NBL 2014/15 Round 4: Wildcats halt Hawks on Halloween
On what was the Perth Wildcats' first away game of the season, it certainly didn't alter their defensive style of play, giving Halloween nightmares to the Wollongong Hawks on the way to their third victory of the season, 83-64.
Off the back of stinging second and fourth quarters, the Wildcats played in brilliant spurts to put away their opponents.
Wollongong's second quarter was so stagnant that they could only manage 13 points, shooting a dismal 3 of 13 from the floor while turning the ball over seven times. If all was not lost then, the hosts were cursed as Gary Ervin stepped off the floor with an apparent back injury which saw him never return.
The 19 point margin was nearly double of what the 'Cats mustered up just two weeks prior when they hosted the Hawks; something which would have impressed coach Trevor Gleeson.
Perth were led by the hot shooting of Jermaine Beal (25 points, 4 steals) while both Shawn Redhage (14 points) and DeAndre Daniels (12 points, 7 rebounds) were serviceable.
For the Hawks, both Jahii Carson and Oscar Forman notched 14 points apiece, however the team was very poor on the offensive floor; shooting 36%FG and turning the ball over 15 times.
Luke Nevill was quiet once again, struggling to escape the inside presence of Matt Knight and Tom Jervis. Nevill finished with five points on 2-8 shooting, with three turnovers.
One of the only positives to come out of the game for the home side was their ability to create a mini rally late in the third term. With the team down double digits, Carson led his side as his done best in the early parts of the season, having the crowd on their feet as they got to within five.
However, a Wagstaff three and more brilliant Beal steered the visitors in the right direction to calmly put Wollongong away in the fourth quarter.
Wollongong Hawks 64 (Carson 14, Forman 14, Coenraad 12)
Perth Wildcats 83 (Beal 25, Redhage 14, Ross 13)
@ WIN Entertainment Centre