Debut for Nichols as Kings hit the court

SOUTHERN Wolves will take on Glenorchy Spartans and Clarence United will meet Kingborough-Huon Kings in Premier League basketball games this week.

Game of the round will see Tre Nichols make his debut for the Kings against last week’s runaway winner Clarence United.

Sam Youl stormed back on to the Hobart basketball scene after a year out with a knee injury, making his presence known with seven baskets from outside the arc included in his 41 points.

Youl was assisted by Zac Buick who had five from the deep in his 21 points. Nobody was predicting 100 points from Clarence in Round 1.

Kings will now have two outside threats in Nichols and Elijah Pawson, and combined with the inside power of Greg Doliver they might hold an advantage over Clarence.

First-year senior coach Matt Cooke will need to make all the right moves and keep an eye on Clarence’s outside brigade who dropped 16 triples in Round 1, and if the Kings stop that, the firepower of Tre Nichols should see them in front at the end of 40 minutes.

After a Round 1 win, Glenorchy Spartans should take care of Southern Wolves in Round 2.

Cam Bennerman (37 points) was the only Wolves player to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and with 16 triples from Clarence, nobody was playing too much defence.

Mathiang Muo, Jack Stanwix and Tiri Masunda should provide enough firepower to see Spartans over the line.

Kingborough-Huon women will be hoping Kathleen Scheer is back in town or they will struggle to get past the Clarence women, while the Spartans women looked strong even though soundly beaten by Hobart Phoenix last week and should prove to good for the Southern Wolves women.

Women’s games tip off at 6.30pm and men at 7.55pm, all at Kingborough Sports Centre.