Australia
Semi-Finals Game 3: Wildcats - Blaze 88-67
Date: April 7, 2012
The Perth Wildcats defeated the Gold Coast Blaze 88-67 in Game 3 at Challenge Stadium on Saturday night to book an epic Grand Final against the New Zealand Breakers. For much of the 2010/11 season, the Wildcats and Breakers battled for top spot before New Zealand prevailed in a semi-final series to remember. The Breakers went on to win the championship and the Cats have been plotting revenge ever since. First though, their other recent fierce rival was in the way, and the Wildcats were far too good for Gold Coast in the deciding game. Co-captain Shawn Redhage top-scored with 19 points at 67 per cent, Kevin Lisch had 16 and Jesse Wagstaff 14, but it was the evenness of their performance that was the catalyst for the victory. Adris Deleon again led the scoring for Gold Coast with 20 points at 53 per cent, but had six turnovers. Mark Worthington scored 11 points but no other Blaze player hit double-figures. Perth shot at a blistering 80 per cent in the first quarter, Lisch and Redhage at their best to establish a 29-23 lead after 10 minutes. Gold Coast's Will Hudson made a statement early by dunking over the top of 218cm Luke Nevill to spark his team's transition game. The Cats then took control in the second quarter, a six-point cameo from reserve Greg Hire setting up an 11-point lead. But the Blaze hung tough and a sweet Chris Goulding floater brought the score to 49-41 at half-time. The Wildcats upped the intensity in the second half, holding Gold Coast to 13 points in each of the final two quarters as Wagstaff came to life offensively to keep Perth's score ticking over. In the end the home team had too much firepower and too many contributors for the Blaze. Three Wildcats scored in double-figures and all 10 players registered on the scoresheet. "We've always said that defence wins championships and we just played against one of the most prolific scoring teams. For us to hold them to 67 points is just an incredible effort," Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge said. "That's what I am really happy about. Offensively we scored 88 points as well so we are looking pretty good at the moment." Gold Coast veteran big man Stephen Hoare played the final game of his decorated NBL career and was understandably emotional afterwards. "It's funny over the last few weeks I've tried not to think about the end, but I definitely shed a few tears just before. It's hard to believe that the siren goes and that's it and you are finished," Hoare said. "We had more shots than Perth, 14 offensive boards to their six and the effort things we did really well... Definitely last year the effort wasn't always there, but this season our effort has been really good. "But we had 19 turnovers and shot at 37 per cent. It's just the execution. They executed better than we did and looked after the ball better than we did. That was the difference in the game." Game 1 of the grand final series will now be at New Zealand's Vector Arena on Thursday. Game 2 will be in Perth on Friday April 20 and if needed, a deciding Game 3 back in Auckland on Tuesday April 24. *Courtesy of www.nbl.com.au
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
Semi-Finals Game 3: Wildcats - Blaze 88-67
Date: April 7, 2012
The Perth Wildcats defeated the Gold Coast Blaze 88-67 in Game 3 at Challenge Stadium on Saturday night to book an epic Grand Final against the New Zealand Breakers. For much of the 2010/11 season, the Wildcats and Breakers battled for top spot before New Zealand prevailed in a semi-final series to remember. The Breakers went on to win the championship and the Cats have been plotting revenge ever since. First though, their other recent fierce rival was in the way, and the Wildcats were far too good for Gold Coast in the deciding game. Co-captain Shawn Redhage top-scored with 19 points at 67 per cent, Kevin Lisch had 16 and Jesse Wagstaff 14, but it was the evenness of their performance that was the catalyst for the victory. Adris Deleon again led the scoring for Gold Coast with 20 points at 53 per cent, but had six turnovers. Mark Worthington scored 11 points but no other Blaze player hit double-figures. Perth shot at a blistering 80 per cent in the first quarter, Lisch and Redhage at their best to establish a 29-23 lead after 10 minutes. Gold Coast's Will Hudson made a statement early by dunking over the top of 218cm Luke Nevill to spark his team's transition game. The Cats then took control in the second quarter, a six-point cameo from reserve Greg Hire setting up an 11-point lead. But the Blaze hung tough and a sweet Chris Goulding floater brought the score to 49-41 at half-time. The Wildcats upped the intensity in the second half, holding Gold Coast to 13 points in each of the final two quarters as Wagstaff came to life offensively to keep Perth's score ticking over. In the end the home team had too much firepower and too many contributors for the Blaze. Three Wildcats scored in double-figures and all 10 players registered on the scoresheet. "We've always said that defence wins championships and we just played against one of the most prolific scoring teams. For us to hold them to 67 points is just an incredible effort," Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge said. "That's what I am really happy about. Offensively we scored 88 points as well so we are looking pretty good at the moment." Gold Coast veteran big man Stephen Hoare played the final game of his decorated NBL career and was understandably emotional afterwards. "It's funny over the last few weeks I've tried not to think about the end, but I definitely shed a few tears just before. It's hard to believe that the siren goes and that's it and you are finished," Hoare said. "We had more shots than Perth, 14 offensive boards to their six and the effort things we did really well... Definitely last year the effort wasn't always there, but this season our effort has been really good. "But we had 19 turnovers and shot at 37 per cent. It's just the execution. They executed better than we did and looked after the ball better than we did. That was the difference in the game." Game 1 of the grand final series will now be at New Zealand's Vector Arena on Thursday. Game 2 will be in Perth on Friday April 20 and if needed, a deciding Game 3 back in Auckland on Tuesday April 24. *Courtesy of www.nbl.com.au
 BLAZE67 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 33 | WIQUhajDUIj, biQV | 48 | 8-9 (82.1%) | 6-2 (68.0%) | 3-3 (655%) | 8 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 66 | 65 | 5 |
| 65 | gRlRIj, SdQas | 45 | 0-7 (00.1%) | 4-1 (05%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 85 | 64 | 5 |
| 6 | GaMsIj, SdiB | 81 | 6-8 (05%) | 5-6 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 5 |
| 69 | ORUQaR, SjUhIjF | 67 | 8-4 (11.9%) | 6-8 (05%) | 8-4 (11.9%) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | HudsIj, Wall | 67 | 4-7 (44.4%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-4 (5%) | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 1 | -8 | 5 |
| 43 | HIiQR, AURphRj | 69 | 8-0 (35%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 0 | CidRR, zisIj | 69 | 6-0 (85%) | 5-6 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 8 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | -6 | 5 |
| 34 | GIuldajD, ChQas | 61 | 8-4 (11.9%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 5-5 (5%) | 3 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| 63 | GiQlRpp, wIB | 66 | 8-4 (11.9%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 83 | wRFs, mQRjdij | 9 | 5-6 (5%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | -8 | 5 |
| wIUil | 85-39 (38.1%) | 1-84 (81.6%) | 7-61 (01.4%) | 63 | 81 | 35 | 69 | 88 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 67 | 19 | 06 | |||
 WILDCATS (coach: John Rillie)88 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 04 | biQUaj, giBaij | 40 | 8-3 (05%) | 6-3 (80%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 66 | 5 |
| 68 | vasZh, KRLaj | 43 | 0-9 (96.3%) | 6-9 (63.4%) | 4-3 (90%) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 61 | 60 | 5 |
| 05 | XRLall, vuVR | 81 | 8-9 (82.1%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8-8 (655%) | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 61 | 5 |
| 38 | eRdhiDR, AhiTj | 84 | 2-68 (11.9%) | 5-5 (5%) | 4-0 (15%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 67 | 60 | 5 |
| 66 | wILRF, CiBRQIj | 69 | 6-6 (655%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| 83 | WiDsUiff, zRssR | 60 | 4-3 (90%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 0-0 (655%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 63 | 62 | 5 |
| 88 | eIMMajs, mQid | 63 | 8-4 (11.9%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | KjaDhU, biUUhRT | 64 | 4-0 (15%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 60 | 5 |
| 44 | WallaiBsIj, gQRT | 65 | 5-6 (5%) | 8-3 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | HaQR, GQRD | 1 | 4-3 (90%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| 65 | OuQsRQ, mRj | 6 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| wIUil | 87-32 (15.3%) | 0-67 (81.4%) | 60-85 (90.5%) | 1 | 45 | 41 | 69 | 60 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 66 | 22 | 659 | |||
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
