trix
Years ago
no sixers for National Finals - too bad so sad
THE 36ers have abandoned plans to try and bring Saturday's BankSA League men's grand final forward to Wednesday.
But regardless of whether Sturt or Forestville wins the championship, it will go on to the Australian Basketball Association national play-offs in Newcastle the following weekend without any Adelaide NBL contingent.
Newly-crowned Woollacott Medallist Darren Ng and Sixers squadman Jordy Dodman are with Sturt while Forestville playmaker Matt Sutton also is part of Adelaide's 12-man rotation.
Had Norwood beaten Forestville in Saturday's preliminary final, the 36ers would have gone to Tasmania on Friday for pre-season games against South Dragons without David Cooper, Ng and Dodman.
Given Brett Wheeler (injured) will not play in the two fixtures against the Dragons and that Nick Horvath's immigration paperwork which allows him to participate has not yet arrived, the 36ers potentially would have been without five of the 12-man rotation.
With Forestville beating Norwood 94-92 and despite Cooper's SA record 36 rebounds - 13 offensive, 23 defensive - the Sixers now only will be down Ng, Sutton and Dodman.
"We knew the dates and had told the (local) clubs (36ers) players would be available for the grand final," Adelaide coach Phil Smyth said.
"About a week ago we looked at seeing if we could bring the final forward but it wasn't received well."
Not surprisingly. But with Cooper's Flames snuffed out, he becomes available and Smyth said he was confident Horvath's paperwork would be in order.
It means the 36ers will take Brett Maher, Will Farley, Lanard Copeland, Adrian Majstrovich, Horvath, Brad Hill, Mark Nash and Cooper as the main rotation to play the Dragons.
The following weekend, the 36ers will play a trial game at Mt Barker, ruling out any of their NBL players from contesting the ABA national finals in Newcastle.
