The Cockburn Cougars have claimed a hard fought 85-84 victory over the Southlands Boulevrade Willetton Tigers in their round four Men’s SBL clash played at the Willetton Basketball Stadium on Thursday night.

In what turned out to be a thrilling finale, it took until the last three seconds of the game before the winner was revealed with Brian Carlwell knocking down two free-throws after being fouled by Robert Kampman while attempting to drop in what would have been the game winning basket off the glass.

Carlwell finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds, while Damien Scott and Jeremiah Wilson topped scored for Cockburn with 24 points and eight rebounds.

Best for the Tigers in defeat were, Kampman (29 points, 9 rebounds), Ephrem Davis (18 points, 15 rebounds) and Tevin Jackson (12 points).

Both teams came into the match with winning form, the Tigers having stunned the Wanneroo Wolves while the Cougars too good at home against the Rockingham Flames.

The home side were on the board first through Kampman, who knocked down a three-pointer, while the visitors relied on Scott from the charity stripe with Grant Davey and Sheldon McIntyre both missing from close range.

Having flown in only a few hours before the game, Wilson chimed in with a big dunk only for Shamus Ballantyne to respond at the other end with back-to-back baskets as the home side moved out to a 10-point quarter time lead.

The highlights reel went into overdrive in the second term as McIntyre was fouled attempting to beat the offensive block provided by Ian Callaghan at the top of the keyway.

Cockburn then looked to rally against the run of play with Davis providing a strong rebound and basket despite Carlwell missing several shots, including a three pointer in open space. Cassir though had no problems nailing a long-range bomb before Wilson, with the ally-oop, and Scott, a coast-to-coast, defensive rebounded for a layup at the other end.

The home side took an 11-point lead into half time though were forced to watch on as Wilson, Scott and Davey combined to not only reel in the deficit but help the visitors take an unlikely slender lead midway through the third quarter.

With Davis, Cassir and Adam Nener both missing shots in close and from long range, it allowed the Cougars to outscore the Tigers 28-17 and level the scores at 61-all with a quarter remaining.

Carlwell used his bulky frame to advantage as the Cougars nudged ahead again early in the final term, while a Wilson three-point play from the top of the arc seemed to silence the parochial crowd.

The Tigers rallied through Davis to regain the lead once more before McIntyre nailed a three-pointer to level scores once again. A fifth personal foul on McIntyre sent Cassir to the line for two free throws before a series of time-out, along with the Carlwell foul determined the game in the closing seconds.

The Tigers are in action again on Saturday night away to the Flames, while the Cougars host the South West Slammers on Friday week April 13.

Earlier in the evening, the Lady Tigers kept their Cougar counterparts winless with a comfortable 100-70 victory.

Jasmine Hooper led all scorers in the match with 33 points (eight rebounds and four steals) for Willetton, ably assisted by skipper Mel Marsh (29 points, 7 rebounds) and Emma Lobb (9 points, 6 rebounds).

Best for Cockburn in defeat were, Stephanie Jones (32 points, 9 rebounds), Taryn Priestly (10 points, 6 assists) and Chelsea Evans (10 points).

Cockburn led by six points at quarter time with Jones lighting up the floor with 10 points for the visitors.

Alyce Roberts fell awkwardly early in the second quarter but rebounded well to assist Jones with a monster three pointer from the sideline over Marsh’s steal attempt.

A layup under the basket by Hargreaves helped the home side stay within reach of the Cougars midway through the second term before the hot-hands of Hooper and Marsh guided the home side back from the brink of a double-digit deficit to a five-point lead by the half time.

With Marsh and Emma Lobb gathering in offensive rebounds to assist Hooper, Cortney Hargreaves and Ella Kennedy, the margin quickly blew out to 16 points in the shadows of three quarter time.

Priestly gave it everything, frustrated at yet another defeat as she put her body on the line in the third term, though she was unable to stop a final quarter rout as the home side outmuscled their opponents to reach the century with just over a minute to play.

Article by Adam McBride at Willetton Basketball Stadium
Photo by Helen Theoharakis (Hoop Shots)

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