Wheelcats Top NWBL Table Following Round 3
The Perth Wheelcats maintain top spot on the ladder following three completed rounds of the 2016 National Wheelchair Basketball League, with the Kilsyth Cobras hot on their tails.
The Wheelcats managed a two-point victory in the first game against the Rollerhawks, with the teams going at par, attempting 55 and making 22 two point shots each. They were also tied at 37 total team rebounds.
WAIS scholarship athlete and triple Paralympian Shaun Norris, along with Kim Robbins, dominated the scoreboard for the Wheelcats putting up 60 of the total 66 points for the team.
The Rollerhawks had a more balanced effort with Nick Taylor, Brett Stibners and Luke Pople putting up 17, 16 and 12 points respectively.
The Rollerhawks then revenged their loss the following day by beating the Wheelcats by seven points.
This high-scoring game had Shaun Norris contribute the season’s top individual score of 52 points, including four three-pointers. Amber Merritt (WAIS) and Kim Robbins put up 29 points together.
For the Rollerhawks, the usual suspects in Brett Stibners, Nick Taylor and Luke Pople scored 33, 20 and 15 points each. Andrew Tarrant also made a crucial 11 points, helping the Rollerhawks in their victory.
The Perth Wheelcats are now 8-2 in the series so far.
The other two games of the weekend were equally competitive with the Red Dust Heelers and the RSL QLD Spinning Bullets going 1-1 as well. The Heelers lost the first game by 12 points, only to come back and win the second by 11 points.
Rob Pike had a double-double, taking over as score leader for the Red Dust Heelers with 23 points on the board, and 11 rebounds in the first game.
Meanwhile, Tom-O’Neill Thorne had a triple-double, with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists for the Bullets.
The Heelers victory on Sunday involved the same scoreboard contribution of 23 points from Rob Pike, while WAIS athlete Brad Ness put up a significant 34 points. They both also lead the rebound count of 13 each.
For the Bullets, Tom-O’Neill Thorne came back with a stronger offensive attack, putting up, 37 points while Nick Radovich was the second highest scorer with 20 points. Together they made 57 of the team’s total of 63 points.
The 75% conversion rate from the three-point line compared to the 43% conversion rate for the Bullets may have also been a key factor in the win for the Heelers on Sunday.
Post this weekend, the RSL QLD Spinning Bullets maintain their spot at number five on the ladder and will need to ensure that they win the next couple of games to secure a spot in the top four.
On the other hand, the Red Dust Heelers, have jumped up a spot, to number three on the ladder, tied at 14 points with the Rollerhawks, but with an upper hand in goal differential.
-NWBL