Isaac
Years ago
Funny Sixers fend off Razorbacks
The Adelaide 36ERS faced a rejuvenated West Sydney Razorbacks last night, hot off a 50 rout of the NZ Breakers, and prevailed in a ho-hum affair, 100 - 92. Jacob Holmes was the only Sixer to make multiple baskets in every quarter and added a reliable 7 of 8 from the free throw line to finish with 20 points and pace the home side. Willie Farley led the Sixers with a game-high 23 points, including 3 of 7 from outside.
The win continues Adelaide's undefeated run at home, making it 8-0 at the Distinctive Homes Dome, and returns them to the top of the Philips Championship ladder, one game up on the Sydney Kings.
The Sixers burst out to a double-digit first quarter lead and looked the far superior team. Oscar Forman again made the early buckets from range, at one stage having a 3-from-3 record from the arc. Pero Vasiljevic made a hometown return and battled to a 21 and 12 double-double to quieten the doubters.
When West Sydney's star guard James Harvey re-injured his troublesome right-shoulder, Adelaide pounced and extended their lead. At the long break, the margin was 20, 54-34.
The visiting side, however, persisted and used a press to disrupt the Adelaide ball-carriers. With captain Brett Maher suffering a gastro problem earlier in the day and below his best, and Brad Hill sidelined with an ankle injury, the Sixers were forced to employ their forwards for some carrying duties and the pressure from the Pigs forced a few turnovers. The result hardly brought them a sustained offensive run, and the third quarter barely allowed West Sydney to reel in the lead. Adelaide up 77-58 with a quarter to play.
Additionally, though Adelaide enjoyed a massive rebounding disparity when the two teams last met in Sydney, this time situations were reversed. NBL Top Ten rebounders Dusty Rychart and Holmes had only 7 rebounds between them and West Sydney pulled down 20 offensive boards for an overall count of 33-53 favouring the Razorbacks. Contributing for the Pigs were Vasiljevic's 12 and Joel Cornette's 13 boards, coupled with 19 points.
The final term was not necessarily a quality spectacle for the fans with West Sydney repeatedly sending Sixers to the charity stripe in a comeback attempt that saw them outscore Adelaide 23-34. The Sixers looked largely disinterested in fending off the Pigs using free throws, but their lead at three-quarter time was too large for the Pigs to break, and they outlasted West Sydney by eight, 100-92.
Adelaide (11-2) now hit the road, facing tough games against Wollongong and Melbourne interstate, while West Sydney (4-9) host the Pirates before visiting Cairns.
Adelaide 36ERS 100 (Farley 23, Holmes 20, Rychart 14, Maher 13, Forman 11, Cooper 10)
West Sydney Razorbacks 92 (Vasiljevic 21, Cornette 19, McGregor 11, Darragh 11, Dann 10)
