Basketball: Karratha teams jockey for finals spots

There are only five rounds left in the Karratha Basketball Association's Thursday night competition before finals basketball begins.

But with games not set to start again until February 9, the Pilbara News is taking an early look at how the playoffs may be shaping up for each division.

Men's A-grade has seen a field of seven teams compete this season, with the two front-running sides at the moment being the Mayuga Majik and Thunder.

Both teams couldn't be any more different.

Majik are a quick team with street-ball tendencies who have revelled in their fast break play, which has caught tiring defences out on a regular basis to get easy buckets, while Thunder have relied more on their sets and half-court game.

Majik have despatched of most teams with relative ease and have handed the Thunder two of their few losses, albeit close ones.

However, the win-loss column will not mean too much come finals time, and the team which has a reasonably good chance of taking it all out are the Kangas.

They've proved to be the bane of Majik and Thunder's existence, and all three sides should be in the top four at the end of the regular season.

The fourth playoff spot will be an interesting race as it could come down to the last round, with the Tropics and Pilbara Pacers vying for the position.

With each in the division proving they can be a strong side on any given day, neither has an easy road to the finals ahead of them.

The Pacers have been on a bit of a winning streak, while the Tropics have struggled with player numbers.

However, some new blood could help them get over the line.

Another side which has struggled with numbers is the Coral Trouts.

With a steadier roster, they've come back to form in the past few rounds.

However, to make the finals they'll likely need to win nearly all of their remaining games as well as need Tropics and Pacers to lose a few.

Women's A-grade has been nothing but Flyers.

They've lost only one game so far this season to the Raiders 22-32, but have so far been the clear front-runners for the competition.

However, it will be a test to see whether their regular season record holds up against the likes of the Raiders and Tigers in the finals.

The Tigers have won the past few encounters with the Flyers in the premiership game and like their chances of repeating.

The Croodz and Falcons will battle for the final playoff spot in the five-team division, but both may find it hard to keep up with the quality of play from the top three.

However, stranger things have happened as all sides are being hit by player losses at the moment.

In the men's B-grade, the Vipers look a good chance of taking the competition.

Arguably the most well-rounded team the Vipers have lost just one game this season and drawn another.

A good fast-break team, they also have decent height and physically strong players.

Their only loss this season has been to the Prodigy, who are redeveloping their game after the loss of their key centre for the rest of the season.

Karratha Nobles are also up there on the ladder and if they find their form in the next few rounds they could do well.

At full strength the Titans could prove troublesome to the other three top teams and have been hard to beat with a full contingent of players.

Women's B-grade has seen a massive influx of teams, and is the biggest division in the competition with nine in total.

Flyers Red and Tigers are the ladder leaders, and should be sure bets to make the final four.

The Beavers have been the surprise package of the division, picking up wins in the middle of the season to steadily climb up the ladder, while Murujuga Yirratharnangga have also been solid.

It will be tough for Flyers Blue and Raiders B, both sitting outside the top four, to make it to the playoffs.

Raiders have a slightly better schedule.