Caps coach slams treatment of star WNBL captain

Aokuso, Canberra's captain and powerhouse 194cm centre, was held to eight points in the Caps' 82-75 loss to the Southside Melbourne Flyers, hitting just 2-of-13 from the floor and knocking down 4-of-5 free throws.

Goriss felt those modest numbers reflected on the way Aokuso is being officiated, not on how she played.

"When someone like Z, who I think is the best back-to-basket big in the league, gets five free throws ... I don't know what more (she can do)," Goriss said.

"People just shove her in the back, hold and grab her from behind, and she gets five free throws.

"It's just ridiculous. It's just crazy to me.

"When you're being pushed two hands in the back and being held, and there's nothing on the back end of it, I don't know what more you can do. I really don't."

Goriss said he has provided vision to the league outlining his season-long concerns with how Aokuso is being officiated, but his endeavours have been virtually fruitless.

"I've asked for clarification and literally get the same story each week," he said.

"I wouldn't say I've done it a lot because I don't like to complain and whinge a lot.

"But when I have sent it in, I literally get back 'they've made the incorrect call'.

"It just falls on deaf ears ... there's a lack of consistency across the board from week to week."

The fifth-placed Capitals (8-14) - who needed to beat the fourth-ranked, finals-bound Flyers (10-12) to keep their playoff hopes alive - will be playing for pride when they conclude their season at home to sixth-placed Geelong Venom (7-15).

"To finish fifth," Goriss said of what he hopes to get out of the 'dead rubber'.

"Geelong have come on at the back end of the season really well because they're fully fit now.

"(Alissa) Pili is definitely a hell of a player and has helped them since she's come back into the line-up.

"It's not just going to be an easy game. They're playing some really good basketball now that they've got everyone fit and healthy.

"It's going to be a dogfight but I'm just glad we're at home in front of our home fans."

Australian Associated Press