THE Joondalup Wolves can reclaim top spot with two wins this weekend after dropping from the State Basketball League number one rung for the first time in more than two months.
Victories from games against the Stirling Senators on Friday in Warwick and Goldfields Giants on Saturday in Joondalup would give the Wolves 16 wins from 19 games.
The Cockburn Cougars, who took first place from the Wolves last weekend, could also finish with 16 from 19 after this round, but would likely drop below Joondalup with an inferior scoring percentage.
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READ NOWJoondalup’s five-game winning streak ended at the hands of the Willetton Tigers, who were placed third at the time, in a 104-98 away loss on Friday night.
The Wolves’ Greg Hire produced the best return of his Perth Wildcats off-season preparation with 34 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The swingman spent a lot of time at the charity stripe, hitting 12 of 18 free throws.
Big man Rob Huntington stepped up in the absence of star centre Kevin Davis, landing 24 points.
Joondalup recovered on Saturday to defeat Lakeside 93-84 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium.
Again, it was Huntington (27 points) and Hire (25 points) who led scoring, with Hire leading the team in rebounds with 15.
The women’s team was also unsuccessful against Willetton, which ended the Wolves impressive 10-game winning streak in a 63-60 loss.
Joondalup’s Nikita Martin hit a team-high 16 points, while Ellyce Ironmonger took a game-high 14 rebounds.
The team did not concede top spot after the loss, which they followed up with a 72-63 triumph over the Lakeside Lightning.