THE Goldfields Giants continued their eight-year dominance of the Bunbury Slammers with a 109-72 demolition in Saturday’s State Basketball League clash at Kalgoorlie’s Niels Hansen Stadium.

American import John Vaudreuil imposed himself early, scoring 17 of his 20 points in the first half as the Giants moved into sixth spot with a 4-3 record. Goldfields led by as much as 40 points in the final period on their way to their 15th straight win against Bunbury – a streak which dates back to 2002.

The Giants continue to share the load in the absence of captain Ryan Hulme, with four players notching double-doubles, including guard Jimmy Bowler who had 11 points and a career-high 10 assists.

American import Michael Haney had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while forward Russell Hurst made the most of his 23 minutes with season highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Bunbury, who are winless after six games, were under-sized and had no answer to the Giants’ three tallest starters – Vaudreuil, Haney and Lordan Franich.

Franich started the best of the trio, but it was Vaudreuil who put the exclamation point on a dominant first period with a slam dunk just before the buzzer for a 32-20 lead.

“John’s an impact player and if we use him right, we throw the ball to him at the post and let him go to work, there’s not going to be too many guys in the league that are going to be able to stop him,” Giants coach Wayne Creek said.

“It’s just a matter of us utilising him well.” It was raining buckets during the second period when both teams exchanged a barrage of long range shots, but the Giants’ bigger presence inside the keyway translated to 46 points in the paint to Bunbury’s 26.

The Giants also had far greater depth, scoring 47 points off the bench compared to 13.

Giants teenager Mitch Sheppard, in just his fourth SBL game, posted the first points of his career with a three-pointer in the second period.

In a golden two minutes, Sheppard netted seven points, which included making an interception for the easy layup and dishing off an assist to Vaudreuil.

The Giants took a 61-34 lead into half-time and the contest was well and truly over in the third period when the home team won the quarter 19-15.

Supporters were given another glimpse of the club’s future late in the game when Miles Tierney came into the action in his third game in Giants’ colours.

Tierney matched Sheppard’s effort when he got on the scoreboard for the first time with a three-pointer and when fellow teenager Garry Sidebottom put away a couple of shots, it meant every player on the Giants’ roster had scored.

The Giants shot 46 per cent from the field, up from 41 per cent in the 103-84 loss to Cockburn a week earlier, but Creek says it can get better.

Bunbury’s American import Jessan Gray had 22 points and 10 rebounds.

The Giants can consolidate their spot in the top-eight with a win at home against the Mandurah Magic next Saturday.

The Magic are 2-5 after losing 99-92 to Cockburn on Saturday and the encounter shapes as crucial clash for the Giants, who face a tough road double-header against Geraldton and Wanneroo the following weekend.

Article by Jarrod Lucas (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson (Andmedia/Sportsvision)