Isaac
Years ago
36ERS storm home against Kings
In front of the best crowd at the Distinctive Homes Dome so far in the 2004/05 season, the Adelaide 36ERS have stormed home to beat the league-leading Sydney Kings, 116-105.
Dusty Rychart, after a valiant effort in defeat of 28 points and 21 rebounds against Melbourne on Wednesday, backed up with a career-high 40 points at 74% and had 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the home side. He scored at more than a point per minute and had a single turnover in a regicidal performance that kept Adelaide within touch heading into the final quarter.
Brett Maher was just short of a triple double in support, scoring 23 points, grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing out 9 assists. His 14 final quarter points were vintage Maher, as the 36ERS outscored the Kings outfit 38-17 for the period, despite Rychart fouling out of the game with almost 6 minutes still to play.
Willie Farley was also in top gear with 27 points after a poor shooting result in the previous game. Excellent support also came from Oscar Forman (14 points, 8 rebounds) and centres David Cooper and Paul Rees (6 points each).
The first quarter was largely even as Mark Sanford ran out of the blocks with 10 early points, but his effort was matched by Farley (10 in the period) and Rychart (9). Jacob Holmes left the game after only four and a half minutes and didn't return, and Darren Ng was used sparingly after injuring his finger on Wednesday.
For the first half, the Kings had every answer to Adelaide's efforts despite Rychart and Farley doing almost everything to mount a challenge. Rychart had 21 at half-time and Farley 19, but no other Sixer had more than 4 points.
Shooting at 40% to the Kings 49% and losing the rebound count 26-31, Adelaide were in danger of letting a game slip out of their reach. The Kings outscored Adelaide in the second quarter as well as the first, and did the same again in the third.
The glimmer of hope came in the foul count as a few Kings players headed towards foul trouble.
The fourth quarter was an awesome team display and the cohesion amongst Adelaide players was demonstrated by the single second half turnover incurred by the 36ERS -- a strong contrast to the 12 from the Kings.
Maher opened the final term with a three pointer and didn't look back, scoring another 11 during the period. When his two point basket put Adelaide in front 91-90, the crowd were at full voice. With the following three pointer, he forced a Sydney time out and those in the Dome were on their feet affording the 36ERS a well deserved standing ovation.
Rychart, too, showed no lack of stamina repeatedly scoring or drawing fouls and making free throws. However, after reaching 40 personal points on a three point play, he fouled out with Adelaide up by 5 and with 6 minutes to go. Sydney were not quite done -- Bruton finding his touch (8 points in the term), and the Kings making 2 of 2 free throws -- but Rees was not one to let them back in the game, managing his own three point play.
The edge lost with the departure of Rychart to the bench was regained with Rolan Roberts fouling out and sending Forman to the line for 2 of 2 free throws. From there, the scores were deadlocked at 106-101: Maher was fouled but missed both his free throws (what more ominous sign could there be to a 36ER fan?), Cooper missed a layup, and Luke Martin nailed a three for the Kings.
Again, the scores deadlocked, this time at 108-105. With 40 seconds left in the game Maher, having run down the shot-clock and then run into a wall of defenders, looped a pass out to Forman on the perimeter -- all net, and the narrow home team lead doubled to 111-105.
From there it was all smiles on Adelaide faces as the team pushed on to a remarkable victory -- Farley missing the second of two free throws only for Cooper to tip it in, and then Maher hitting 2 of 2 for some free throw icing.
Adelaide 116 (Rychart 40, Farley 27, Maher 23, Forman 14, Cooper, Rees 6)
Sydney 105 (Sanford 26, Bruton 19, Sheridan 15, Roberts 14, Knight 12, Smith 11, Martin 8)
FG: 45% - 50% (Rychart 14/19)
3P: 38% - 42% (Forman 2/3)
FT: 73% - 62% (Rychart 12/19, Farley 7/8, Maher 7/8)
Rebounds: 42-45 (Rychart 12, Maher 9, Forman 8, Cooper 7)
Assists: 25-29 (Maher 9, Rychart 6, Farley 5; Bruton 12)
MVP votes:
3 - Rychart (40, 12 and 6)
2 - Maher (23, 9 and 9 -- only 1 turnover)
1 - Sanford (26, 9 and 3 blocks)
Boxscore
Game Pictures
