The Joondalup City Wolves have split the opening weekend of the 2017 SBL Play-Offs, with the Lady Wolves relinquishing a fast-scoring start to Lakeside, and the Men's team defeating last years' GF nemesis the Cockburn Cougars.

 

Words courtesy of SBL Media

 

WSBL WOLFPACK

On Friday evening at Lakeside Recreation Centre, last year’s grand finalists the Wolves made a strong start opening a 10-point advantage during the first quarter. The Wolfpack were again up by 10 midway through the second quarter as well but the Lightning had closed to within three by half-time.

Lakeside had managed to turn that into a five-point lead heading into the fourth term and the home team went on with it with a 26-point final quarter to win by 18 points.

Again the game was closer than that suggests with the Lady Wolfpack now needing to win Game 2 on Friday at Joondalup Basketball Stadium. Reigning League MVP Ali Schwagmeyer shook off a sore ankle to top-score for Lakeside with 18 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

Fellow import Sydnee Fipps contributed 17 points, five rebounds and three steals while Sam Roscoe finished with 14 points, five boards and five steals, Ash Grant 11 points and seven rebounds, Tiahrn Flynn nine points and three assists, and Jess Van Schie seven points and three assists.

Point guard and captain Shani AMOS finished with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Lady Wolfpack while Nikita MARTIN ended up with 12 points and six boards, Klara WISCHER 10 points, eight rebounds and five steals, and Ellyce IRONMONGER eight points, five boards and five assists.

Joondalup City Wolves 58 def by Lakeside Lightning 76

MSBL WOLFPACK

It was a monster night on Saturday with all four quarter-final series getting under and Joondalup Basketball Stadium played host to a grand final rematch between the Wolves and Cougars.

The Wolfpack enjoyed home-court advantage having finished the season second while in defence of their championship, the Cougars ended the regular season in seventh spot.

Coming off playing in the last two grand finals, the Wolves made a winning start to this year’s playoffs ending up beating the Cougars by seven points. The home side never trailed throughout the game and led by as much as 14 points before going on to win by seven.

Game 2 will take place on Friday night at Wally Hagan Stadium and if Cockburn wins, Game 3 will decide the series back at Joondalup on Saturday.

Trian ILIADIS  proved the major difference between the two teams. The Wolves outscored the Cougars by 12 points when he was on the floor and he ended up with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Ryan WRIGHT had a good night inside too ending up with 19 points and four rebounds with Rob HUNTINGTON contributing 16 points, nine boards and three assists, Damian MATACZ 10 points and four rebounds, and Ben IRONMONGER eight points, 10 boards and three assists.

Jalen Billups did his best to try and inspire the Cougars to the win with 26 points, four assists and three rebounds.

 Lochlan Cummings also had 14 points and four assists for Cockburn, Gavin Field 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and Steven Van Lit 12 points.

Last year’s Grand Final MVP Rhett Della celebrated his 350th SBL appearance just two weeks after playing his 200th game for Cockburn. He had 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.

Joondalup City Wolves 90 def Cockburn Cougars 83