Instead of photoshopped pictures pictures this week we’ll pay homage to all the empty seats in the stadiums. There appeared to be some lousy crowds this week,
Wildcats clip Hawks, 80 – 68
This was the game the Wildcats had marked in their diary since their 33 point embarrassment and they took to the court to make amends. It looked like that was exactly going to happen, the Hawks failing to score in the last four minutes finishing with 7 points at quarter time. Things didn’t look much better for the Hawks at the half, trailing by 11 points probably didn’t seem that bad for a team shooting 25% from the floor.
Then things changed, the Hawks finally found the game that makes teams wince, making the correct passes, the right extra passes and taking great shots, the Hawks who simply couldn’t miss tried to bring themselves back into the game. The Wildcats did their best to let the Hawks back in it, scoring two points in a seven minute stretch.
Via an Oscar Forman bomb, the Hawks pulled the deficit to 4 points with four and a half minutes to go; but form there it was all Wildcats, the home team running away with a 12 point victory. Jesse Wagstaff was a spark off the bench, scoring 20 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, fill-import Michael Dunigan impressed with 19 points (8/11) shooting, Dunigan’s athleticism proving to be too much for the Hawks to handle, the fans hoping to see Dunigan to ‘dunk-again’ in his short trip to the AU.
Wollongong go home licking their wounds knowing they can peg back an early lead against the one of the league’s best. Especially in the second half their shot was dialled in, the 11/27 from deep a mammoth effort, what wasn’t mammoth though was being out-rebounded 43 – 25, which cost them 15 offensive rebounds. Oscar Forman and Lance Hurdle both had 17 points whilst Rhys Martin chipped in with 13 points and 6 assists.
Kings defeat Breakers, 75 – 62
Sydney had claimed their biggest scalp of the season knocking over the Breakers in front of their home fans. From the get go, the Kings went at it harder than their Trans-Tasman compatriots, the Kiwi’s never looking in it.
Corin Henry exploded against the man many consider to be the MVP and the best defensive player in the NBL, henry finished with an energetic (read as 21 shots) 29 points, Ben Magden was hampered with a busted shoulder finished with 13 points and Ian Crosswhite managed a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 11 boards.
Not only did the Kings play well, they exploited a severe chink in the Breakers amour, being Cedric Jackson. When Jackson isn’t playing well, neither do the Breakers. Other than that dismal performance against the Crocs this is the second time Jackson failed to get into double digits.
CJ Bruton and Corey Webster were the only ones showing effort for the Breakers. After a 9 point haul in the second quarter, Bruton finished with 18 points whilst Webster scored 11. Thought quiet b his standards, Jackson did grab 8 boards an drop 4 assists to go with his 9 points.
Crocs edge Tigers, 85 – 84
Depending on how you want to look at it, the Crocs are either 2-0 without ‘Bridman’, or 2-0 with Luke Nevill. With 14 seconds to go in the game Peter Crawford buries 2 clutch free throws to give his team a 1 point lead. The Tigers chance to win the game died when Gary Ervin stole the ball before the Tigers to a shot off.
The tide just may be changing for the Crocs and though leaving any charge for the finals late, they can do enough to hand the wooden spoon to over to the Tigers… Nah… What am I saying….? Let’s see the Crocs go on a huge winning streak here and make a push at finals basketball . It’s going to take a gigantic effort and it’s going to be tough, but this season has showed them that it isn’t easy being green.
Both Crocs wins have been close and though luck might have been on their side, it certainly is due. We could be looking at a different type of season if the game versus the Breakers in Round 3 went the other way. Ervin & Nevill were definitely the long and the short if it, both guys raking in 26 points each whilst Todd Blanchfield, who has stamped with claim on most improved added 13 points.
Things are getting very uneasy in Tigerland. Still winless since the heavily marketed arrival of former NBAer Johnny Flynn many are wondering what will happen within the organisation. History would suggest that McPeake would charge into the dressing rooms and fire players at will but that ‘plutonic’ relationship between McPeake and the team is long gone. Anstey is going to need to find some answers. Chris Goulding led his team with 25 points, Flynn had 18 and Seth Scott finished with 12 points.
Wildcats beat 36ers in OT, 91 – 85
Down by 7 points with a minute to go many had written off the Wildcats, the monkey on their backs looking like they were going to fall to Adelaide for the third time this season. But Greg Hire & Kevin Lisch had other ideas, both players hitting threes late; Lisch’s contested three forcing overtime. Lisch dominated overtime and the Wildcats steal a win from Adelaide.
No doubt Adelaide was frustrated; after all they played better over the course of the game, they shot 46% from the field compared to the Wildcats, they shot 46% from the field compared to the Wildcats 34%, but it was the Wildcats fight that got them this one.
Perhaps more importantly is that the game will be remembered more for the hustle of the referees than the Wildcats, the refs distribute 79 free throws via blowing the whistle for 61 fouls which saw the likes of Shawn Redhage, Daniel Johnson, Jesse Wagstaff, Anthony Petrie and Luke Schenscher fouling out.
Lisch the hero finished with 18 points, Shawn Redhage kept the Cats within striking distance before fouling out with 20 points and Michael Dunigan score 16 points and grabbed 13 boards. For the 36ers, Daniel Johnson finished with 23 points, Petrie with 14 whilst Adam Gibson and Mitch Creek both scored 13 points.
Can’t buy a Damn Thing award:
Cam Tovey took part in a double header this week as a started and failed to score a point shooting 0/9 in a combined 46 minutes of court time, in fact, for the season Tovey has scored 11 points whilst committing 38 fouls. Good one Cam.
Gimme my Change Award
Imports Gary Ervin and Kevin Lisch share this weeks award. Ervin for the game saving steal in the final seconds of the game against the Tigers and Lisch for the three that brok the 36ers back and force overtime.
