Chambers Franklyn Game Review

Saturday Night Round 12 – Women:

The Chambers Franklyn City of Joondalup Wolves women keep on rolling with 14-0 solidified against the Cockburn Cougars in the NBL1 West Round 12 on Saturday, 90-79!

After an exciting match up in the first go-around on Wolves’ home grounds resulting in a 101-89 final score just 3 games before, the Wolves entered Cougar territory for the highly anticipated rematch. Unfortunately, Captain Chelsea Belcher’s ankle injury still hindered her from playing and point guard, Tia Ucich was also out of the starting line-up. The Wolves needed to dig deep to overcome the Cougars’ full strength line-up.

The Wolves tipped off to a good start with Neseya Parker-Williams hitting a quick two-pointer, but the Cougars also showed their strength in being a contestant for the top 3-point shooting team in the league responding with a quick three-pointer from Katherine Tudor. Teige Morrell came out strong on the boards and contributed 11 points in the first quarter, but Alina Hartmann hit a three to send the Cougars in the lead at quarter time, 18-21.

Neseya came out firing in the second quarter hitting a big step-back three-point shot, followed by a layup and then another three-pointer in three consecutive possessions. Robbi Ryan contributed another 3 with Shani and Kiara creating more great plays to get the Wolves ahead at half. But the Cougars wouldn’t let up; trailing by only a few points to enter the second half, 43-38.

Things didn’t look bright to start the second half with a two pointer right off the get from Cockburn’s leading scorer on the night, Jewel Marie Williams, followed by a Wolves turnover into a Cougars’ layup from Jessie Edwards. But two three-pointers from Shani and Kiara plus a three-point “and-1” play by Teige pulled the Wolves back up and it seemed it’d be a fight to the end with Robbi contributing some great drives to the paint too. Laniesha Paddon subbed on to contribute a three-pointer herself only to be answered by another Cockburn 3! A great assist from Laniesha lead to a finish by Teige in the very next possession. A few missed baskets from Cockburn and a clutch two-point jumper from Robbi brought the Wolves ahead to end the third, but Cougars still trailed right behind, 67-61.

Another big three-pointer from the bench started the Wolves off in the first play of the fourth quarter with Hannah Duncan completing the assist from Teige and Wolfpack fans were on their feet! Robbi added another 3-ball and Shani got the Pack going with some great plays; one beautiful read catching the Cockburn’s defence asleep off an inbounds play stood out in particular – Shani locked eyes with Teige and with a swift passing decision gave her the green light to, ‘go to work’ right under the basket against Jessie Edwards. Teige completed the assist with a nice right-hand hook.

There was hope yet for the Cougars as Alina Hartmann put up a three to bring the score to 81-77 with just 2:08 on the clock. But 4-4 clutch free-throws from Teige and Shani and a 3-point dagger from Kiara with 33 seconds to go solidified the win and Wolves finished on top, 90-79.

Teige racked up a total of 18 rebounds to go along with her 28 points on 69% from the field and 4 assists to earn MVP of the game. Robbi Ryan ended the night with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists. Shani Caldwell notably brought down the next highest rebounds at 7 to add to her 13 points and 8 assists! Neseya and Kiara also added 13 and 12 respectively, resulting in all 5 starters in double figures.

Coach Marcus shared his thoughts on the game: “It was fantastic to see the group battle through some adversity for the week and get over the line. Our ability to stick together and have different players step up at different times has been huge this season. We threw a lot of defensive change ups at the group on the night which they had to adjust with on the fly and I thought they did a great job of working their way through that.”

The Wolves next game will finally be back on home territory! Get your howl on, Wolfpack family because it’s a big one! Facing the Rockingham Flames for the first time this season, and playing in celebration of NAIDOC week, the Wolves are on the hunt for 15-0 in the NBL1West First Nations Round! Be sure to come out, bring your best Wolfpack hype and cheer the Wolves on to another victory this Friday night – 8 July!

Saturday Night Round 12 – Men:

The Chambers Franklyn City of Joondalup Wolves men solidified a 11-3 record over the weekend defeating the Cockburn Cougars in the NBL1 West Round 12 on Saturday, 100-93.

What an exciting game it was, once again, as the rematch occurred between the Cougars and the Wolves. A few weeks ago, these sides faced off and the Wolves had a big comeback in the 4^th quarter for a 1-point win in one of the most exciting games of the season. The rematch over the weekend was just as exciting.

The Wolves started well and were up 6-1 on a couple Jonathan Wade scores and some Jordan Wellsteed freethrows. But then everything went sideways. Star players Julian Pesava and Jonathan both got into very early foul trouble. 5 minutes into the game, Jonathan picked up fouls on back-to-back plays, and had to come out until halftime with 3 fouls. Julian, shortly after, picked up his second foul and had to sit out until mid-2^nd quarter. During the end of the 1^st quarter with both stars out, the Wolves reeled and had a hard time scoring. After a 21-4 Cockburn run, new Wolves player Daniel Mading hit a 3 pointer to finish the 1^stquarter to resuscitate the lifeless Wolves. The score at quarter time was 22-13 Cockburn’s way.

However, after just two first quarter points, in the second quarter, CJ Turnage came out on a mission, and it was clear that he was ready to put his short-handed team on his back. He had 18 points in the second quarter alone, doing it in every way imaginable – strong drives to the rim, post ups and outside, making four 3-pointers in the quarter. 

Additionally, in place of the sick Joel Vaiangina, Mitchell Newton came on and rocked the net for a 3/3 start from 3-point range in the second quarter. Between Mitchell, CJ, and the fact that Julian came back in for a brief stint to finish the quarter with some scoring despite his foul trouble – the Wolves scored a whopping 38 points in the second quarter and somehow found themselves up 51-47 at halftime. 

The game went back and forth and stayed pretty close the whole second half. At one point of the third quarter, the Wolves got up as much as 13 following a scoring run by CJ and Julian. But the Cougars fought right back, and after a 5-0 run by veteran Gavin Field himself to finish the quarter, it was a 6-point game at quarter time. 

After a bit of a scoring drought by the Wolves to start the fourth quarter, and some hot shooting by Cockburn import shooter Carter Skaggs, the Cougars took the lead once again with four minutes to go – 89-86. After Coach David Morrell took a timeout for the Wolves, the Cougars scored again to make it 91-86, but CJ made his own plans for how the game would finish. He scored on a driving pull up jumper. Then after a stop, Maris Colton hit a huge corner 3 in transition to tie the game 91-91. After another stop, the Wolves generated a good open shot for Josh Bloxham that missed, but CJ Turnage followed it up and got the tip-in score. Big man, Paschal Chukwu, got a catch and score to tie the game back up with one minute left, and that’s where the magic happened. 

CJ hit a step back 3 to retake the lead with 50-seconds left. A huge shot. Jordan Wellsteed got a steal and hit two free-throws, and then the Wolves forced misses from Cockburn shooters to ice the game.

Gavin Field was held to just 11 points, while Carter Skaggs went 6/17 from the 3pt line for Cockburn. While CJ with a herculean 40 point, 9 rebound, 4 assist game, going 7/12 from the 3pt line won MVP honors for the Wolves.

Coach Morrell shared his thoughts on the game:

“This was a great effort by the guys to come away with a win despite things being far from ideal. The situation of Joel and Tom being out, and the foul trouble by Jonathan and Julian. We weathered all of that really well, and the guys kept showing resiliency and bouncing back. Obviously, CJ was huge and stepped up in a major way. But it was a combination of CJ with other guys like Mitch Newton stepping up and all having their big moments or making big shots. Guys made plays and we survived against a strong opponent.”

The Wolves are back at home this Friday- 8 July! Be sure to bring your Wolfpack hype for another big exciting game! Playing in celebration of NAIDOC week, and Facing the Rockingham Flames for the first time this season, the NBL1West First Nations Round will be one you don’t want to miss! Come cheer the Wolves on to another victory! We’ll see you there, Wolfpack Family!

If you truly can’t make it out on the night, tune in to the livestream right back here on our website!