Giants dominate Cockburn Cougars
Charlton returned to Kalgoorlie’s Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium for the first time since taking on the Cougars’ head coaching job. Charlton had drawn first blood against his old club with a 103-84 win in their previous meeting last month, but that victory came when Giants captain Ryan Hulme was overseas.
Hulme, whose pinpoint three-point shooting had formed one of the cornerstones of Charlton’s much-vaunted shooting game plan on the road to the 2007 and 2008 championships, came back to haunt his old coach with a dominant second half. Hulme finished with a game-high 25 points, including 12 points in the third stanza when the 316-game veteran lit up four shots from beyond the three-point arc.
American import John Vaudreuil was also influential in racking up 20 points and 13 rebounds despite again being in early foul trouble. It was Vaudreuil’s third straight 20-plus game and the 203cm power forward’s eighth double-double in 15 games.
Matt Leske continued a stellar month with 19 points and import Michael Haney added 10 on a night the Giants’ bench – comprising substitutes Todd Earle, Russell Hurst, Tom Kendall and Hamish Bowden – all went scoreless.
Earle, in particular, went zero-of-six from the field and will have to wait to notch the one three-pointer he needs for 300 career baskets from long range.
It mattered little, however, with the Giants leading at every change – 22-20 at quarter-time and 39-35 at the main break.
The Giants took control through Hulme and Vaudreuil in the third term to head for home 63-56 in front. Cockburn imports Christian Cavanaugh and Bryce Burch, the Giants’ Most Valuable Player in 2006, combined for 39 points and 23 rebounds.
The victory improved the Giants’ win-loss record to 11-5, which includes a home record of six wins from eight games. The Giants are two games outside top spot currently owned by country rivals Geraldton, with the squad now gearing up for next weekend’s gruelling three-game road series.
The journey begins next Saturday against the second-placed Willetton Tigers, who upset the Giants at home 110-108 in March, before matches against the Bunbury Slammers and Perth Redbacks over the next two days. A successful road trip would ensure the Giants are well poised for a tilt at the play-offs with five of their last seven games at home.
Article by Jarrod Lucas (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson (Andmedia/SportsVision)
Comments
Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.