Wolfpack roar past Cougars and into Grand Final
Wanneroo Wolves have booked a place in the men’s State Basketball League Grand Final for the first time in 18 years with a 113-76 hiding over Cockburn Cougars at Joondalup Basketball Stadium on Friday.
The win meant a sweep in the best-of-three for the Wolves after they claimed game-one at Wally Hagan Stadium 104-95.
Wolves captain Greg Hire showed why he was the man handed the tenth spot on the Wildcats’ roster with a dominant first half of 23 points to set up the win and finished up with 34 as well 25 rebounds.
Hire's tremendous effort saw Wanneroo advance to the Grand Final for the first time since 1993, when it ironically beat Cockburn in its only appearance in the title decider.
Wanneroo started the second half perfectly with 13 consecutive Seb Salinas points early in the third starting the nightmare for the visitors, who were outscored 65-38 in the second half.
Ty Harrelson was the Cougars' top scorer with 16 points and also contributed eight rebounds, but it wasn't enough to keep alive his side's hopes of ending its championship drought, which dates back to 1992.
Wanneroo coach Ben Ettridge said he was impressed with the side as a whole but Greg Hire stood up brilliantly.
“Greg Hire just comes to play but it was an all-round great team effort," Ettridge said.
“Experience is what wins games in playoffs, the experience showed through.
“You’ve got to look at the experience of our guys and what they (Cockburn) had on the floor. Those kids have got better from last year and they’ll be better again next year.
“This is uncharted waters for us but we’ll let them enjoy it and Tuesday night at practice we’ll get out feet back on the ground and start focussing on either Perry Lakes or Lakeside.”
Senior Wolves player Tony Pearman said he couldn’t wait for the week ahead.
“Yeah pretty excited to make a grand-final. One more, one more win," he said.
“We just ran our high-low, got it into the big fellas in tight and it happened to work.”
Wanneroo will face either Lakeside or Perry Lakes in the Grand Final, with that series to be decided in game-three on Saturday.
Article by Ben Cameron at Joondalup Basketball Stadium
Photo by Wayne Wright (Wayne Wright Photography)
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