Wheelcats Second in NWBL Finals
The Perth Wheelcats have finished runner up in the 2016 National Wheelchair Basketball League after losing the Grand Final to the Kilsyth Cobras, 80-54 at the Minto Indoor Sports Centre.
Despite the wide margin in the championship game, the Wheelcats will take plenty of pride in their 2016 season, in which they confounded pre-season predictions, that had most pundits tipping them to finish outside of finals calculations.
Instead, the Perth team shook off losing several quality players to retirement, to produce a spirited campaign that saw them finish the regular season in second place and fall just one point short of toppling the Cobras in the major semi-final (75-74) for direct entry into the gold medal match.
In finishing the regular season in second place, the Wheelcats had the double chance, and earned a grand final rematch by recording a three-point win (80-77) over the Wollongong Roller Hawks in Saturday’s preliminary final.
The Roller Hawks had earlier defeated the Red Dust Heelers 89-68 in the minor semi-final to book a playoff with Perth.
Whether it was the extra work load, a step up in intensity from the Cobras or a combination of the pair, the Wheelcats couldn’t stay with reigning champions in the decider.
Australian representative Tristan Knowles was superb for the Cobras, hitting a triple double (28 points, 14 rebounds and 16 assists), whilst for the Wheelcats, WAIS scholarship athletes Shaun Norris (22 points and three steals) and Amber Merritt (14 points and nine rebounds) where valiant in defeat.
In the bronze medal match, Wollongong recorded its second victory over the Heelers (66-55), to seal third place for 2016.
Australian Rollers’ captain and WAIS scholarship athlete Brad Ness contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Heelers.
With National League commitments completed, the Australian men’s team have departed for England, to compete at the Continental Clash, which is the group’s last major hitout ahead of September’s Paralympic Games.
Photo: NWBL