Redbacks on course for finals after beating Hawks
The Perth Redbacks have proved they have what it takes to remain in the top eight with a convincing 15-point win over number three team Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks.
The Redbacks fought back to win 109-94 in a game that saw both sides aiming to consolidate their spots in the playoffs.
After the first half, it looked as though the Hawks were too good for the Redbacks, with forward Anthony Lee taking nine of eighteen field goals and four three-pointers to notch up a massive 23 points.
Hawks forward Ben Purser also contributed to the visiting side’s early success, adding 12 points to the table to help the Hawks to an 11-point lead before half time.
The third quarter saw a more focused and intense Redbacks side emerge from the change rooms, with forward Adrian Majstrovich leading the assault (28 points), closely followed by the Redbacks resident sharp-shooter Ryan Neill (26 points).
The efforts of Redbacks forward and Wildcat Jesse Wagstaff saw the Hawks top scorer Lee shut out of much of the last half, allowing Lee to put up just 12 of his overall 35 points in the second half of the game.
Redbacks coach David Harris said his team had definitely come out stronger in the second half.
“I thought we let ourselves down in the second quarter with our offensive execution... leading to open court opportunities for [the Hawks], once we started moving the ball better offensively it allowed us to get control of the tempo of the game,” he said.
In the women’s league, Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks got the better of the Perth Redbacks, taking out the game 72-59.
The Hawks were dominant early in the match – with the first basket going to Hawks centre Rosie Tobin – but the scores evened out towards the end of the first quarter to see Perry Lakes ahead by just one point.
Redbacks forward Brooke Hiddlestone worked hard to keep the scores tight, notching up 16 points overall, and teammate Marita Payne was a standout performer for the home side with 17 points and nine blocks.
Despite a determined effort from the Redbacks, which saw them trail by just one point at the end of the third quarter, it was not enough to equal the intensity of Hawks guards Tanya Kelly (15 points) and Belinda O’Halloran (14 points).
An impressive three-pointer by Hawks guard Tegan Walker as the siren sounded made a Hawks victory certain, taking their lead to 13 points.
Article by Hannah Jenkins at Belmont Oasis
Photo by Marg Prior
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