Flames Put The Heat On Giants
The first two minutes said it all.
With the first five shot attempts all from beyond the three-point line, the teams continued their long range shoot-out all game and the Flames were simply better at it.
The Giants shot 10-of-43 from the three-point line, which was nowhere near enough to match the quality of Rockingham’s danger-man Demetrius Hazel, who drained 10 threes on his own.
But Hazel wasn’t only dangerous from the three-point line, with the import causing headaches all over the court on his way to a game high 40 points.
Despite limited opportunities, Giants import John Vaudreuil managed to score a season-high 29 points for the Giants, with an equal-season high 17 rebounds rounding out one of his best double-doubles of the season.
Another double-double from Lordan Franich (12 points, 11 rebounds) gave the home side a glimmer of hope, but ultimately there was not enough support from the rest of the team.
The Giants also weren’t helped by questionable subbing, with guards Matt Leske and Todd Earle benched for crucial periods of the game, putting the responsibility on part-timers Thomas Kendall and Hamish Bowden.
Import and spiritual leader Mike Haney also spent long periods on the bench struggling with a leg injury.
Giants coach Wayne Creek said the Flames had done their homework and kept the ball out of the paint, curbing the influence of the Giants’ strong inside game. He said the Giants simply didn’t capitalise on their opportunities.
“Half our shots were three-pointers,” Creek said. “To shoot 10 of 43 from the three-point line – it’s going to be tough to win games. “They played a pretty packed-in zone because they know we’re strong inside. That allows you open opportunities for three, but they didn’t drop.”
Creek said the entire team was bitterly disappointed and would have to dig in to secure a top four spot and a home final. “We’ll have to work on our defensive intensity, working better as a team,” he said.
“If I was an opposition coach watching this game I’d play a tight zone against us again next week, so we’re going to have to work out a way to counter that.”
Meanwhile, the win keeps the Flames’ flickering finals hopes alive, with the club needing to win six of seven remaining games to qualify.
Article by Nick Rynne (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson(Andmedia/SportsVision)
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