Isaac
Years ago
Funny Sixers in third thrilling win
The 36ERS waited for the FOX Sports camera crew to arrive in Adelaide tonight before they unveiled an unbelievable third last-moment win for the season, this time against the Melbourne Tigers. Adelaide were forced into 17 uncharacteristic turnovers and survived a horrible third quarter to fight back to the 94-92 result.
It was Willie Farley who again knocked down a clutch three as the Sixers fought back to snatch an unlikely victory. At 89-90 and a Sixers possession, the home side looked in the hunt for a recovery, but Brett Maher slipped and Darryl McDonald pounced, stripping the ball and scoring an uncontested layup. Farley missed his first attempt to tie the game before an offensive rebound gave him a second chance, and he converted.
With roughly thirty seconds on the clock, the Tigers missed a basket, Farley grabbed a rebound and was fouled by ex-36ER David Stiff. He hit one of two free throws with 11 seconds left in the game. Melbourne were called for a charge on Brett Maher with less than four seconds remaining. After the in-bounds, the Tigers were forced to foul Dusty Rychart who bolted from the pack to the basket. Rychart made one of two free throws also and McDonald travelled on Melbourne's attempt to regain the lead, sealing the result.
It was a disastrous third quarter in which Adelaide gave up 13 points to Dave Thomas that left Adelaide in the underdog position, and even then, only Brad Hill's five points in the final moments left them within striking distance.
Adelaide flew out of the blocks in the first term as Oscar Forman nailed 11 points to lead all scorers. Rychart threw home a dunk early, but was near-silent until the fourth, picking up as many fouls as points. Maher accrued 17 points in the first half, working towards an impressive final statline of 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Forman finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Farley (16, 7 and 5) and Rychart (13 and 6) were under their best, but came big in the crucial fourth quarter.
Thomas was the best for the visitors, scoring 27 and adding 4 steals, but Melbourne missed too many open looks in the latter stages of the game to make their lead a winnable one.
The 36ERS did well to contain Tigers big man Chris Anstey (17 points and 9 rebounds), and narrowly lost the boards 43-47. Jacob Holmes had a shooting night to forget, making only one shot from ten attempts, and David Cooper was quiet offensively with only two points from free throws.
Adelaide now travel to Sydney to face the Razorbacks, and are top of the NBL ladder with 5 wins and a single road loss.
Adelaide 36ERS 94 (Maher 24, Forman 17, Farley 16, Rychart 13, Hill 11)
Melbourne Tigers 92 (Thomas 27, Tucker 20, Anstey 17, McDonald 13)
