It was happy trip home for both Joondalup Wolves SBL teams on Saturday night with dominant performances to register their first wins of the season. The Wolves came away with a winning aggregate margin of 97 points across both games in what turned out to be a long night for Slammers fans.

 

In the first game of the evening, the Wolves women were too quick, too strong and far too dominant in registering a powerful 75-36 win over a young and very inexperienced Slammers side. Joondalup opened their 2016 season with a flurry of baskets in the first quarter to effectively stamp their authority on the game with a 32-10 first quarter margin. Unfortunately for the home side, there was no respite from the rampant Wolves for the rest of the game with Nikita Martin and Amy Kidner pacing the visitors with 23 points and 16 points respectively. The early blow out allowed the Wolves to hand SBL debuts to Monica Majok, Briana Chambers, Ellen Wilkins and Kate Campbell, the latter registering her first points from beyond the three point line with her first shot.  In an added bonus, Wolves boss Craig Friday can also look forward to the addition of Perth Lynx player Klara Wischer in the coming weeks with her WNBL season coming to a close.

 

There were very little positive signs for the Slammers women other than an improved showing in the second half against the majority of the Wolves young bench. The return of championship winning forward Catherine Waycott was a welcome presence for the home side but they were thoroughly outclassed from start to finish in what is a worry sign for a team that is yet to address the losses of former captain Kate Fielding, Bianca Donovan and last year’s imports Patricia Bright and Deonica McCormick.

 

In the men’s game, a big crowd gathered for the much-anticipated Grand Final rematch but the early excitement of the home fans fizzled early with the visitors starting strong with an early 15-0 start. The Wolves arrived ready to play and shocked both the home team and crowd with a 32- 9 opening quarter. Star import Kevin Davis’ return to the SBL was more of the same efficient performance he became renowned for last season, including several highlight dunks that got the visiting fans excited and left the home fans in awe. Davis finished the game with 18 points and 10 rebounds in less than 27 minutes on court.

 

The Slammers were never in the contest and simply had no answers for the well - balanced Wolves offense that was typified by ball movement and unselfish play. Coach Ettridge’s defending champions made little work of their opposition closing out the 48 minutes of pain for the home fans with a rampant 117-59 thrashing of the South West Slammers. The Wolves also did a terrific job defensively, restricting the home team to a lowly 22% from the field while limiting the offensive impact of new addition Corey Easley and veteran Trent Worthington. In another telling stat, the Wolves front line of Davis, Matacz, Huntington and new import Evans combined for 64 points and 42 rebounds- three of the four registering double-doubles including new addition Evans who finished a workmanlike effort with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Evans looks to be an astute signing for the Wolves, his blue-collar approach sure to compliment his star teammates.

 

For the home side, other than a Tre Nichols fast break dunk in the third quarter, there was close to little for Slammers faithful to cheer about. Having lost rotation players Paddy Phillips and Jordan Hickert and Clive Weeden still recovering from injury, the Slammers will need better production from their veteran players in the coming weeks, as well new import Royal Crouch, who finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds in his first game in the SBL.

Article by Vlad Alava

Photo by Mick Cronin