Isaac
Years ago
Funny Sixers top Razors for 87-73 win
It was low-scoring and ugly, but the 36ERS' 14-point win over the West Sydney Razorbacks in Adelaide was all that was required to end a five game losing streak and help strengthen the team's third position on the NBL ladder.
Brett Maher paced all scorers with 21 and added 6 assists, while Dusty Rychart managed 19 points with 10 rebounds, and Willie Farley scored 17, dished 5 assists and had 3 steals without a single turnover to his name.
West Sydney had Scott McGregor, James Taylor and Clint Reed in double figures, but failed to win a quarter in the warm conditions.
Neither team had a decisive advantage in any period, through Adelaide did get an early break through Farley and David Cooper in the first. Cooper had 7 points on his way to 11 for the game in one of his best offensive efforts in weeks.
The Razorbacks surged back to start the second term, adding a few unanswered buckets to snatch a three point lead, but Adelaide returned a stronger volley. A questionable Farley three which appeared to bounce up, off the shot-clock, and drop in was one of only four outside baskets from the team for the game.
By half-time, the Sixers had pushed to a nine point buffer despite giving up a small edge on the boards and shooting below their usual rate.
Returning after the main break, Adelaide relied primarily on Rychart's creativity and persistence in the paint (9 points for the quarter) as they weathered scores from seven individual West Sydney players. Jacob Holmes added a couple of points from the stripe in an otherwise below-average offensive performance (1-8 FG), but was reliable on the boards throughout the game.
The fourth quarter saw Adelaide coast for the duration of the game. Maher was his effortless self and Adelaide found inside options in Rychart, Cooper and Mark Nash. Nash continued his recent form, scoring 7 points for the game including 5 in the final period, and pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds in less than 24 minutes on court.
West Sydney big man, Pero Vasiljevic, collected his sixth foul and snuffed the Pigs chances. Oscar Forman, having played one of his best defensive games with four blocks, hit a long-range jumper and added the game's only dunk from a Farley feed as the Sixers ran out with the win.
Adelaide hold third spot on the NBL ladder with six games remaining, and face New Zealand and Perth in Round 20. West Sydney have now lost 14 straight to sit at the bottom of the ladder, and visit Melbourne to play the Tigers in their next game.
Adelaide 36ers 87 (Maher 21, Rychart 19, Farley 17, Cooper 11)
West Sydney Razorbacks 73 (Taylor 14, McGregor 14, Reed 12)