Wildcats off-season wrap: Week two

Several Wildcats starred in round two of the New Zealand NBL competition including Tai Webster in his first game of the season for Otago.

Webster dropped 20 points to go with six assists and four rebounds as the Nuggets remained undefeated with a 112-103 victory over Manawatu at Dunedin’s Edgar Centre.

He was one of three Wildcats in the starting five alongside Ben Henshall, who continued his strong start to the season with 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals, and big man Jack Andrew (11 rebounds and five points).

Elsewhere in NZ, Corey Webster had two 20-plus point games for Auckland, coached by Wildcats assistant Aaron Young, in the space of three days.

Webster had 25 points, including five triples, to go with eight assists and five rebounds in Thursday’s win over Taranaki, and backed it up with 22 points, four rebounds and four assists in another victory over Whai on Saturday.

Hyrum Harris had another double-double, amassing 22 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists and three steals in Wellington’s triumph over Nelson on Saturday.

Harris will come up against several of his Wildcats teammates on Saturday night when the Saints travel to Dunedin to take on the Nuggets.

It was a big weekend for David Okwera in the NBL1 West, posting back-to-back double-doubles for East Perth Eagles.

Okwera backed up his winning 19-point, 11-rebound debut against Eastern Suns on Friday night with 20 points, 13 rebounds and six assists the following night against Michael Harris’ Warwick Senators.

Harris scored 20 points to go with eight rebounds, three steals and three assists in the Senators’ 104-88 win.

Like Okwera, Harris also played on consecutive days, starting the weekend in part of a remarkable 93-92 come-from-behind win over Perry Lakes at Warwick Stadium.

The Senators scored the last 15 points of the match with Harris finishing with 18 to go with a game-high five assists and four steals in a brilliant well-rounded performance.

Hard-working guard Kyle Zunic started his NBL1 South campaign with a strong debut for Keilor on Friday night.

Zunic was the leading scorer in the Thunder’s 115-98 loss against Frankston, hitting 27 to go with four rebounds and four assists.