The Forestville Eagles are off to the perfect start following their 77-63 victory over the Woodville Warriors at St Clair on Saturday night.

Although limited to 14 points on 4-12 shooting, Eagles star Rashad Tucker did most of his best work defensively, grabbing 16 of his game-high 18 rebounds at the defensive end.

He also spent sufficient time on Woodville’s Josh Knight (17 points on 6-16 shooting), while also forcing Warrior big men Adam Blight (3 points on 1-9 shooting, 10 rebounds) and Steve Pilkington (13 points on 6-12 shooting, 7 rebounds) into many missed close range shots.

Forestville got a major boost from their bench, particularly at the offensive end. Brad Haydon had a game-high 19 points to go with 6 rebounds, while Nick Blair was ultra-aggressive for 11 points and 8 rebounds (5 offensive).

Brad Sullivan and Trent Fildes also finished in double figures.

Knight was the focal point for the Woodville offence, while last week’s hero Gary Birmingham was impressive with 17 points off the bench.

The Eagles set up the win in the second quarter with a 21-9 rout.

Leading 22-16 at quarter-time, a three-pointer one minute into the quarter from Sullivan got the ball rolling.

After Birmingham answered right back with two points, Forestville went on a 14-1 run, and were well on top.

The Warriors’ second period was summed up by Knight’s first free throw attempt- an airball.

Forestville continued to change up their defence, and it worked a treat, with the Warriors failing to find a groove offensively.

Sullivan continued his best shooting patch of the game, Haydon played some excellent minutes at both ends, and young Majok Deng was getting involved inside.

In a zone for the entirety of the half, the Warriors trailed 25-43 at the main break.

In the third quarter, Forestville lead by as much as 22, before Knight went off the court holding his arm.

With their main scorer off, the Warriors played their best basketball of the game. Pilkington found something inside, Mark Egel hit a couple of jumpers, Birmingham continued to produce, and the Warriors quickly cut the deficit back to seven late in the period.

However, Haydon’s dish to Deng for a lay-up and Blair’s steal and conversion stalled Woodville’s charge, and Coach Al Green immediately called for time.

At the end of three, Forestville had regained a 14 point lead.

Both teams got physical in the fourth quarter, with Knight and Tucker fed up with each other’s treatment of one another. Cameron Wilson and Blight also had a few words to say.

The teams went basket for basket, with neither the Eagles able to shut up shot, or Woodville able to seriously threaten.

The Warriors could get within no closer than 10 the remainder of the match, which did not occur until the final 30 seconds.

Haydon then converted four straight free throws for the final margin, after Egel was called for an unsportsmanlike foul, following a shooting foul from Pilkington. 

Defining moment: So often, a patch of 20 seconds can define a game, and that was certainly the case in this match. With the Warriors on a 19-4 run with under a minute and a half remaining in the third quarter, an unlikely comeback seemed possible. The fans were up, and the players showed the most intensity during this span. Haydon’s dish to Deng was the first Eagles basket in almost two minutes, putting the lead back out to 9. With the game in the balance, Wilson lost the ball to Blair, who dished off to Adam Doyle, before getting the ball back for the easiest of baskets. Forestville was back out to a double-digit advantage, and the game stayed that way the remainder of the night.

Forestville verdict: The Eagles will be pleased with their victory and their performance, after a lucky escape against Southern in Round 1. They gained the ascendancy early, made the most of their momentum in the second quarter, and responded well to a strong charge from the home side. Their ball movement against Woodville’s zone was good, and they knocked down their shots. There was not so much reliance on Tucker offensively, though he was lethal at the defensive end. They will be looking to make it three from three against the undefeated Panthers next Saturday.

Woodville verdict: The Warriors had their moments in this one, but made costly errors at key times, none moreso than Wilson’s turnover late in the third. Look for them to come out of their zone and get up the floor, where they were much more effective. Take off the second quarter, and this was a two-point game, meaning they matched their opponents for most of the night. With Zane Reeves still to return to their line-up, Woodville have a good spread of interior and exterior offensive options. However, they will need to improve defensively if they are to compete with the elite.

By James Woite