Wolves start 2011 with win over Hawks
Wanneroo Wolves enjoyed a positive start to their 2011 men’s State Basketball League season, defeating the Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks 94-79 on Saturday.
Wildcats development player Greg Hire had 25 points to lead the Wolves to the opening round win at the WA Basketball Centre.
The Hawks started well, opening up a 12-point lead halfway through the first quarter with forward and highest scorer of the night Anthony Lee (29 points, 22 rebounds) contributing strongly.
The Wolves, who were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last year, came back in the second half of the first to narrow the Hawks lead to just four.
Wanneroo carried their momentum into the second quarter with Hire and Matthew Schmechtig combining for 16 points to take a lead of 12 to half-time.
The third period was a close contest as both teams missed several opportunities, but the Wolves managed to slightly extend their lead to 15 heading into the final quarter.
Wanneroo were missing import John Vaudriel but held on through the final quarter for the convincing win.
Wolves coach Ben Etteridge said he was happy with how the team came back after a shaky start to the game.
“The first half we expected to not get things right, I think that showed at the start of the first quarter, we were down 12, but to turn it around is a testament to our guys with their hard work and sticking to the process,” he said.
Etteridge said the result showed his side was on the right track for the future.
“We know what we’re working on and we’re in a three year process and I hope at the end of that three years we’re where we want to be,” he said.
Hawks coach Dion Dagostino said he was happy with the way his side played, considering they were missing five key players.
“There were some positives, we scored more in the paint, out rebounded, we had less turnovers,” Dagostino said.
In the women’s match, Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves also had a successful night, downing the Total Connections Hawks by eight points after coming back from a three-point deficit at the end of the third.
Rebecca Mercer (19 points) and Kelly Borthwick (14 points) played well for the Wolves, while Tegan Walker (19 points) was the best contributor from the Hawks.
Article by Tom Rabe at the WA Basketball Centre
Photo by Marg Prior
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