Wollongong Hawks captain Mat Campbell has been named the National Basketball League’s Player of the Week for Round 17 of the iiNet NBL Championship after a performance that turned back the clock and helped his side score a comprehensive victory over the Melbourne Tigers.
As the NBL Finals draw ever closer, Round 17 saw a clutch of players rise to the challenge for their teams but no one was more inspirational than Campbell.
The veteran known as ‘Soup’ produced some vintage basketball heroics against the Tigers, scoring 17 points and adding three rebounds and one assist to help the Hawks record their second win in three games with a 90-68 romp over Melbourne.
Campbell’s nine first-quarter points helped the Hawks explode out of the blocks and take a lead they would never relinquish. He shot the ball at 55% from the field (6-of-11) and made 4-of-7 three-pointers (57%) for the match.
Adelaide’s Daniel Johnson was desperately unlucky not to win the weekly award himself. ‘DJ’ scored 21 points and added 16 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in his side’s loss to Townsville.
Gold Coast’s Mark Worthington was also given strong consideration for the Round 17 honours after he had 17 points, seven rebounds and two steals in his side’s 76-49 demolition of Cairns on Sunday.
Campbell’s new teammate Ayinde Ubaka was also in the running after scoring 15 points and adding three rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Hawks against his former club.
Perth trio Shawn Redhage, Jesse Wagstaff and Kevin Lisch, New Zealand’s Gary Wilkinson and Melbourne’s Myron Allen were also legitimate contenders in one of the closest weekly awards this season.
Others considered for Player of the Week for Round 17 included Liam Rush (Melbourne), Peter Crawford (Townsville), Eddie Gill Townsville), Cedric Jackson (New Zealand), Thomas Abercrombie (New Zealand) and Glen Saville (Wollongong).
2011/12 iiNet NBL Championship Player of the Week Winners
Round 1 – Patty Mills (Melbourne Tigers)
Round 2 – Shawn Redhage (Perth Wildcats)
Round 3 – Julian Khazzouh (Sydney Kings)
Round 4 – Daniel Johnson (Adelaide 36ers)
Round 5 – Gary Wilkinson (New Zealand Breakers)
Round 6 – Eddie Gill (Townsville Crocodiles)
Round 7 – Jamar Wilson (Cairns Taipans)
Round 8 – Adris Deleon (Gold Coast Blaze)
Round 9 – Thomas Abercrombie (New Zealand Breakers)
Round 10 – Jamar Wilson (Cairns Taipans)
Round 11 – Adam Gibson (Gold Coast Blaze)
Round 12 – Eddie Gill (Townsville Crocodiles)
Round 13 – Cameron Tragardh (Melbourne Tigers)
Round 14 – Jerai Grant (Sydney Kings)
Round 15 – Jesse Wagstaff (Perth Wildcats)
Round 16 – Adam Gibson (Gold Coast)
Round 17 – Mat Campbell (Wollongong Hawks)
