Cartwright calls for full house

Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers women’s captain Lisa Cartwright has urged the region to get behind her team, which is one win away from moving into a WSBL semi-final.

The Slammers, who notched an impressive 65-43 triumph over Perth at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre in their first ever play-offs appearance at the weekend, will clash with the Redbacks this Friday night at the Eaton Recreation Centre in game two of the best-ofthree series. A large crowd is anticipated to pack the venue for the match, which will start at 7.30pm.

‘‘This is history for the Slammers women so just get down there and support us,’’ Cartwright said.

After 16 unsuccessful seasons in the competition, the Slammers stormed into the play-offs after finishing in third place at the end of the home-and-away season.

They were particularly impressive on their home court and remained undefeated there until the final round of the season, when they lost to reigning champions Willetton.

In notching the crucial away triumph on Saturday night, the Slammers are now in the box seat to move into the next round of the play-offs.

Even if the Redbacks spring an upset and win Friday night’s clash, the South West team will have home court advantage in the third and deciding contest, which will be played the following evening.

Cartwright said claiming game one of the series had given the Slammers a major advantage.

‘‘It’s always good to win away and we’ve got a good record at home,’’ she said.

‘‘We have our home crowd so I think we’ve got a big advantage.’’

But the veteran of 13 seasons with the Slammers was quick to keep a lid on the hype surrounding her team.

‘‘It’s hard not to get excited but all of us girls just tried to treat it as just another game so that’s how we went into it,’’ Cartwright said.

‘‘It’s great to see everyone so excited.’’