (20) and Rhett Della (22).
Hafford has been in good form for the Magic however Chalk ruled him out for the rest of the season following an injury on the weekend.
“Paul had been playing very well for us, he was probably under valued outside of our team,” he said.
“Daniel Florence will move into the starting line-up and a few other guys will have to step up.”
The Magic will take on the Redbacks on Friday at 8pm at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
“We have to win at home even though we have a good record at their home court [they have won there the last three years] you don’t want to head there a game down,” Chalk said.
Game two will be played on August 8 at 7.30pm at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre. If needed game three would be played on August 10 at noon at the same venue.
