Week 1 SBL PowerPlayer of the Week
The State Basketball League has released the Week 1 PowerPlayer of the week awards. Each week thanks to PowerPlay Sports one Women’s and one Men’s SBL player is awarded the SBL PowerPlayer of the week award. The winner receives a $50 voucher for PowerPlay Sports in Subiaco.
Week One’s WSBL winner is Brooke Hiddlestone from the Southside Mitsubishi Redbacks. Hiddlestone scored 29 points at 75% and pulled down 9 rebounds in a 70-55 win over Lakeside Lightning. Hiddlestone also shot 5/6 from the free throw line in her 36 minutes of action.
Hiddlestone is a veteran of over more than 250 SBL games for Perth, Wanneroo, Swan City & Stirling is in her 14th SBL season.
Natalie Young from Lakeside Lightning and Deanna Smith from Perry Lakes Hawks also came under close consideration for the award. Young registered 55 points and 11 rebounds in her side’s two losses (one to Redbacks). Smith played one of her teams two games and scorched the Cockburn Cougars for 31 points, 3 steals and 2 assists in just 25 minutes.
Others in consideration were Sam Norwood (Eastern Suns), Ashley Gilmore (Willetton Tigers), Tarsha Fletcher (Mandurah Magic) & Kate Malpass (Willetton Tigers).
In the Men’s competition there were some outstanding statistics from players, however ultimately the PowerPlayer of the Week was awarded to Josh Johnson (Willetton Tigers). Johnson made his SBL debut at just 17 years and 45 days of age, registering 27 points at 53%, pulled in 15 rebounds and 3 assists in 44 minutes of court time.
Johnson, who’s older brother is Melbourne Tigers player Daniel Johnson, is a member of the 2009 Under 18 State team. A Willetton junior Johnson has been in three WA state teams, was the 2008 WABL Male Player of the year and was a squad member of the 2011 Australian Under 19 Squad.
Three players who came under very close consideration were Tom Garlepp of the Perry Lakes Hawks, Jeff Dowdell of the Titan Interactive Wolves & Bryce Birch of the Telstra Shop Success Cougars. Garlepp averaged 28 points, 16 rebounds and shot at 62% from the floor as his team went 1-1 for the weekend. Dowdell had 31 points and 12 rebounds per game for his teams split double header. Birch led his team to a perfect weekend with 24 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Others that were considered for the award were Luke Payne (Lightning), Adrian Majstravich (Eastern Suns), Alonza Hird (Giants), Steven Weigh (Eagles), Tom Remmerswaal (Magic) and Ben Caporn (Magic).
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