Tigers have too much roar for Wolves
Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers have climbed into the men's State Basketball League top eight with a 100-88 home victory against Wanneroo Wolves on Thursday night.
The Wolves had won four straight and came into the game in second place, but the Tigers produced one of their best performances of the season to improve to a 4-4 record, which sees them sit in seventh spot.
Robert Kampman helped Willetton bounce back from its heartbreaking loss in Geraldton last week with 30 points and five assists against the Wolves. Youngster Robert Cassir added 19 points and veteran Mark Jones had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
New Wolves import John Vaudreuil top-scored for his side with 25 points, while Wildcats development player Greg Hire (22 points) also impressed, but it wasn't enough to get their side the victory in veteran Doug Gates' 250th SBL game.
Gates finished with six points from 25 minutes on the court.
Wanneroo led by as many as eight points early in the second quarter but the Tigers went on a 16-3 run later in the period to take a six-point half-time lead.
And the home side took control in the third, extending its lead to 15 points at one stage before heading to the final break with a 12-point advantage and maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter.
Wanneroo's third loss from nine games this season saw it fall to third spot, although it remains level on six wins with league leaders Lakeside and Cockburn.
Earlier, Willetton's women survived a massive scare to keep their unbeaten streak intact, beating Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves in overtime 62-58.
The Wolves overturned an eight-point fourth quarter deficit to send the game to the extra period, but Willetton outscored the visitors 6-2 in the tense overtime period to win the top-of-the-table clash.
The Tigers missed a pair of free-throws in the final 80 seconds of regulation, which helped send the game to the extra period, but co-captains Kate Malpass and Melissa Marsh combined for the hosts' six points in overtime to lead them to their seventh straight victory to start the season.
Jasmine Hooper continued her outstanding form for the defending champions with 15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, while Zoe Harper had 13 points in her return for the Tigers.
Rebecca Mercer top-scored with 14 points for the Wolves, who remained in second spot with a 5-2 record despite the loss, and Ainsleigh Sanders added 13 points and 18 boards.
Article by Jacob Kagi at Willetton Basketball Stadium
Photo by Grant Lauterbach
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