Chambers Franklyn Game Review

Friday Night Round 3 – Women:

The Chambers Franklyn City of Joondalup Wolves women thrived on their home turf Friday night as they came out firing and holding the lead the entire game in the Round three victory over the Perry Lakes Hawks, 83-66!

There was a lot to play for with the Gaye Mayger Shield on the line, the home turf to protect, and a statement to be made being the first game as a complete team. With the arrival of new American import, Robbi Ryan, just three days before the game, the time had finally come for the Wolfpack fans to see what Robbi would bring to the table.

Whatever the expectation, Robbi delivered – getting the Wolves rolling with a sweet assist to Captain Chelsea Belcher at the stripe, and 12 points (2 three-pointers) for herself in the first quarter alone.

MVP of the game, Neseya Parker-Williams served the Hawks with her automatic midrange all first quarter and again to start the Wolves off in the second. Neseya’s contribution on the defensive boards (10) proved to be the difference maker all night as well.

Hawks’ standout, Emma Clarke, forced a defensive focus for the Wolves, resulting in some stagnant offense for the Hawks in the second quarter. To the Hawks credit, they fought back with some defensive pressure of their own, closing the first half, 45-36.

The Hawks had no answer in the third, as the Wolves started the half with 3 offensive rebounds in one possession and their aggressive defence kept Perry Lakes to just 12 points all quarter.

Chelsea knocked down a three to start the fourth quarter, with, point guard, Tia Ucich following suit the very next possession. 9 quick points to end the game for Teige Morrell deflated any hope left for the Perry Lakes Hawks and the Wolves charged on to the 83-66 victory.

Robbi completed her stat line with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. With the double-double performance from both Neseya (19 pts 13 rebs) and Teige (18 pts 10 rebs), plus Tia and Chelsea racking up 10 and 12 points, respectively, all five of the Wolves starters ended the night in double digits.

When asked her thoughts on the team’s four-quarter effort after the game, Robbi said,

“It’s my first game, obviously, but I had a lot of fun. The energy with the girls was great. We had our ups and downs, but we always bounced back and I think that’s the most important thing for us.”

Now 3-0 with the Home Opener W, the Wolves verse the Warwick Senators back on home territory next Friday, 29^th April in the Battle of Joondalup!

Thursday Night Round 3 – Men:

The Chambers Franklyn City of Joondalup Wolves men came out with a rocky start Friday night only to make a drastic shift in the second quarter and end up on top, defeating the Perry Lakes Hawks in the Home Opener Cancer Awareness Round, 80-68.

The way the Wolves men started the night, looked bleak. The end of the first quarter, the rowdy Wolfpack crowd that came expecting a great game had grown quiet, momentarily. Perry Lakes controlled the entire first quarter and was up 27-15. Forwards, Andrew Furgeson and Ben Purser were dominant, and the Wolfpack was poor in transition defence, giving the Hawks a lot of opportunities there. But in the second quarter, it all changed.

The Wolves defence picked up and suddenly everything for the Hawks was contested and it shifted the entire energy in the HBF Arena. As the Wolves got stops, they were able to get out and run, and things loosened up on the offensive end. Julian Pesava had an explosive quarter, showing star qualities. At five minutes and 6 seconds left in quarter two, the explosion erupted; Julian hit his first three. The next possession, another. The next possession, another! He went on to score 17 points in the quarter including 4 threes.

Between the shift in defence and the play from Julian, the score shifted by half time and the Wolves went into the half up, 43-42.

The game stayed close through the third in a hard-fought defensive battle and the score at three-quarter time was 58-56. Then the Wolves proceeded to win the fourth quarter, 22-12 in the end – making a tightly contested close game look like a comfortable win.

With some great plays in transition by Jonathan Wade along with big plays late in the fourth by CJ Turnage – a couple of assists and a couple of big shots - highlighted the excellent play by the Wolves in the final quarter.

Wolves won 80-68; handing the Hawks their first loss of the season. Ben Purser, in his Hall-Mark 350^th game, did not disappoint with 23 points. Julian led all scorers with 29 points on 10/15 shooting (5/7 from the three). CJ and Jonathan both had 15 points and Joel Vaiangina had his best game of the season so far, with 12 points and 9 rebounds.

After the game, CJ Turnage spoke to the importance of defence to the Wolves success on the night:

“Our coach has just been preaching to play hard on defence regardless of time, score, whatever. So, it looks and feels like when we play hard on defence a lot of stuff takes care of itself. Obviously, our offense isn’t going to be the best – it’s April. You know, we’ve got until September to get it how we want to get it, but it’s gradually getting better and when we get the ball moving and flowing we look really good. It’s exciting to see and to feel like what it can be.”

Both men and women are now 3-0 with the Home Opener W under their belts! The Wolves verse the Warwick Senators back on home territory next Friday, 29^th April in the Battle of Joondalup. Be sure to make it out, Wolfpack fans, as the Wolves attempt to take the city!