Broome basketball: Blackhawks thump misfiring Misfits, Pointers hold off fast-finishing MP Boyz

An injury to talisman Daniel Cox marred a convincing 20-point thumping by the Blackhawks against the ladder-leading Misfits on Wednesday night. Cox’s wily running and high-leaping rebound game proved more than a handful early, with regular forays under the board proving fruitful in the opening minutes. With the lead at 10 points and the Misfits at the free throw line, Cox’s theatrics proved his undoing as an aerial intercept attempt off the board resulted in a awkward landing and what appeared to be a painful ankle injury. The Blackhawks soldiered on without him though, holding onto a nine-point lead by the main break Even after being relegated to four players the Blackhawks pressed home their advantage with a high-octane level of play proving too much for their rivals. The game ended 56-36 in favour of the Blackhawks with Grant Astles (Misfits, 17 points), Bradley Hann (Blackhawks, 13 points), Will Fong and Thomas Mongoo (Blackhawks, 12 points) leading the scoring. Earlier in the night Gantheaume Pointers embraced the return of several players with an entertaining four-point win over the MP Boyz. The Pointers had a clear height advantage going into the match and used that to their advantage under the net, dominating the rebound which enabled multiple shots on attacking plays. When those shots missed, however, the lightning-quick boys in blue made the Pointers pay with long passes and fast counter-attacks regularly punishing the Pointers’ lacking defence. For much of the match that to-and-fro resulted in a tight tussle rarely separated by more than one hoop. The Pointers — who led 6-9 at quarter time, 16-18 at half time and 25-28 at the final break — held a narrow advantage for all bar a five-minute passage of play up to the end of the third term, but were unable to shake their rivals. It took a technical foul against MP Boyz’ Rhys Hajinoor just as the game appeared to be slipping from the Pointers to give them some clear air; first with three-from-three from for James Hay-Hendry from the free throw line, then with a three-pointer to Mitchell Huntley to push the lead out to five points. Hay-Hendry then sunk a two-pointer to stretch the Pointers’ lead to a game high seven points and all but seal the match. The MP Boyz tried several long shots in a desperate bid to claw their way back in the final two minutes and it did, at times, appear a comeback could be on. But the Pointers held their nerve to win the game 39-43. Hay-Hendry sunk 22 points for the Gantheaume, while Lattrell Matthews scored 20 points for the MP Boyz. Wednesday’s results leave the Misfits leading Blackhawks in percentage alone at the top of the table, with the Pointers have moved within one point of the third-placed MP Boyz.