Author: Tristan Prentice

Dynamic guard Nathan Sobey accumulated in one of his most all-round games of the season to help the Sixers clip the Hawks. Photo by AAP in Illawarra Mercury

The Sixers started in a blaze stunning the Hawks in the opening quarter leading by as many as 12 as Josh Childress drained two early triples clearly a scouting report move that back fired from the Hawks. Meanwhile shooting superstar Rotnei Clarke was guarded tighter on the three point line than a congested afternoon in Melbourne traffic, a move which limited the scoring opportunities of the Hawks. The highlight of the opening quarter a Demitrius Conger two handed dunk changing direction 180 degrees mid-air evading as good as defence that could be played by fellow aerialist Mitch Creek, the Sixers leading 32-27 at quarter time.

The fireworks went off for the Sixers in the second quarter as they dominated the open court as the game turned into a free for all shootout and the Hawks could not keep up. Ramone Moore got on his bike and constantly caught the Hawks defence napping and Daniel Johnson after a wonderful opening quarter continued to add to his tally exposing the weak side defence of a 2-3 zone never quite setup for the onslaught. Adelaide went on a numerous runs with the Hawks only scoring a few baskets here or there, Majok Deng putting an exclamation point on his finish with the shimmy two hander under the basket jam before the quiet hero of the night Nathan Sobey dropped a triple to complete the 32-20 point rout for the quarter, the Sixers their second highest first half of the season leading 64-45 at the main break.

Coach Rob Beveridge rang the changes starting a majority of his bench after the half including eleventh rostered player Indiana Faithfull and always dangerous marksman Tim Coenraad who once again got under the Sixers guard dropping a couple of corner triples but the men in the pinstripe blue for the night were not to give a sniff. The Sixers miserly defence giving up only 11 fouls for the night continued to blanket the Hawks as Childress and co plucked 11 steals and turned them into easy lay-ups or slamming door shut jams. The crowd even were brought into the game further when a “ghost” call was made on a Sobey reach in on Clarke (no fault of his own) but the crowd did not relent for the remainder of the evening jeering the guard every time he touched the ball. The Sixers in complete control at the end of three, 89-65.

The game was sealed early in the last quarter when the returning Anthony Drmic drained two massive crowd erupting triples to signal his return to the Sixers deep roster and it was party time despite many keen to cool off in the last quarter after a 42 degree day in the city of churches. Sobey then rallied off eight quick points including some deep triples to finish an extremely solid game all-round across all four quarters and while some Nelson Larkins free throws at the end would’ve iced the already delicious cake, the Sixers rolled their way to their sixth win in a row 112-90 in the finish and ended a five game hoodoo winning streak by the Hawks over the Sixers since last season.

In such an even contribution Sobey finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and a perfect well selected 3-3 from the perimeter in arguably one of his best and most mature games of the season.  DJ dropped 17 points and 10 rebounds in a double double, Childress finished with 14 points and 3 rebounds and 3-5 three point shooting. Shannon Shorter also got the crowd going through the night with 10 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds in an outstanding game at the point position. The Sixers dominating the glass as a team with 53 rebounds for the night.

Clarke had a quiet night but still scored 17 points with 4 assists and rebounds but his 0-7 perimeter shooting was telling, Conger worked hard for his 16 points but was well quelled and Coenraad dropped 15 points and 4 rebounds including 3-6 from the perimeter. Beveridge would’ve been disappointed with the Hawks application giving up 21 offensive boards and 20 turnovers which would be enough to replicate Andrew Gaze’s mid game explosion last week.

Both teams will face off again tonight in a Wollongong venue not traditionally favourable to the Sixers but on the evidence of Friday night, the Sixers now five games clear in equal fourth are now a championship contender and the league will be wary of the team that has learnt from last year’s run and we ask the question, could we be witnessing the team that will break the Wildcat/Breaker stranglehold on the NBL championship…?

Adelaide 36ers 112 (Sobey 25, Johnson 17, Childress 14, Moore 12, Hodgson, Shorter 10) defeated Illawarra Hawks 90 (Clarke 17, Conger 16, Coenraad 15) at Titanium Security Arena

 

Cameron Gliddon received his early present being given as much space as needed for a Christmas feast binge - Photo by Zimbio

From very early in the game it appeared the game from within had already been won and the Taipans in their usual dire defensive boring manner sending the home fans into a deep sleep exposed this in their 94-75 heist at Titanium Security Arena.

Clearly the scouting report was lost amongst the mail to the man in red on Cameron Gliddon as he found himself open early for numerous corner triples and didn’t he make the Sixers pay. He wasn’t alone as the Taipans played the Grinch of the afternoon with Alex Loughton and Mitch McCarron well summed up by Corey “Homicide” Williams as the “best rebounding guard in the NBL” followed the plans of Coach Aaron Fearne dotting every I and crossing every T. It was surgical precision basketball at it’s finest as they led 28-18 at the first change then 42-33 at the half. The Sixers junking plenty of free throw opportunities 11 of 20 continually making any comeback a miracle.

For the first time this season even in their losses, the Sixers looked a team that were self-doubting, second guessing themselves attacking the rim and looked out of the flow completely. As much as no one wants to admit it, the last five minutes of Friday night’s match has clearly had an impact and yes coupling that with four injuries including three of the best field goal and two of the best three point shooters in the Sixers on the sideline, they looked a shadow of the team they had been.

But like any Disney saga there was a light that emerged from the match and that was the performance of Nelson Larkins, now there was a kid that wanted to earn his court time. Larkins played exactly as his father Wayne did with tenacity, determination and will to play a team game. Sure he made some errors but when the guns went missing (apart from Josh Childress who kept the Sixers in the game till the final quarter) he stepped up and it was pleasing to see Wright give him the court-time he deserved. The Kylo Ren look-a-like Loughton however drove his three pronged lightsaber into the Sixers heart and destroyed any chance of a comeback as the Taipans produced their best road win since 2014, blasting the Sixers away 94-75.

Childress finished with a double double with 20 points and 13 rebounds while there were two other players that finished in double figures, it isn’t worth mentioning and I hope along with many fans that spurs them onto a better performance next match. Larkins finished with 7 points, 2 assists and a golden steal which deserves mention.

The knights of Fearne were led by Gliddon with 27 points and a career high 7 triples, Loughton with 20 points, 7 rebounds and a perfect 3 from 3 triples in the second half and McCarron who can’t go unmentioned finishing with a double double of 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Cairns are on the road again with the Illawarra Hawks this Thursday while the Sixers will be back at home again to try and make sure another celebration is not spoiled by the New Zealand Breakers this Friday night.

And after last match, the fireworks will no doubt be starting early at Sixers training this week, here’s hoping one of my more critical reviews will fire up the boys to make sure it’s not a Happy New Year for the Breakers.

Adelaide 36ers 75 (Childress 20, Larkins 7) defeated by Cairns Taipans 94 (Gliddon 27, Loughton 20, McCarron 17) at Titanium Security Arena

Dusty Rychart (#45) in action against Ben Pepper (#31) of the Liberty Giants was the difference in the Cairns cliffhanger back in the 2005/06 season. Photo by Getty Images  

When: 2:30pm (ACDT), Sunday, 24th December

Where: Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide

Broadcast: NBL TV, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, SBS

 

Last time they met:

Round 4: Adelaide 36ers 84 (Johnson 20, Sobey 17, Shorter 16, Creek 11) defeated Cairns Taipans 80 (Carrera 19, Loughton 15, Smith 14) at the Cairns Convention Centre

 

CROSS OVER DRIBBLE FLASHBACK:

ROUND 3, 2005/06: CAIRNS TAIPANS VS. ADELAIDE 36ERS    

In the top five most controversial finishes to an NBL fixture and even today, many fans, officials and players aren’t even sure who won. Was it 94-90, 90-90 or 92-90 at the end of regulation? Did Dusty get his shot in the hoop with 0.7 seconds to go? If you thought tensions were high between these teams because of former 36ers Martin Cattalini and Darnell Mee crossing enemy lines, they blew out after this clash 12 years ago.

Another enemy of the 36ers beyond the arc in Gary Boodnikoff got it going for the Taipans but Dusty and Jacob Holmes had the 36ers in front 26-20 at the first change. The clash of Mee and Willie Farley then went up a notch as both picked up their offensive games but the 36ers still led 47-44 despite the Taipans closing the gap. The last half was a struggle as Dusty and Boodnikoff went bucket for bucket, three quarter time 67-65 then leading onto the finish. Taipans tied the game 90-90 heading into the last play when Dusty made the play and an elated 36ers team felt they had the game giving assistant coach Steve Breheny one of his best wins as coach with Phil Smyth unable to be present for the match.

The Taipans protested through their coach Alan Black as his players continued to warm-up believing that overtime was inevitable, the 36ers in amazing scenes had already bussed back to the hotel for recovery. Eventually the NBL came to the conclusion that Dusty’s shot had counted and the result stood with there being no playing time left to get an equaliser up also the 36ers had refused to return to play out the remaining minutes if there were any.

The final score was 92-90 in favour of the Sixers but in reality, we’ll never really know the final result…

Adelaide 36ers 92 (Rychart 28, Holmes 19, Farley 16) defeated Cairns Taipans 90 (Boodnikoff 21, Mee 17, Cattalini 14, Decker 10) at the Cairns Convention Centre

 

Quick Keys to the Game:

– Daniel Johnson to dominate the Taipans again 

– Scoochie must step if Taipans are any chance 

– Sixers have the greater depth in both sides 

– Big game for both sides given table, a win to either puts a gap between them and their opposition 

– The officiating will be under more scrutiny than ever before after Friday night

THE LAST PLAY

Ironically a Disney fairytale was turned into a farcical footnote Friday night, the Sixers should get their present on Christmas Eve, a solid place in the top four with a full strength team to return in the new year.

36ers by 11 points