WABL - Sharks men defeat arch rivals; Women have surprising loss
A severely depleted Parramatta Wildcats women's team has defied the odds, on Saturday night at the Sutherland Basketball Stadium, fielding just five players yet capturing an amazing 60-54 win against a full-strength Sutherland Sharks team.
The Parramatta men could not emulate their club-mates, falling to the Sharks men for the second time this season by 101-92.
The Wildcats women were given little chance of securing a win on Saturday night against the Sharks, despite the relative position of both teams on the competition ladder.
Sarah Webb (Armed Forces) and Victoria Saad (broken arm) both had legitimate reasons for their absence but the non-appearance of Tegan Murray, Natalie Bell and Josie Taoi on the night put the Wildcats into dangerous territory, further complicated late in the third quarter, when star import Charmian Purcell fouled out of the game.
The Sharks had their own misfortune very early in the game, when star guard Peta Kneen was injured in a clash under the boards.
The game was delayed for several minutes, due to a concern for Kneen's well-being, and local fans were dismayed when the tough point guard was carried from the court.
The Wildcats began slowly to trail at the end of the first quarter but recovered in the second term, with guard Sam Brincat taking on a leadership role and shooting her team back into contention.
The visitors would amazingly continue this dominance, leading the Sharks until late in the third quarter, in spite of several player rotations from the Sharks bench.
Purcell's departure during the third term however, appeared to be the final straw for the plucky Wildcats but the Sharks failed to capitalise on their advantage, retreating into a low-pressure defensive pattern.
The Wildcats relished the surprising tactics, playing the clock to perfection and eventually running out 6 point winners.
Parramatta Wildcats 60 (Sam Brincat 39 / 8 boards, Charmian Purcell 11 boards, Sophie Kelman 10 boards) def Sutherland Sharks 54 (Kandace Lindeberg 10 points / 11 boards, Kelly Richards 8 points / 12 boards)
The Parramatta men looked out of sorts from the opening whistle, against the reigning premiers, in spite of the home team's injury woes.
Star centre Blake Henricks and back-up Brendan Clowrey were both out of the Sharks line-up for the night but there was little sign of any hiccups in the home team's game plans, with Sydney Kings NBL guard Cameron Tovey leading superbly.
PHOTO: Cameron Tovey drives to the hoop for the Sharks - photo courtesy of Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)
West Sydney Razorbacks NBL forward Graeme Dann and Anto Lalic provided the firepower for a mid-game resurgence from the
Wildcats, lifting their fans' hopes as the Wildcats came from ten points behind to lead by five at the end of the third term.
The recovery run petered out in the fourth quarter, with the Sharks again surging behind overwhelming support from the bench and the home fans to eventually run out convincing winners.
The match-up between the two NBL stars Tovey and Dann did not rise to any great heights, with the young Shark taking a points victory on the night.
Sutherland Sharks 101 (Cameron Tovey 26 points, 15 boards, BJ Carter 21 points, Rod Proctor 15, Brendon Gleeson 11) def Parramatta Wildcats 92 (A Lalic 36 points, 11 boards, Graeme Dann 26 points, 10 boards, Goran Veg 15 points)
Sharks can’t match Scorchers in State League Basketball
The Springwood Scorchers have recorded an impressive 83-69 win over the Sutherland Sharks, on Saturday night at the Blaxland High School Basketball Stadium, in round eight of the NSW State League competition.
The Scorchers were missing four regular players on the night but still got away to a flyer against the highly-ranked Sharks, with a succession of quick baskets giving the home team the early ascendancy.
The home team led by ten points at the first break and eleven at half time, before former Wollongong Hawks NBL forward Guy Brandon brought the visitors back into contention, with the Sharks closing to within three points at the final break in play.
Scorchers stalwarts Nick Ferrari and Keith Browning quickly settled the home team for the run home in money-time and the Sharks were soon left floundering, with the score-line again ballooning into double figures.
Ferrari led the Scorchers with 27 points, ahead of David Ward 19, Browning 12 and Adrian Qumivutia 12
Scorchers head coach Vince Browning heaped praise on his starting five of Ferrari, Browning, Qumivutia, Ward and Brett Austin, crediting the group with setting up the win in the first quarter.
Browning said "David's (Ward) energy was a key to the game and allowed us to play an up-tempo transition game in the early stages."
"If we could have kept up the frantic pace, we probably could have pushed the margin even further."
In other news from the State League, the Penrith Panthers men defeated the North Sydney Bears 90-63 and the Macarthur Heat defeated the Hawkesbury Jets 95-71.
The Sharks are away to the Jets on Saturday night at the Hawkesbury Indoor Sports Stadium, South Windsor.
Sharks win 2 out of 5 in Round 11
The young Sharks sides showed the way on its road trip to Bankstown. The 13s had a good 4 to nil win over Bankstown City. The 4s then followed with a 2 nil win.
However, Bankstown then picked up wins in all three senior grades.
The results see the 13s in second place behind Blacktown on goal difference. Despite the losses in this round the 16s and 18s each still remain in fifth spot.
The 14s and 15s are currently well out of the top 5.
The full Round 11 Results for Sutherland Shire Sharks v Bankstown City at Jensen Park are as follows:
Sharks U13: Won 4 nil
Sharks U14: Won 2 nil
Sharks U15: Lost 5 - 1
Sharks U16: Lost 2 - 1
Sharks U18: Lost 2 – 1
More Stories?
For more local sports stories go to www.sportslive.com.au and click on Sutherland
If you want publicity for your sport please contact the Sportslive Director at YourOnlineCommunity office on 4254 0200 or to contact via email click here->
| 
