NBL Round 14 (Regular Season): Melbourne Utd gets another victory

The round 14 was rather boring as all games ended with very predictable results. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Leader United delivered the eleventh win on Saturday night. This time they beat 6th ranked Bullets (5-9) 99-93 in Melbourne. Melbourne Utd made 31-of-36 free shots (86.1 percent) during the game, while Brisbane only scored eight points from the stripe. 27 personal fouls committed by Brisbane helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American Milton Doyle (193-1993, college: Loyola, IL) who scored 28 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international guard Chris Goulding (192-1988) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. United's coach Dean Vickerman used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. New Zealand center Tyrell Harrison (214-1999) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds for the guests. Melbourne Utd maintains first position with 11-2 record. Brisbane at the other side dropped to the seventh place with nine games lost. Melbourne Utd are looking forward to face Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Brisbane will play at home against SE Melbourne and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
The game in Wollongong supposed to be also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Kings (7-5) played at the court of 8th ranked Hawks (4-7). Kings smashed Hawks 98-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Hawks. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) orchestrated the victory by scoring 17 points and 8 assists. Xavier Cooks contributed with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. International guard William Hickey (194-1999) replied with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists for Illawarra H.The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kings have a solid four-game winning streak. Sydney moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Perth. Illawarra H. at the other side keeps the eighth position with seven games lost. Sydney will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Illawarra H. will play at home against the league's leader Melbourne Utd (#1) and hopes to get back on the winning track.

Rest of the games of round 14 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
SE Melbourne defeated Cairns in a road game 101-90. Perth beat NZL Breakers at home 88-75. Bottom-ranked Cairns lost to Adelaide on the opponent's court 101-105.
The best stats of 14th round was 39 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 7 assists by Jack McVeigh of Cairns.



Cairns - SE Melbourne 90-101

There was no surprise in Cairns where 10th ranked Taipans (3-11) were defeated by third ranked Phoenix (8-3) 101-90. SE Melbourne players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. The former international guard Angus Glover (192-1998) orchestrated the victory by scoring 24 points and 5 assists. The former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) contributed with 17 points and 4 assists for the winners. The former international forward Jack McVeigh (203-1996, college: Nebraska) replied with 22 points and 5 rebounds and American Andrew Andrews (188-1993, college: Washington) added 11 points and 10 assists in the effort for Cairns. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. SE Melbourne maintains third position with 8-3 record having five points less than leader Melbourne Utd. Cairns lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 11 games lost. SE Melbourne will play against Brisbane (#7) on the road in the next round. Cairns will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
SE Melbourne: G.Angus 24+2reb+5ast, S.Nathan 17+1reb+4ast, B.John 13+6reb+3ast, I.Wes 12+3reb+1ast, H.Jordan 11+4reb, F.Owen 10+7ast
Cairns: J.McVeigh 22+5reb+3ast, M.King 16+5reb+1ast, A.Schofield 14+8reb+1ast, K.Galloway 13+6reb, A.Andrews 11+4reb+10ast, M.Lee 7+6reb+1ast

Melbourne Utd - Brisbane 99-93

Leader United delivered the eleventh win on Saturday night. This time they beat 6th ranked Bullets (5-9) 99-93 in Melbourne. Melbourne Utd made 31-of-36 free shots (86.1 percent) during the game, while Brisbane only scored eight points from the stripe. 27 personal fouls committed by Brisbane helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American Milton Doyle (193-1993, college: Loyola, IL) who scored 28 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international guard Chris Goulding (192-1988) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. United's coach Dean Vickerman used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. New Zealand center Tyrell Harrison (214-1999) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds and the former international point guard Mitch Norton (184-1993) added 19 points respectively for the guests. Five Melbourne Utd and four Brisbane players scored in double figures. Melbourne Utd maintains first position with 11-2 record. Brisbane at the other side dropped to the seventh place with nine games lost. Melbourne Utd are looking forward to face Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Brisbane will play at home against SE Melbourne and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Melbourne Utd: D.Milton 28+6reb+4ast, E.Jesse 14+3reb, G.Chris 13+5reb+1ast, W.Tyson 12+2ast, D.Finn 10+4reb+1ast, I.Shea 10+3reb+4ast
Brisbane: M.Norton 19+2reb+2ast, L.Patterson 18+2reb+3ast, T.Harrison 16+11reb+3ast, D.Mathias 11+7reb+1ast, T.Murray 9+2reb+3ast, D.Tristan 7+1reb+1ast

Perth - NZL Breakers 88-75

No shocking result in a game in Perth where fifth ranked Wildcats (7-5) defeated 9th ranked Breakers (4-10) 88-75. Perth made 24-of-26 charity shots (92.3 percent) during the game, while NZL Breakers only scored three points from the stripe. They outrebounded NZL Breakers 51-34 including 20 on the offensive glass. American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 14 rebounds. The former international guard Elijah Pepper (193-2001, college: UC Davis) contributed with 13 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Four Wildcats players scored in double figures. American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) replied with 22 points and 9 assists and his fellow American import forward Robert Baker (208-1998, college: Harvard) added 18 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for NZL Breakers. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Perth moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Sydney. NZL Breakers at the other side keep the ninth position with ten games lost. Perth will play against Tasmania JJ (#6) in Hobart in the next round. NZL Breakers will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Perth: D.Kristian 24+14reb+2ast, O.David 14+6reb, P.Elijah 13+7reb+1ast, D.David 12+5reb, H.Ben 10+1reb+2ast, L.Jo 8+10reb+1ast
NZL Breakers: P.Jackson-Cartwright 22+4reb+9ast, R.Baker 18+5reb, R.Loe 10+2reb, R.Te Rangi 6+3reb, S.Mennenga 6+4reb, I.Brockington 4+2reb+2ast

Illawarra H. - Sydney 71-98

The game in Wollongong supposed to be also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Kings (7-5) played at the court of 8th ranked Hawks (4-7). Kings smashed Hawks 98-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Hawks. Sydney forced 26 Illawarra H. turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) orchestrated the victory by scoring 17 points and 8 assists. The former international forward Xavier Cooks (203-1995, college: Winthrop) contributed with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Four Kings players scored in double figures. International guard William Hickey (194-1999) replied with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists and American guard Tyler Harvey (194-1993, college: EWU) added 18 points in the effort for Illawarra H.The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kings have a solid four-game winning streak. Sydney moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Perth. Illawarra H. at the other side keeps the eighth position with seven games lost. Sydney will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Illawarra H. will play at home against the league's leader Melbourne Utd (#1) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Sydney: D.Kendric 17+4reb+8ast, R.Tyler 14+1reb, C.Xavier 13+7reb+5ast, K.Bul 12+6reb+2ast, G.Jaylin 9+2reb+1ast, N.Kouat 9+6reb
Illawarra H.: W.Hickey 19+9reb+8ast, T.Harvey 18+4reb+1ast, Q.Peterson 10+4reb+2ast, J.McGee 9+9reb+1ast, H.Froling 6+2reb+1ast, T.Blanchfield 3+4reb+1ast

Adelaide - Cairns 105-101

Very expected game in Findon where 10th ranked Taipans (3-11) were defeated by second ranked Adelaide 36ers (9-3) 105-101. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Adelaide made 30-of-38 charity shots (78.9 percent) during the game, while Cairns only scored thirteen points from the stripe. They outrebounded Cairns 44-31 including a 20-9 advantage in offensive rebounds. Cairns were plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) orchestrated the victory by scoring 41 points (!!!), 8 assists and 4 steals. The former international center Isaac Humphries (216-1998, college: Kentucky) contributed with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. The former international forward Jack McVeigh (203-1996, college: Nebraska) replied with 39 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 7 assists and American center Marcus Lee (208-1994, college: California) added 15 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Cairns. Four Cairns players scored in double figures. Adelaide maintains second position with 9-3 record having just three points less than leader Melbourne Utd. Cairns lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 11 games lost. Adelaide will play against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round where they are favorite. Cairns will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Adelaide: C.Bryce 41+1reb+8ast, H.Isaac 18+13reb+1ast, C.Zylan 16+8reb+4ast, B.Troy 9+7reb+4ast, R.Nick 8+7reb+1ast, W.Isaac 5+3reb+1ast
Cairns: J.McVeigh 39+8reb+7ast, M.King 21+3reb+2ast, M.Lee 15+9reb+3ast, K.Galloway 14+2reb+1ast, A.Andrews 7+2reb+8ast, A.Schofield 3+6reb+3ast