Monday, 12th March, 2012

Sydney Uni has returned home with a 57-50 win and a 62-44 loss against the RSL Queensland Spinning Bullets on the weekend. Playing without Troy Sachs who has a season-ending shoulder injury, the WheelKings once again went to their core of youngsters and wily vets to get the job done.

The WheelKings opened their campaign on Saturday against a Spinning Bullets team that had stolen a 3 point win just 2 weeks ago. That was a competitive and entertaining game but this rematch was nothing similar. After scoring the first 2 points in the opening 30 seconds, that would be the last time Sydney Uni would have a sniff of the lead.

With practically nothing falling, Uni were down 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. As if that wasn't bad enough, the team managed just 6 in the second term, and trailled 30-14 at the half. The Wheelkings found some rhythm on offence in the third quarter and scored as many as they had in the entire first half. Their defensive effort picked up too as they held the Spinning Bullets to 8 points.

Down a manageable 10 points going into the final period, the defensive intensity all but disappeared as RSL was never challenged for the win. Uni had scored just 2 points halfway through the quarter as the Spinning Bullets piled on 24 points for the 18 point victory.

Overall, RSL Brisbane shot a very tidy 51% (Uni 34%) and out-rebounded the visitors 37-27. Those stats were the major difference in the game but it was also very noticeable that the locals were favoured a free throw disparity of 20 to 2. No-one is saying that RSL didn't thoroughly deserve the win but it was hard for the WheelKings to be competitive and get in the flow when they were regularly getting called for fouls on defence while getting no love at the other end.

Best by far for the WheelKings was Craig Cannane who led the team with 18 points and 6 rebounds.

Full stats: http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/17/05/03/21/82v8XLWrE1rN2/

 

Sunday's game proved to be an entirely different experience as the WheelKings finally got one back against the Spinning Bullets. Uni out-shot their opponents 46% to 35%, got to the free throw line at a better rate, and scored 40 of their 57 points in the paint.

As a whole, the team were simply more determined than they'd been all season. Embarrassed by the performance the day before, Coach Hewson had his players much more focussed for this game. However, it was still an arm wrestle with neither team able to get more than a 2 point advantage in the first quarter.

It could have been a white flag moment midway through the second quarter as Uni fell behind by 7 but they fought back to trail by just 2 at the half-time break. The WheelKings were playing some good basketball in the third period and finally took the lead with 4 minutes to go. For the rest of the game, the Spinning Bullets threw all they had at Sydney but couldn't get closer than 5 points.

It was a very good 57-50 victory and a lot relied on CJ Grogan finding some much-needed form. He lead the team with an efficient 24 points and 6 rebounds. Craig Cannane capped off a very good weekend individually with 16 points and 9 rebounds, and it was encouraging to see Kylie Gauci regain her touch with 11 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds.

Full stats: http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/17/05/03/24/39iaQLFw2Onk/

 

The Spinning Bullets now own the series 2-1 against the WheelKings which could have a dramatic effect if it comes down to a countback to get into the finals. There isn't anything the WheelKings can do about that now except to get some wins against the top teams in Perth and Wollongong.

Uni have their chance when the Be Active Perth Wheelcats are next up for a double-header which will be also be the WheelKings first home games.

The first game is at 7:00pm Saturday, 24th March and game 2 will be at 12 noon Sunday 25th March. The venue for both games will be Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre. See you there!

 

Photo: Josh Meoli guards Brisbane's Matthew McShane (photo courtesy of Basketball Australia)