Isaac
Years ago
Funny 36ERS mauled by Hawks
A poor shooting display from almost every Adelaide player last night cost the 36ERS a home court win. The visiting Hawks left victorious after an unattractive 72-85 result.
Dusty Rychart led the 36ERS with 18 points and 15 rebounds but scored at 35%. Only Darren Ng (12 points at 56%) managed to hit more than half of his shot attempts as Jacob Holmes (1 of 6), Oscar Forman (1 of 7) and David Cooper (1 of 4) scored single baskets for the night. Holmes and Brad Hill scored repeated trips to the free throw line, but the team failed to convert, hitting 59%.
While Brett Maher missed the game through injury, the difference was undoubtedly the home team's lack of adjustment to the standard of refereeing. The high-level contact from Wollongong players led to a technical foul on ex-36ER and Adelaide favourite Darnell Mee and then an unsportsmanlike foul on the same player as Mee grabbed Willie Farley around the neck and wrestled him through the key.
Willie Farley had spurts of intensity in chasing up wayward shots and rebounded well, but had little luck with his shots, scoring 16 points on 6 of 26 shooting.
Brad Hill again showed the spark that has Adelaide fans excited and his 8 points in the first quarter kept the 36ERS in the hunt. Celebrating his birthday, Todd Gower was again brought into the game in the first quarter and continued the hustle from last week.
For much of the game, though, it was far from the spectacle of previous weeks. Adelaide shot at 30% and had an uncharacteristically high 19 turnovers. Glen Saville from the Hawks made full use of his elevation to put up 22 shots and had 19 points and 15 rebounds. Darnell Mee played a well-rounded game of 10 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, but was booed by the home crowd after the harsh foul on Farley.
Hoping to at least split their last two games against the Hawks, Adelaide now heads to Wollongong with the tough task of facing more of the same from the Hawks.
The loss last night sees the 36ERS hold third spot on the NBL ladder, but only on points percentage as Brisbane have joined them on 16 wins and 12 losses. League leaders Sydney and Wollongong are two games clear on 18 wins.
Adelaide 72: Rychart 18, Farley 16, Ng 12, Hill 11
Wollongong 85: Saville 19, Ballinger 18, Campbell 15, Rice 12, Mee 10
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