Tigers take commanding win
The deciding two games will be played on the road next weekend.
History is against the Giants, given no team since the league’s inception in 1989 has ever come from 1-0 down and progressed to the semi-finals by winning two games on the road.
Captain Ryan Hulme (23 points) and American import Michael Haney (19 points, 13 rebounds, six assists) were shining lights on a dark night for the Giants on Saturday.
The 33-point margin equalled the Giants’ third-biggest loss in play-offs, although it was a long way off the record set in the 2002 semi-finals against Perry Lakes when they were thrashed by 62 points, 136-74.
Giants coach Wayne Creek had been optimistic heading into the clash and dismissed the team’s recent poor form as irrelevant. But Saturday’s loss represented the Giants’ seventh defeat in eight games and Creek was clearly lost for words in the minutes after the game. “I haven’t got a lot to say – you can write whatever you like about that performance,” Creek said.
The Giants produced their worst shooting display of the season, netting just 32 per cent from the field compared with Willetton’s 53 per cent. American import John Vaudreuil (three-of-17) and Matt Leske (two-of-10) were among the main offenders for the Giants.
Goldfields were well beaten under the basket where Willetton’s 212cm centre Daniel Johnson, former Giant Ty Shaw and Tovey combined for 33 rebounds.
The same trio virtually had a mortgage on the keyway with points in the paint a damning statistic, with the Tigers well in front 48-22. Goldfields started brightly, trading blows at 14-12 after six minutes, but Willetton blew the game wide open with a four-minute burst which included 13 unanswered points for a 30-16 lead at quarter-time. Willetton guard Alex Prince, who sunk five-of-seven from the three point line, scored all of his 22 points in the first half as the Tigers took a 56-36 lead into half-time.
Tovey was called for a technical foul midway through the third period after clashing with Leske. It spurred the Giants on as they clawed their way back within 11 points, but Willetton absorbed the pressure to turn for home 77-54 in front.
The final period was a mere formality and Shaw put an exclamation mark on the Tigers’ emphatic win with a slam dunk and trademark celebration inside the final two minutes of the game.
The Giants have now lost seven out of 14 games at home this season – their worst return since 2002 at a venue considered just last season as the toughest road trip in the league.
Goldfields’ travelling record is still in the black with seven wins and six losses, although Willetton remains heavy favourites with three victories in as many meetings this season.
Article by Jarrod Lucas (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Helen Theoharakis (Hoopshots/Courtside Media)
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