Crunch time for Crabs in finals quest

The next fortnight looms as a vital period for Crabs in their chase of successive finals appearances in the Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade competition.

Crabs made the top four last season before suffering an overtime loss to the Raiders under-18 development squad in the elimination final.

After having a bye last week, Crabs return to action tonight in round 13 as they come up against fellow top-four contenders Den/Albany Spartans in a fixture crucial to the make-up of the top four.

It is the start of a big fortnight for Crabs, who tackle Raiders next week before they face top-four sides Barking Owls and Tigers in the last two games of the regular season.

Guard Zac Pearson and veteran Danial Abbott will again be pivotal to Crabs’ winning hopes, with Pearson averaging 11.9 points a game this season and knocking down 16 points in their most recent win over Kinjarling Thunder.

Den/Albany Spartans will be out to end their four-game losing streak, having not tasted victory since beating Thunder in November.

The signs were much better for the new outfit last week, however, as they challenged Owls throughout their encounter, eventually going down by 10, with Taj Williams and Jak Phillips both recording 19 points.

In the other 7pm match, Owls take on the winless Thunder, while at 8pm Pelicans’ finals hopes go on the line against Tigers and the second-placed Knights face Ambassadors, who are a game behind them in the standings.

In the women’s A-grade competition, Magpies and Panthers meet in a top-of-the-table fixture that is set to decide the minor premiership at 6pm and Flames come up against Raiders at 7pm.