Isaac
Years ago
Funny Sixers vs Pirates match report
Sixers 103, Pirates 101
Roughs seas were handled smoothly at the Dome tonight under the steady hand of captain Brett Maher as the Adelaide 36ERS held off the persistent Hunter Pirates, 103-101.
In Maher's 400th game, the Sixers floated to an early 7-0 lead on the back of strong defensive rebounding and Willie Farley making some outside shots. At one point, though, a run by Brian Wethers and Russell Hinder forced a timeout by the Sixers. At quarter time, it was 32-27; Farley with 11, Maher 7. For the Pirates, Geordie Cullen had 8 and both Hinder and Wethers had 5 apiece.
After the break, both teams stayed in the hunt, though the Pirates trailed for the duration: behind 44-41 with 4:33 to play, and then down 49-42 after a Pirates turnover and Maher score put the Sixers up with 3 minutes in the first half. At the long break, 58-53 to Adelaide. Farley 15, Maher showing touch with 14, Jacob Holmes 11 and Dusty Rychart 10. Oscar Forman kissed his early-season shooting percentage goodbye with a string of misses and had 3 fouls defending Melmeth inside.
Accuracy wasn't helping the Sixers cause: 40% FG to the Pirates superior 55%. From outside, however, Adelaide had shown the way 67% - 25%, and were more accurate from the charity stripe. The boards were close courtesy of Holmes and Rychart picking up defensive opportunities, 25-24. The turnover count was 6-10.
The third quarter showed that Hunter were a much-improved team from 2003/04 and they pulled within 2 points with 6:50 to play in the third. A Maher three-point play aided the Sixers, 72-67, but Brendan Mann nailed a three to make it 72-70.
With 3 minutes to go in the third, it was 80-76 as Holmes kept the Sixers ahead. Hinder and Wethers were pushing the Pirates, and with a minute to go in the third quarter, Hunter took the lead 82-83. Only a Forman putback (his only basket for the night) gave the Sixers a 84-83 break going into the last period. Maher 21, Farley 20, Holmes 19, Rychart 10.
In the fourth quarter, the close contest continued. A Farley steal and pass to Maher on the break had the Sixers breaking away with 93-85 and Hunter calling a time-out. Farley sinking 2 made it a ten-point game but Wethers nailed a three for the Pirates to move to 20 points and pull the Pirates to 95-90.
From there it was tough for the Sixers to make it convincing -- Mann grabbed a three, Rychart answered with 2, Wethers made a couple more threes and the game was 103-99 in the dying minute with Farley at the line. Two from two later, the Sixers were up 103-101, but the Pirates had possession and 30 seconds to score. Hunter failed and pressure defense on Maher cost him an opportunity to put the win in the bag. He managed to tap the ball away and Forman pushed it back to Maher at the death of the shot-clock but the resulting shot, though in for three, was ruled after the buzzer and disallowed.
Another Hunter possession saw them run out of time, and the Sixers run out winners: 103, 101.
For the Sixers, Maher celebrated his 400th game with 25 masterful points. Farley and Holmes backed him up with 22 each while Rychart had 12. Paul Rees was a crucial part of the vital final quarter, with 8 points in the period, and ended with 14 points.
For the Pirates, Wethers impressed with 27, Hinder supported with 17, while Franklin and Mann scored 10 each.
On the boards, Holmes was big with 15 and also had 3 assists. Rychart and Forman grabbed 8 each. Maher dished out 4 assists. For the Pirates, Wethers, Hinder and Brad Davidson each had 8 rebounds. Kavossy Franklin had 7 assists for Hunter.
Sixers: Maher 25, Farley 22, Holmes 22, Rees 14, Rychart 12, Ng 4, Forman 2, Cooper 2
Pirates: Wethers 27, Hinder 17, Franklin 10, Mann 10
First quarter: 32-27
Second quarter: 26-26
Third quarter: 26-30
Fourth quarter: 19-18
Boards: 50-50 (Offensive: 24-16)
Field goal: 37%-46%
Three point: 40%-53%
Free throw: 81%-67%
Fouls: 21-23
Assists: 17-23
Blocks: 3-1
Steals: 7-3
Turnovers: 10-18
Full boxscore
