Hulkamaniacs Match Review - Bomb Squad

Line-up: Phil C, Beau, Ross, Murray, Luke, Phil S, Simon (visit player stats)

Round 8, 2005 Winter Season

Wednesday, 15th June 2005

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Hulkamaniacs struggle early, over-run Bomb Squad in second half.

BENDIGO (AP).

The game may not have gone to script, but the Hulkamaniacs eventually outhussled their opponents in the second half to record a 12-point victory on Wednesday night.

With their second leading scorer, Beau, back in the line-up after a week out due to illness, the Hulkamaniacs line-up looked a much more potent outfit, in a real danger game against Bomb Squad, who were undefeated with 4 wins coming into the match.

Despite Bomb Squad representing with just 4 players, they took it right up to the 2004/05 runner-ups, with their ability to stretch the Hulkamaniace defence, and find wide open looks from beyond the arc.

Beau and Phil C were the first to get the Hulkamaniacs on the board, in a tight opening to the game.  The Hulkamaniacs failed to assert their advantage early on, with Beau hitting a 3-point field goal to finally get his team out in front on the scoreboard, with Simon also getting involved offensively, on the back of his best outing as a Hulkamaniacs player last week.

However a mini revival from Bomb Squad prevented the Hulkamaniacs from breaking away on the scoreboard, as the game remained extremely close approaching half time in a low scoring contest.  Luke added his first field goal as the half drew to a close, and by the end of the first 20 minutes - the teams were locked together on just 15 points apiece (the Hulkamaniacs second lowest total for a half of play this season).

In a disappointing opening to the second half, the Hulkamaniacs appeared slow, stagnant and reactive compared to their opponents.  Perhaps concluding that Bomb Squad would run out of legs as the game progressed, the Hulkamaniacs were left floundering as their opponent kicked into full throttle, and for the first 10 minutes of the second half - the Hulkamaniacs were the team that looked short-handed.

Having only managed to add 5 points to their half time tally (courtesy of Phil C and another 3-point bomb from Beau), the situation looked grim for the Hulkamaniacs, and a shock defeat looked likely as the defecit reached double figures with barely more than 10 minutes remaining.

A quick time-out was called to regroup and it proved to be the tonic required to kickstart a Hulkamaniacs comeback.  A couple of quick field goals by Beau and Murray, followed by 3-point field goals from Phil C and Ross, came within a matter minutes, bring the Hulkamaniacs back to level pegging with their opponents.  Bomb Squad must have wondered what they had done to deserve such a bombardment.

With the game back up for grabs, the Hulkamaniacs continued to press their opponents hard.  With Beau and Phil C leading the way, the charge was well and truly on.  With offensive contribution coming from all angles, the Hulkamaniacs were playing the kind of basketball which took them to last seasons grand final - unrelenting defensive pressure, leading to some easy scores on the offensive end.

The manner and time in which the momentum swung back into the Hulkamaniacs favour in this game, should be considered a worrying sign for any team coming up against them in 2005, assuming the level of intensity is maintained and not just applied in patches.

Having scored just 5 points in the opening 5-10 minutes of the second half, the Hulkamaniacs piled on close to another 30 points by full-time in an amazing 10 minutes of basketball, led by Phil C and Beau on the offensive end, whilst Murray, Ross and Phil S were prominent defensively.

To their credit, Bomb Squad were resiliant for the most part - before eventually wiltering in the second half, but starting the game with 4 players - and ending with just 3 - was never going to work in their favour.

The final score was 49-37.

Leading scorers for the Hulkamaniacs were Phil C and Beau with 15 apiece, Simon 6, Murray 4, Ross 3, Luke and Phil S 2 each.

Next week, the third placed Hulkamaniacs (4-1) take on fourth placed Nemesis (4-1), with the winner consolidating their position in the top 4.  The loser will be left with plenty of work to do throughout the course of the season.  The Hulkamaniacs won the first meeting between the teams, can they back it up with another crucial victory?  Be sure to check back here next week for all the news.

MVP Standings: Phil C (62.0), Beau (35.5), Murray (23.5), Luke (21.5), Ross (18.0), Adam (7.5), Phil S (7.5), Simon (7.5).

Game notes.

This was the first ever meeting between the two teams… With his 15 points tonight, Beau has reached 500 points all-time for the Hulkamaniacs… Beau is the 4th leading scorer in Hulkamaniacs history with a total of 508 points all-time - behind Phil C (874), Adam (647) and Luke (546), but has played less games than all three above him… Tonight was the 70th game all-time for Phil S, and is third on the all-time games list - behind Luke (92) and Adam (76)… Phil C has extended his string of 10+ point games, making it now 8 games in a row with 15 points tonight… The impressive streak includes seven consecutive 15+ point games… See the Records and Player Stats sections for more.

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