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Basketball: Willetton Tigers outlast Kalamunda on Anzac Day

Jessica NicoCanning Gazette

IT was a big Anzac Day for the Willetton Tigers, who nabbed two hard-fought wins against Kalamunda on home court.

The women’s match kicked off the double header and it started as an arm wrestle, both teams alternating buckets to see the score tied at 18 at the end of the first period.

It was more of the same in the second and third, with Kalamunda taking a slim 35-34 lead into halftime before Willetton clawed back the lead to go into three-quarter time 54-53 up.

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But the Tigers found their range in the final quarter, sinking a huge 34 points in the 10-minute period to take out the win 88-78.

Desiree Kelley led from the front with 21 points, while Zoe Harper (15), Adrienne Johnson (11) and new import Leah Cotton (10) also contributed double figures.

In the men’s match, Kalamunda got the jump on Willetton early, with some sharp shooting from the visitors sending them into the first break up 26-20.

The lead would change a number of times throughout the next two quarters, with Willetton taking the halftime advantage 52-50 and Kalamunda going up 72-69 at the end of the third.

In similar vein to the women’s game, the Tigers put the accelerator down in the fourth quarter, putting up 28 points to just 13 to take out a 97-85 win.

Damien Scott dominated with a game-high 30-point effort, including five three-pointers, while Kyle Armour (19), Jay Bowie (16), Andrew Black (14) and Badou Diagne (13) were also solid contributors.

The wins see Willetton sitting third on the women’s ladder and seventh on the men’s after six rounds.

It will be a short turnaround for Willetton, who will take on the Perth Redbacks at home on Saturday night from 6pm.

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