AUS/NZL - Boomer gives Blaze quadruple trouble

PERTH (NBL) - Australian Boomers guard Damian Martin has claimed NBL Player of the Week honours for a near quadruple double as he led the Perth Wildcats to a 102-81 victory over the Gold Coast Blaze to remain in second place.

Many observers were surprised when Martin was rarely played at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey last year, given his reputation as Australia’s best defensive guard, and his excellent NBL season has only enhanced his claims.

Against the Blaze, Martin was everywhere, recording 11 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 steals, and clearly defeating starting Boomers guard Adam Gibson in the lead-up to the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship that will give one country direct access to the London Olympics.

Martin received great support from FIBA U19 gold medallist Matt Knight (21 points, 7 rebounds), young gun Stephen Weigh (17 points, 6 rebounds) and import Kevin Lisch (16 points).

For the Gold Coast, former Stankovic Cup MVP James Harvey continued his superb return from injury, recording 25 points on 7/13 shooting against the league’s best defensive backcourt and in front of another boisterous, sell-out Perth crowd.

Perth this week travel to Townsville to face the Crocs in a battle for second place just three weeks out from the playoffs.

The Crocs are just half a game behind the Wildcats after coming from 12 points down at quarter time to defeat first placed New Zealand 100-92 in front of more than 4000 home fans in Townsville.

Crocs guard Peter Crawford again defeated superstar Kirk Penney in their one on one match-up, recording 20 points on 9/16 shooting while holding Penney to 13 points on 4/12.

Luke Schenscher (16 points, 7 rebounds), Nathan Crosswell (15 points), Russell Hinder (12 points), Michael Cedar (11 points) and Brad Williamson (10 points) all scored in double figures as the Crocs recorded a memorable win.

For New Zealand, import Gary Wilkinson was again outstanding with 22 points on 10/14 shooting while Tom Abercrombie impressed with 18 points and 7 rebounds.

The Breakers bounced back to defeat the Sydney Kings 91-86 but received a mighty scare from the Kings, who were without superstar Julian Khazzouh and starters Graeme Dann and Patrick Sanders.

Import Trey Gilder showed how much he has improved with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, supported by point guard Luke Martin with 18 points and 6 assists.

For New Zealand, Wilkinson (28 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Penney (26 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) did enough to secure the victory, while Mika Vukona (16 points, 7/8 shooting, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) was a standout.

Earlier in the week the Kings defeated the Adelaide 36ers 76-72 behind a monstrous 20 point, 16 rebound, 3 steal performance from Khazzouh and 20 points from Gilder.

In other games that will help shape the final four, Wollongong defeated the Gold Coast 80-68 and Adelaide 87-60 behind Olympian Glen Saville (35 points and 11 rebounds across both games) to move within a game of securing a finals berth.

They face the Cairns Taipans at home this week, who overcame the undermanned Melbourne Tigers 79-63 behind 14 points on 6/8 shooting from New Zealand international Phill Jones and 13 points and 8 rebounds from import Ron Dorsey.

Paulo Kennedy
FIBA