Nathan Sobey clearly got his message during the week and delivered the winning hand to the Kings - photo by Getty Images
The Sixers set a few scoring records in the NBL 40-minute era along the way as the Kings found no answer after the first ten minutes of the first quarter. They went straight for the Kings underbelly under the hoop as they utilised the advantage of Hodgson inside the paint. Both teams traded baskets but after Nathan Sobey who had a barney with coach Wright during the week came off the pine for two triples the Kings burned a timeout 23-15. The points continued to flow alarmingly freely for both sides as Sobey and the dangerous veteran Brad Newley dropped three triples. The Sixers then began to show the muscle and the multiple ways they can score this season once again as Sobey dropped 13 with three triples. The Sixers pushing the margin out and leading 38-14 at the first change.
The fans continued to cheer their team along off the back of the exciting news that their club had signed NBA veteran and former Kings import Josh Childress for the remainder of the season. The Sixers continued to dominate at the defensive end with DJ and Sobey who even gave Cadee the “not in my house” finger wag blocked multiple shots from the Kings. The Kings found some spark from Cadee and Leslie before Wright called a timeout 51-39. In a moment of confusion for the 5000 strong crowd, Creek was the one who dished the alley-oop to Ramone Moore before Shorter stole the cookie from the cookie jar hands of Leslie who then gave up the unsportsmanlike grabbing foul. Moore then scored again ripping Newley out the way with strength in transition and the Sixers had scored the most in a first half in the 40-minute era of the NBL leading by 19 at half time, 69-50. Although most stats were even at this stage of the game, the Sixers held a large advantage in fast break points 14-7 and 34 of Adelaide’s points had come from the pine thanks mainly to Sobey with 20 points on 4-6 triple shooting.
The Sixers begun the second half going to the well with Hodgson making Ellis and Newley underneath the basket look like ants registering 6 points in the first half of the quarter and was quickly joined by DJ and Shorter. Sobey then pulled a party trick behind the back pass in transition as the Sixers continued to deal the Kings difficult hands to guard. Deng then continued his impressive record against the Kings eclipsing his career average against them before three quarter time. Sobey then dropped another triple as the Sixers led by 35 with one quarter to go, 96-61.
The Kings bench at long last held the Sixers to 6 points half way through the last with Indian national player Amritpal Singh and rookie Dane Pineau showing some effort and energy for the Kings. It didn’t matter who the Sixers had on the floor, every player was scoring, making defensive plays and contributing as the home team begun to roll the bench. Former SBL Stirling Senators and South Adelaide Panthers Premier League player Caleb Davis then scored his first bucket for the club as the Sixers claimed their first home win of the season, 114-84.
Nathan Sobey did all his damage in the first half from the pine as he lit up for 25 points at 75 percent but across the game Shannon Shorter was the silent assassin with 19 points at 70 percent, 6 assists and 3 rebounds. Hodgson and Deng backed up their backing from Wright during the week with 14 and 13 points respectively.
Travis Leslie stayed the wrath of Gaze for now perhaps with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists while Newley kept the Sixers on their toes early with 15 points including 3-6 from the perimeter. The alarming thing was that the Kings couldn’t find any other winners across their line-up.
The Kings will need to either make some changes ala Corey “Homicide” Williams comments or work their backsides off at training before they come against the other and gun side of the league in the Illawarra Hawks, while the Sixers take the trip next Friday to Cairns complete with new veteran import Josh Childress. If Childress can stay fit for the Sixers through the season, his rebounding presence and smarts put the Sixers back into the conversation when it comes to who will be left standing at the end of season.
Adelaide 36ers 114 (Sobey 25, Shorter 19, Hodgson 14, Deng, Johnson 13) defeated Sydney Kings 84 (Leslie 25, Newley 15, Ellis 13) at Titanium Security Arena
Written by Tristan Prentice
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 