Wounded Wildcats take stock

SHAYNE HOPE, The West Australian February 14, 2012, 3:15 pm
Wounded Wildcats take stock

Rob Beveridge

Perth Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge is confident his squad will be 100 per cent fit for the play-offs despite more than half his team battling niggling injuries.

Cameron Tovey (hip), Shawn Redhage (ankle), Brad Robbins (wrist), Matt Knight (calf), Drew Williamson and Jesse Wagstaff (both shoulder) took injuries into last week's loss to Cairns.

There were no major injury issues during a short and sharp training session at the WA Basketball Centre this morning, with all 11 rostered players taking part and moving well after having a few days' rest.

Tomorrow will involve just a light shooting session before the Wildcats increase preparations on Thursday for Sunday's game against Sydney at Challenge Stadium.

"We've got so many niggles at the moment but they definitely will pull up fresh," Beveridge said.

"Time will tell but we had a nine-day break between games, so it was important to try to freshen them up."

Beveridge admitted he, too, had felt the full extent of the rigorous schedule, but said he remained upbeat by spending some time away from basketball at different stages in the season.

"You do get tired and we had a very tough first half of the season with all the travel," Beveridge said.

"The thing that probably gets us coaches the most is the travel. It is long and we watch a lot of video.

"It's very mentally consuming. It's not so much physical, it's the players that are doing the physical work, but you do get a little bit flat at times."

The Wildcats (14-7) sit second on the nine-team ladder behind reigning champions New Zealand (15-6), who suffered a shock loss to struggling Wollongong on the weekend.

Hawks big man Oscar Forman was awarded NBL player of the week honours for his role in the underdogs' victory, scoring 29 points on 11-of-12 shooting against his former club.


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