The third quarter force of Nathan Sobey proved the hope in Mitch Creek's absence to guide the Sixers over the waves of the Breakers with Jedi like-play - Photo by Zimbio
DJ started rolling to a night at the charity stripe early before Shannon Shorter dished a sweet entree to Sobey for the cut through the Breakers Sunday afternoon roast. Sosa then picked off a steal deep in the back court and dropped the triple on the turn around before Deng returned the favour. Shorter then answered Wright’s calls from Friday dialing in for offensive rebounds and the and1 opportunity with many sensing the Sixers were up and about to get on a run. It proved to be as Deng emphatically rejected Sosa as the Sixers went on a 10-4 run to lead 29-23 at quarter time.
The second had the Breakers greeted by two block shots from Matt Hodgson as the Sixers went on a 10-3 run to open up the margin in the Fortress. The Breakers then made their comeback as the Sixers gave up two shots in a row while Anthony Drmic came up with two of his own to hold a ten point lead. Ramone Moore then got a little dancing going on the dribble then got down on the floor to force the jump-ball. The Sixers leading the way by 8 at the main break, 52-44.
The third quarter was the lights up duel of Sobey and Sosa with both jaw jacking and making physical passes at each other. Alex Pledger having a quiet night sat with four fouls and the Breakers looked a little smaller as DJ went to work on the block. The momentum shifted slightly when after a flop warning on the Sixers earlier in the night saw Drmic clearly trip on his own feet but was adjudged by the officials to be a flop resulting in the technical free throw. Sosa and Sobey then traded baskets in a one on one duel up and down the floor from all areas. In a huge blow for the Breakers, Finn Delaney always a dangerous cover exited the game before three quarter time with five fouls. The Sixers holding the ascendancy 80-69 at the end of three.
Josh Childress kicked things off for the Sixers in the fourth slicing through the defence of the Breakers before Drmic was pinged for another flopping technical, smiled and headed for the change-rooms for an early shower. Childress then scored his third basket of the quarter before Moore drained a long triple. Rob Loe also with a quiet night hit the pine with his fifth as the Sixers held a 13 point lead with five minutes to go. As top sides do, the Breakers found some inspiration in the huddle from Mika Vukona as they launched a late game comeback from Sosa. A couple of offensive fouls with some questionable defence saw them on a run of 8 points to close the game to a one possession game. A shot from Childress rimmed long to seal the match for the Sixers but DJ grabbed the offensive rebound then iced two free throws before Sosa’s last gasp triple to sen it to OT went long, the Sixers claiming the enormous home win, 95-92.
Sobey was the clear standout finishing with 22 points including four triples at 50 percent and 6 assists. Daniel Johnson also proved important with 17 points on 11 of 12 from the charity stripe and 7 rebounds including the game clinching offensive rebound. Josh Childress also brought his game to the arena with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
Sosa continued to prove he is one of the best point guards in the league with 26 points with four triples and 4 rebounds. Tom Abercrombie found his mark late in the game to finish with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Despite 11 points, Mika Vukona finished with only one solitary rebound.
Both teams meet again this Friday night in New Zealand in the first of an important stretch leading into the end of 2017. The Sixers have the Breakers then Melbourne United away the following week before a Christmas Eve clash against the Cairns Taipans at home followed by the second biggest weekend of sport in Adelaide’s summer. The Sixers will play the Breakers Friday then the Adelaide Strikers New Years Eve match will take place the following day in a sport fans dream double.
Going better than 500 will have the Sixers in a healthy position prior to the end of the year, as opposed to the fans the last two home matches. Like their game style the Sixers fans don’t mind it as long the Ws keep us close to the Empire of Perth and the First Order of New Zealand on the NBL ladder.
Adelaide 36ers 95 (Sobey 22, Johnson 17, Childress 15, Shorter 11) defeated New Zealand Breakers 92 (Sosa 26, Abercrombie 14, Vukona 11) at Titanium Security Arena
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 