As you can see below, Chris Pike has been a busy boy. Click on the titles below to read the full stories.
NBL > News
Williams ready to rumble
By Chris Pike, Sportal
Townsville Crocs guard Corey 'Homicide' Williams has ensured Wednesday's NBL quarter-final against the Perth Wildcats will be explosive as he arrived fired up for the cutthroat contest.
With the physicality of the clash becoming a big talking point in the build-up, Williams made no bones about his team, especially Rosell Ellis, being ready for it.
'I don't care what we showed the four times we played them, this is a whole new season and in order to beat them you have to play physical, rebound, push, hit shots from the outside and we intend to do that,' Williams said on Tuesday.
We know Perth is coming with it, we are coming with it and it's like a 12-round championship fight. If you don't play physical you are going to lose. It's going down and that's how Rosell plays. What are we going to tell him? Don't play like that? Come on, man, this is playoff basketball.
NBL > News
Henry: Let the best team win
By Chris Pike, Sportal
Forget any talk of physicality or referees, Perth Wildcats coach Conner Henry wants the best team to win Wednesday's quarter final with Townsville and is backing the NBL's most consistent team over the past 20 years to come out on top.
The Wildcats are entering their 23rd straight NBL finals campaign and are sure to be hosting the cutthroat game with the Crocs in front of a loud and full Challenge Stadium as success-starved Perth sporting fans get behind the team.
With other professional teams in the city such as the AFL's West Coast and Fremantle, Super 14 team Western Force, A-League club Perth Glory and cricket team Western Australia Warriors all struggling for success of late, the always contending Wildcats are a breath of fresh air.
NBL > News
Chemistry the key for Crocs
By Chris Pike, Sportal
If Townsville beats the Perth Wildcats in Wednesday's quarter final to advance in the NBL playoffs it will be its first win at Challenge Stadium in seven attempts and coach Trevor Gleeson has a team with great chemistry and confidence to do just that.
The Crocs' last win in Perth was September 18, 2005, and six losses since has included a defeat in last season's elimination final and two this season for a combined margin of 58 points, however, there is reason for Townsville fans to look at Wednesday's game with confidence.
The Crocodiles drew a line in the sand after losing to the Wildcats on December 27, and this year they have a 7-2 record which has included wins over playoff teams the South Dragons (twice) and the Adelaide 36ers.
Over that run, Townsville has seen Corey Williams, Brad Williamson (averaging 16 points over last five games) and John Rillie (48 points in last two), in particular, play at a higher level consistently.
Unlike rival NBL teams, the Crocs have kept their whole team together all season until Kelvin Robertson recently went down injured and it is that chemistry that Gleeson believes has led to the strong finish to the season.
Crocs prepared for physical 'Cats
By Jonathan Healy, Sportal
Townsville Crocodiles coach Trevor Gleeson is expecting a 'last man standing' affair in his side's cutthroat quarter-final against the Perth Wildcats on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats are well known for their physical approach to games and Gleeson knows his team must at least match it with their opponents to stand any chance of staying alive in the post-season.
"We all know Perth have a physical 'beat-you-up' mentality and they get away with a fair bit back in Perth," Gleeson said. "But we have been preparing for that. We know it is going to be a very physical encounter and we are not going to back down at all."
Who do you think will win tonight? I'm of course going for the Crocs!
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