Isaac
Years ago
Funny 36ERS snare Tigers in Adelaide
In the absence of injured Brett Maher today at the Dome, Willie Farley led a near-motley crew to victory over the league's deepest team, the Melbourne Tigers, prevailing 121 - 107.
It was a game with a bit of everything -- the team scoring machine Farley finally notching his 40-point game for the season, the consistent blue-collar import Dusty Rychart picking up a quiet double-double, the huge debut performance from third-gamer Brad Hill, and future forces Jacob Holmes and Oscar Forman bolstering the Adelaide scoreline.
The Melbourne Tigers threw their full spread at Adelaide as they have in every previous meeting with six visiting players scoring in double figures, and three Tigers passing 10 boards on the way.
And with the Sixers ravaged by injury, the home crowd knew that it would take an exceptional combination of individual and team performances to overcome the fast-rising Melbourne team.
Coach Phil Smyth would have surprised most in attendance with his early injection of young rookie Brad Hill and, even more so, development player Todd Gower. Melbourne were up by 10 points and had secured a strong start to the game. Both players responded comfortably, Hill with an exciting 17 points at 67% in under 25 minutes, looking every bit the player needed for the 36ERS future. Gower played a largely defensive role in his 11 minutes on court, picking up scrappy rebounds, snatching a vital steal and hitting his only shot for the game.
The switch in line-up was enough to energise the rest of the team and even though the Tigers took the quarter 25-31, the situation reversed in the second period.
After the short break, Farley continued the efforts that would see him finish with 41 points (17 of 36, 47%), 9 rebounds and 7 assists, scoring 8 points in the quarter, and was joined by Holmes (8 points) and Hill (8 points). It was a Farley two point basket that first gave the lead to Adelaide at 46-45.
The 36ERS did not let up after the main break either, Farley and Forman scoring 8 each for the quarter as part of superb team basketball before the Tigers ran rampant for a 0-10 scare. With Adelaide leading by only a couple of points, Farley hit a long two before Hill slammed a dunk home and then picked up an And One for 15 personal points and a cap to a 7-0 home run.
The final quarter flew with Farley featuring. His 14 points in the term included a huge throw down from a Rychart alley-oop pass, another dunk, and three three point baskets, including one in the face of Mark Bradtke.
There was a lot to like about the result -- Adelaide knocking off a quality team without Maher, Hill shining in his home debut, and Holmes having his best game for many weeks (17 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists; included selective drives to the basket and 7 of 8 from the charity stripe).
The win strengthens Adelaide's third position on the Philips Championship ladder and puts the 36ERS one win behind the Hawks and Kings. Adelaide will again be tested when the leading Hawks visit the Dome this Saturday evening.
36ERS 121: Farley 41, Rychart 22, Holmes 17, Hill 17, Forman 15
Tigers 107: Gaze 22, Thomas 18, Hoare 12, Stiff 12, Copeland 12, Corletto 10
FG: 47% - 45%
3P: 39% - 32%
Rebounds: 45-57 (Holmes 12, Rychart 10, Farley 9)
Assists: 25-25 (Farley 7, Holmes 7)
Turnovers: 7-17
Boxscore
