To The South: Close Contests, Unexpected Results in NBL Midweek

Fun times are no longer reserved for the weekends - with all eight NBL teams in action, they put on two days of some of the season's most exciting and spectacular basketball.

New Zealand Breakers vs Brisbane Bullets

With Brisbane repeatedly falling short on offence, more consistent play from the Breakers saw them lead by fifteen points at the first quarter’s end. A lack of urgency from the Bullets meant they didn’t catch up to the Breakers until late in the third quarter, where Nathan Sobey made it a single-possession game. Whenever they got close New Zealand immediately answered in the paint, right down to the very end of the game.

Victor Law led Brisbane with 19 points and 10 rebounds, one of four Bullets starters to finish in double-digits in the loss. Led once again by the Websters – Corey with 21 points and 19 points and 9 rebounds from Tai – the New Zealand Breakers picked up their second successive win, 97-92 over the Bullets.

Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne

After an uncertain start, the Wildcats went on a 9-0 run, going on to lead by fifteen points in the second quarter. Bryce Cotton’s long-range game and good inside work from John Mooney and Todd Blanchfield kept the Phoenix at bay throughout the third, but in the fourth their form dried up and SEM took full advantage.

Kyle Adnam cut the deficit down to just three points with three minutes left on the clock, he and Brian Moore both went on to tie the scores in the final minute. A foul on Cotton by Gliddon sent him to the line where he made one of two free-throws, on the other end Adnam tried to put the game to bed with a last-chance three point attempt, but it didn’t fall for him.

Cotton and Adnam shared top scorer honours with 28 points each, but it was Cotton’s team who came away with the all-important win by the skin of their teeth.

Cairns Taipans vs Sydney Kings

The Kings early nine-point lead was quickly cut down to one by the Taipans at the first quarter buzzer, when play resumed Cairns continued to dominate from close range, taking a twelve-point lead just before half-time. Dejan Vasiljevic and Casper Ware kept closing the gap for Sydney in the third, but finding plenty of scoring chances, Cairns held on to their lead until midway through the final period.

Ware put the Kings up by one point and Vasiljevic later made it a four-point game. Threes from Machado and Djeric first got the Taipans to within one, then put them back in the lead. Sydney had their chances at the basket down the final stretch, but Cairns were dominating possession in the decisive phase of the game.

Outstanding shows from Vasiljevic and Ware, with respective scoring totals of 32 and 28 points, ended up being all for nothing. With 24 points to his name Scott Machado was the top scorer for the Taipans, who also saw great production from Nate Jawai off the bench, with 22 points in fifteen minutes, in his team's 96-92 take down of Sydney.

Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers

Adelaide had the better start to the game, leading by double digits in the first quarter. Illawarra quickly cut that down and despite regular looks from the 36ers in the paint, the Hawks got their noses in front late in Q2. Adelaide responded with seven unanswered points but five in a row from Tyler Harvey meant they finished the first half leading by just two.

At the top of the second half J Simon gave the lead back to the Hawks, who were able to keep pulling away whenever the 36ers threatened their lead. Illawarra went nine in front at the start of the final quarter and, though Adelaide tried to get back into the game with consistent and accurate three-point shooting, in the last two minutes they let the game get away from them.

Tony Crocker led Adelaide with 23 points, but another exemplary performance from Harvey, who finished with 24, along with four others on the Hawks finishing in double-digits, they snapped their losing skid and made the 36ers longer. The final score was 98-89 to Illawarra.

Picture Credit: Richard Wainwright