Wheelcats Make Strong Impression in Opening Round
The Be Active Perth Wheelcats have made the absolute perfect start to season 2012 winning a perfect three from three this past weekend in Dandenong.
The Be Active Perth Wheelcats had a tough draw fronting up against the Sydney Wheelkings who welcomed back two time Paralympic Gold Medallist Troy Sachs, home team the Dandenong Rangers and 2011 champions the Wollongong Rollerhawks who have added three National team players to their roster for season 2012.
After disposing of the Wheelkings by 24 points on Friday night and taking out Dandenong on Saturday by 32 points, the Wheelcats real test was going to be how they matched up against the reigning champions without the WAIS scholarship quartet of Justin Eveson, Michael Hartnett, Brad Ness and Clare Burzynski.
As the game tipped off the Wheelcats shot out of the blocks, doing all the damage in the first quarter, taking a 12 point lead into the first change. From there, they were never really headed running out 14 point winners and sending a strong message to the rest of the league.
Another WAIS scholarship holder in Shaun Norris led the way all weekend averaging 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game, but perhaps the most impressive thing about the weekend’s games from a team point of view was the Wheelcats ability to spread the load amongst the entire travelling group.
Robbie Pike, Kim Robins (WAIS), Adam Deans (WAIS) and Brant Garvey were all amongst the top scorers in each game and on his first trip away with the Cats, Jake Kavanagh managed to get on the scoreboard in each game.
With a weekend off before the team travels to Adelaide to take on the Thunder in a two game series, Coach Kelvin Browner will have some tough decisions to make with Andrew Liddawi, Amber Merritt (WAIS), Nick Radovich (WAIS) and Sam Clark all pressing for selection.