Wheelcats Defeated in Championship Final

Published On: 6 October 2011

The Perth Wheelcats have missed out on a sixth consecutive national crown, after going down to a spirited Wollongong Roller Hawks outfit in the final of the 2011 National Wheelchair Basketball League in Brisbane.

The Wheelcats created a dynasty for themselves by winning five straight national wheelchair basketball titles from 2006 through to 2010, and had looked an ominous threat again in season 2011 after qualifying for the final with an 84-67 win over the Queensland Spinning Bullets in the semi final.

The Wollongong Roller Hawks however – led by the brilliant Tristan Knowles – proved a much tougher assignment for the Wheelcats. With national representatives Justin Eveson, Brad Ness, Shaun Norris and Michael Hartnett on court for Perth and a wealth of finals experience to call upon, it came as no surprise that the Perth outfit made a fast start.

Knowles’ response for Wollongong, steadied the Roller Hawks and they would lead into the first quarter break. The second quarter remained a close struggle between the two benchmark teams of the competition, before Brad Ness put the Wheelcats in the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter during the third term.

The Wheelcats however, were unable to turn that lead into a run of points, and Knowles again lifted his side in what would prove to be a decisive passage of play, with the Roller Hawks extending out to and holding on for a Championship win by ten points, 95-85.

WAIS athlete Shaun Norris claimed the Overall MVP award for 2011, whilst fellow scholarship holder Justin Eveson was awarded the season MVP. Both Wheelcats were announced as members of the tournament All-Star Five.

The Western Stars featuring WAIS athletes Amber Merritt and Clare Burzynski claimed third place in the women’s national wheelchair basketball league.

The Stars were edged out of finals contention in the semi after a 52-39 loss to the Sydney University Flames.

Redemption was swift for the Stars however, after the girls produced a clinical display to defeat Stacks Goudkamp Bears 50-23 in the bronze medal play-off, gifting WA medals in both men’s and women’s competitions.