The newly named Sydney Uni WheelKings started off their season in mixed fashion, defeating the Nova Employment West Sydney Razorbacks in a thriller 80-79 on Saturday before going down to the same opposition 80-57 the following day.
On Saturday, the first quarter saw both teams slowly work their way into the game, with patches of good play. It went into quarter time all tired up 17-17.
By half time the Razorbacks built a 10-point lead and were shooting at 50% from the field.
At the end of the third quarter the Razorbacks lead 62-54. It seemed like Razorbacks players Nick Taylor and Andrew Tarrant were scoring at will. Tarrant had 18 and Taylor had 14 points apiece.
The final quarter saw the WheelKings make a come back with strong games from Keegan O-Chee, CJ Grogan and Craig Cannane. Half way through the quarter the razorbacks led 69-66.
It wasn’t until two minutes from time that the WheelKings hit the front to lead 78-77. With less than twenty seconds to go the Razorback’s had possession with the WheelKings leading 78-76. Taylor hit an amazing shot with 3.7 seconds left on the clock.
WheelKings had a time out and advanced the ball to the frontcourt. It looked all set up for Koen Jansens (who scored an incredibly 41 points) to take the last shot. They jumped him and left Craig Cannane rolling to the basket. He shot the ball and missed but was fouled with no time left on the clock.
Cannane calmly hit the first shot, giving the overly excited Sydney Uni WheelKings there first win for the season.
After the win the night before the WheelKings went into their game today without their star import Koen Jansens due to his Dutch National Team commitments.
The game opened with both team missing easy shots around the basket. The WheelKings pressed up the court causing a number of turnovers. Unfortunately they were unable to capitalise. The quarter time score saw the Razorbacks leading 19-13.
The second quarter saw the WheelKings hang tough against their much bigger opponents, but were still trailing by 12 at the break.
The WheelKings cut into the Razorbacks lead with an 8-0 run early in the third quarter, with CJ Grogan playing out of his skin, hitting baskets from all around the court. Costly turnovers by the WheelKings allowed the Razorbacks to take a comfortable 56-44 lead at three quarter time.
Coach Hewson was pleased with the effort the team gave, but “at times we lacked the intensity to contain their bigger players.”
The WheelKings Next home game is Sunday 26 June at 12noon
WheelKings 80 (Jansesns 41, Grogan 16, Craig Cannane 12) def Razorbacks 79 (Andrew Tarrant 26, Nick Taylor 17, Grant Mizens 13, John McPhail 14).
Razorbacks 80 (Tarrant 23, Taylor 20 and McPhail 15) def. WheelKings 57 (Grogan 30).
