THE Goldfields Giants remain on track for a hat-trick of State Basketball League championships after defeating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 99-87 in game one of the quarter-finals on Saturday.

The Giants easily outmuscled the Eastern Suns, in their first-ever play-offs appearance, after storming to a 30-16 quarter-time lead at the Ray Owen Recreation Centre.

Despite Kalamunda’s ability to claw their way back to 49-47 at half-time, the Giants were never seriously threatened, with imports Michael Haney and Alonzo Hird dominating the keyway.

The win ensured the Giants took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, which continues with games two and three, if required, at Kalgoorlie’s Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium next weekend.

Giants coach Stephen Charlton was pleased with the result, but called on his players to maintain “play-offs intensity” for the entire game.

“We were rolling early and played some good defence – 16 points is not much to give up in the first quarter,” Charlton said.

“We got a nice jump on them, but we gave it all back in the second quarter.

“To their credit they lifted and made some good plays.

“But I think our intensity levels dropped off because we thought ‘we’ve got them’, but it turns out we didn’t ‘have them’ and they kept coming at us. We basically went into half-time all-square.

“It was disappointing because we’ve been so good at continuing pressure.”

Hird had 22 points, shooting 79 per cent from the field, as well as pulling down 19 rebounds. But Charlton said Hird’s numbers did not do the 206cm centre justice.

“Alonzo’s energy was fantastic, he chased down everything, went after every rebound – he really gave us a lift with his work rate and intensity,” he said.

Hird’s former NCAA team-mate Haney was just as dangerous, scoring 23 points at 60 per cent from the field with 11 rebounds. The Giants’ tall timber ensured they dominated points in the paint, with 60 points compared to Kalamunda’s 28.

The rebound count was also heavily in the Giants’ favour, 60-41.

“When we had the ball in the paint they struggled defensively to find an answer to us, so we kept passing it to them (Haney and Hird),” Charlton said.

Haney also played a brilliant shutdown role on Kalamunda trump card Adrian Majstrovich. Haney linked up with Mark Heron and Matt Leske to restrict the former NBL forward to just 14 points on a night Majstrovich went five-of-23 from the field.

Majstrovich is by far Kalamunda’s leading scorer and went into the match with hauls of 42, 42, 28, 43 and 39 points in his past five games.

“We were determined not to let AJ get away and that probably left a few other people open in the second quarter,” Charlton said. “But overall I’m happy we stuck to the game plan and I’m very happy with the three players that did the job on him.”

Leske was particularly vital, catching Kalamunda off guard with 20 points in arguably his best game of the season.

Saturday’s victory extended the Giants’ impressive play-offs record under Charlton, having won 15 of 17 games, including an unbeaten run of 11 consecutive games dating back to the 2007 quarter-finals against Rockingham.

SBL QUARTER-FINALS:
Perth Redbacks d Lakeside Lightning 96-89; Geraldton Buccaneers d Cockburn Cougars 111-105; Perry Lakes Hawks d Wanneroo Wolves 103-96; Goldfields Giants d Kalamunda Eastern Suns 99-87.

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