AUS - Hawks find their mojo downunder
WOLLONGONG (NBL) – The return of star veteran Glen Saville has helped the Wollongong Hawks finally re-discover their best form and destroy the defending champion Perth Wildcats 105-73. The Hawks, runners up last season, starting this year with a 9-2 record to sit atop the NBL ladder, but a knee injury to Saville, compounded by a series of injuries ...
WOLLONGONG (NBL) – The return of star veteran Glen Saville has helped the Wollongong Hawks finally re-discover their best form and destroy the defending champion Perth Wildcats 105-73.
The Hawks, runners up last season, starting this year with a 9-2 record to sit atop the NBL ladder, but a knee injury to Saville, compounded by a series of injuries to other key players saw them drop nine straight games.
Saville played limited minutes in his return game last week against Melbourne, but this week played a major role in 24 minutes, running the Hawks offence with aplomb and finishing with 5 assists. The main beneficiaries were sharp shooting power forward Oscar Forman (21 points, 9/10 fg) and team captain Mat Campbell (14 points, 4/6 three-pointers).
It wasn’t all bad news for the Wildcats, who one night earlier had defeated the Sydney Kings, 98-84. Import Kevin Lisch scored 18 points to go with his 20 against the Hawks, while Cameron Tovey, New Zealander Jeremiah Trueman and FIBA U19 gold medal winner Brad Robbins all scored in double figures against Sydney.
In Auckland, 209cm Melbourne Tigers captain Cameron Tragardh had his best game of the season following the release of Tigers centre Luke Nevill. Tragardh claimed NBL Player of the Week honours with his amazing haul of 35 points on 15/24 from the field, 10 rebounds and 7 fouls drawn against the New Zealand Breakers.
It wasn’t enough to steal a victory from the ladder leading Breakers though, who prevailed 101-91 behind 24 points from Kirk Penney, 22 from Gary Wilkinson and 16 points on 6/8 shooting from Australian Boomers veteran CJ Bruton.
The Gold Coast Blaze kept their playoff hopes alive with a 95-79 smashing of the Adelaide 36ers. Import Ira Clark led the way with 24 points on 10/14 shooting covering for injured Boomer Mark Worthington, who is out with a broken wrist, while returning captain James Harvey (18 points) and emerging Boomer Chris Goulding (15 points, 5 assists) were also strong.
In an emotional North Queensland derby following Cyclone Yasi, the Townsville Crocs prevailed 81-74 behind local duo Michael Cedar (18 points) and Peter Crawford (16 points, 7 rebounds). For Cairns, rookie of the year contender Daniel Dillon and import Ron Dorsey both scored 17 points.
Paulo Kennedy
FIBA