Tight tussle ends in Tigers victory

A last term comeback was not enough for the Printsync South West Slammers when they suffered a narrow four-point loss to the Willetton Tigers at the Willetton Basketball Stadium on Sunday.

The Slammers scored 32 points to just 18 in the final quarter, but the Tigers managed to hand on 77-73 thanks to their productive third term.

It was a tight tussle in the first half as neither side could get clear, with Willetton taking a slender 29-24 lead into the main break.

But they exploded out of the blocks in the third quarter, hitting 30 points to the Slammers’ 18 and giving the visitors work to do if they were to claim their third win of the season.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the Slammers could not catch the home side, with Ray Turner (24 points, nine rebounds) and Jay Bowie (16 points, 11 rebounds) starring for the Tigers.

Slammers import Brian Voelkel again fell agonisingly short of a triple-double, finishing the game with 13 rebounds, 10 assists and nine points.

His partner in crime, Tre Nichols, hit a team-high 22 points, while Clive Weeden (10 points and eight assists) and Chris Douglas (16 points and four rebounds) had an impact on the contest.

The Slammers’ turnovers proved costly, with Willetton scoring 19 points from the Slammers’ mistakes.

Willetton also shot better from outside the arc, hitting seven from beyond the arc compared to the South West’s two.

Hayden Noordhoek came off the bench for the Tigers to score 11 points and grab four rebounds, while the Slammers did not go as deep, with just Michael Lay (eight points) and Travis Durnin (six points) getting on the board.

The Slammers must now prepare for their first double-header of the season, when they host the Perry Lakes Hawks at the Eaton Recreation Centre, before travelling to the Ray Owen Sports Centre to take on the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.