Category: NBL

 

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

 

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