THE Goldfields Giants have broken into the State Basketball League’s top two after Saturday’s last-gasp 87-86 victory over Wanneroo at Kalgoorlie’s Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium.

Giants import Alonzo Hird went from villain to hero in an instant after turning the ball over with an awful pass with seven seconds remaining. He then redeemed himself with the match-winning block on Jeff Dowdell.

Wanneroo drew within one point when Greg Hire went to the foul line with 36.2 seconds remaining, but the Wolves were denied by Hird who slapped away Dowdell’s jumpshot attempt.

Dowdell and the Wolves protested for a foul, but referees David Bull and Byran Johansson ruled in favour of the home side. Hird finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, having earlier sent a scare through the Giants’ camp when he crashed to the floor clutching his knee.

Hird’s fall at 20-16 in the first quarter looked to be serious, but he returned only minutes later and played out the game untroubled.

Fellow American Michael Haney led the way offensively for the Giants with 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

The Giants’ twin towers Hird and Haney controlled the keyway, ensuring Goldfields led Wanneroo with 48-34 points in the paint, as well as pulling down 47 rebounds to 35. Despite these telling statistics, former Perth Wildcat Dowdell still managed to shoot three first-half three-pointers over Hird, who looked much more comfortable closer to the basket.

Giants guard Ryan Hulme scored 13 of his 15 points in a high-scoring first half, in which Wanneroo’s Tony Pearman kept his side in the game with brilliant long-range shooting.

Pearman sunk five of six from beyond the arc in the first half as Goldfields took a 59-53 lead into the main break. The tempo of the game changed after the resumption, with the Giants outscored 33-28 in the second half.

Dowdell was Wanneroo’s leading scorer with 26 points, while Pearman finished the match with 21 points, including 7-of-11 from three-point range. Goldfields captain Shamus Ballantyne continued his strong recent form with 13 points and 10 assists.

The Giants’ 17th win from 22 games enabled the reigning champions to break into the SBL’s top-two for the first time this season after spending the past five weeks in third spot.

Goldfields cling to second spot courtesy of Geraldton’s third successive loss 82-79 against Perry Lakes on Saturday, setting up what shapes as a season-defining clash between the Giants and Buccaneers in Kalgoorlie next Saturday.

The occasion will be made even more significant with Hulme in line for his 300th SBL appearance.

Article by Jarrod Lucas (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson - Andmedia/Sports Vision ©2009.