THE Hills Raiders men and women’s teams will be facing the Cockburn Cougars this Saturday during the final instalment of the showdown series in a back-to-back championship basketball double-header.

Hills Raiders men and women’s teams will be playing against the Cockburn team with Raiders women tip off at 6pm, followed by the men’s championship team at 8pm.

Hills Raiders officer Shaun Bunting said while the Raiders and Cockburn Cougars don’t share a formal league rivalry, there’s a fire between the clubs built on repeated clashes across age groups, rep teams, and championship matchups.

“Because Hills Raiders don’t yet have an NBL1 team, many visiting clubs have come to Mundaring expecting an easy result,” he said.

“But this season is different – we’ve got our strongest championship squads yet, and when you factor in the support of our entire basketball community from WABL juniors, domestic clubs, local businesses and the shire, Mundaring Arena has become one of the hardest places to play in WA.

“Our players know their players – there are real one-on-one matchups that are hotly contested, with mutual respect and a hunger to prove something every time they step on court.”

Mr Bunting said the men and women’s teams were both feeling excited for the match-up and believe in their ability to win.

“For the players, it’s more than just a final home game – it’s a chance to make a statement about who we are and what we’re building out here,” he said.

“Our teams are proud of the fight they’ve shown throughout the series and they’re hungry to finish strong in front of a home crowd that’s been unbelievable all season.”

The first game of the showdown resulted in a loss for both the men and women’s teams against the Joondalup Wolves.

However, the Raiders men’s team were able to secure a comeback win on the following weekend against the Perth Wildcats Academy players ahead of the final game.

“Throughout the regular season, both the men and women have been tested under pressure – late-game scrambles, defensive battles, momentum swings – and they’ve come out tougher each time,” Mr Bunting said.

“That resilience is something they’ll be taking into Saturday night.

“They know every bucket, every possession, every loose ball will matter (and) they’ve learned not just how to stay in games, but how to turn the tide.”