NBL Round 26 (Regular Season): Adelaide lose to SE Melbourne

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Top ranked Adelaide 36ers (19-6) recorded its sixth loss in Findon on Sunday night. Hosts were rolled over by second ranked Phoenix (17-8) 108-89. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. SE Melbourne looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was American swingman Ian Clark (190-1991, college: Belmont) who scored 27 points. The former international guard Owen Foxwell (188-2003) chipped in 15 points and 12 assists. American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) produced 30 points and 6 assists for the hosts. SE Melbourne maintains second position with 17-8 record having just two points less than leader Adelaide. Adelaide at the other side still keeps top place with six games lost. SE Melbourne are looking forward to face NZL Breakers (#7) in Auckland in the next round where they are favorite. Adelaide will play on the road against NZL Breakers (#7) in Auckland and is hoping to win this game.
Sixth-ranked JackJumpers (12-14) made lots of trouble for fifth ranked United (16-10) in Melbourne. United managed to secure only two-point victory 79-77. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of JackJumpers. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). Tyson Walker contributed with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. International center Will Magnay (208-1998, college: Tulsa) replied with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for Tasmania JJ. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Melbourne Utd moved-up to fourth place. Defending champion Tasmania JJ keeps the sixth position with 14 games lost. Melbourne Utd will play against bottom-ranked Brisbane (#10) at home in the next round where they are favorite. Tasmania JJ will play against Sydney (#3) and hopes to get back on the winning track.

Rest of the games of round 26 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
bottom-ranked Brisbane was defeated by Sydney in a road game 95-80. Perth beat Illawarra H. at home 92-87. NZL Breakers won against Cairns on the opponent's court 104-86.
The best stats of 26th round was 20 points and 9 rebounds by Jordan Hunter of SE Melbourne.



Sydney - Brisbane 95-80

There was no surprise in Sydney where 10th ranked Bullets (6-20) were defeated by third ranked Kings (16-9) 95-80. Sydney players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Naturalized South Sudanese forward Kouat Noi (201-1997, college: TCU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 10 rebounds. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) contributed with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 assists for the winners. American guard Hunter Maldonado (201-1999, college: Wyoming, agency: Octagon Europe) replied with 20 points and 5 assists and his fellow American import forward Terry Taylor (196-1999, college: Austin Peay) added 12 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Brisbane. Five Sydney and four Brisbane players scored in double figures. Bullets' coach rotated eleven players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Kings have a solid three-game winning streak. Sydney maintains third position with 16-9 record having just three points less than leader Adelaide. Brisbane lost sixth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 20 games lost. Sydney will play against Tasmania JJ (#6) in Hobart in the next round. Brisbane will play on the road against Melbourne Utd (#4) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Sydney: N.Kouat 24+10reb+1ast, D.Kendric 23+1reb+10ast, R.Tyler 17+8reb+1ast, M.Makuach 14+5reb+3ast, S.Tim 14+6reb+2ast, G.Malual 2+1reb
Brisbane: H.Maldonado 20+1reb+5ast, A.Ducas 14+6reb+2ast, T.Taylor 12+10reb+2ast, J.Holt 12+8reb, D.Tristan 6+1reb, M.Norton 5+3reb+2ast

Perth - Illawarra H. 92-87

No shocking result in a game in Perth where fifth ranked Wildcats (15-10) defeated 8th ranked Hawks (8-16) 92-87. Perth shot 27 for 37 from the free-throw line, while Illawarra H. only scored ten points from the stripe. Illawarra H. was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds. International swingman Ben Henshall (195-2004) contributed with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. International guard William Hickey (194-1999) replied with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists and American center Javale McGee (213-1988, college: Nevada) added 8 points and 14 rebounds in the effort for Illawarra H.Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Wildcats have a solid four-game winning streak. Perth maintains fifth position with 15-10 record. Illawarra H. lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 16 games lost. Perth will play against Cairns (#9) at home in the next round. Illawarra H. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Perth: D.Kristian 21+11reb+3ast, L.Jo 20+7reb, H.Ben 15+7reb+7ast, W.Dylan 11+10reb+3ast, W.Jesse 7+4reb+1ast, P.Elijah 7+4reb+2ast
Illawarra H.: T.Blanchfield 16+2reb+2ast, W.Hickey 14+5reb+7ast, W.Lo Buluk 13+2reb, T.Harvey 11+4reb+6ast, J.McGee 8+14reb+2ast, S.Froling 6+5reb+1ast

Cairns - NZL Breakers 86-104

Rather expected game in Cairns where 9th ranked Taipans (7-18) were defeated by seventh ranked Breakers (10-15) 104-86. NZL Breakers dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Taipans' 30. New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) orchestrated the victory by scoring 28 points and 5 rebounds. Mexican swingman Karim Lopez (202-2007) contributed with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Breakers' coach Petteri Koponen allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The former international forward Jack McVeigh (203-1996, college: Nebraska) replied with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists and American-New Zealand swingman Mojave King (196-2002) added 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Cairns. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. NZL Breakers maintains seventh position with 10-15 record. Cairns at the other side keep the ninth place with 18 games lost. NZL Breakers will play against league's leader Adelaide in Findon in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Cairns will play on the road against Perth (#5) and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
NZL Breakers: M.Sam 28+5reb+1ast, B.Izaiah 24+3reb+1ast, J.Parker 17+10ast, L.Karim 16+11reb+2ast, T.Reuben 8+1reb+1ast, D.Maxwell 4+1reb
Cairns: A.Schofield 19+4reb+1ast, M.King 19+5reb+4ast, A.Andrews 15+2reb+5ast, J.McVeigh 13+8reb+8ast, M.Lee 8+4reb+2ast, K.Galloway 5+5reb+1ast

Melbourne Utd - Tasmania JJ 79-77

Sixth-ranked JackJumpers (12-14) made lots of trouble for fifth ranked United (16-10) in Melbourne. United managed to secure only two-point victory 79-77. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of JackJumpers. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). American guard Tyson Walker (185-2000, college: Michigan St.) contributed with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. International center Will Magnay (208-1998, college: Tulsa) replied with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and international forward Josh Bannan (208-2001, college: Montana) added 10 points and 12 rebounds in the effort for Tasmania JJ. Four Tasmania JJ players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Melbourne Utd moved-up to fourth place. Defending champion Tasmania JJ keeps the sixth position with 14 games lost. Melbourne Utd will play against bottom-ranked Brisbane (#10) at home in the next round where they are favorite. Tasmania JJ will play against Sydney (#3) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Melbourne Utd: E.Jesse 21+10reb, W.Tyson 14+5reb+6ast, D.Milton 13+5reb+2ast, G.Chris 9+1reb+1ast, K.Tanner 8+2reb, B.Kyle 7+2reb+1ast
Tasmania JJ: W.Magnay 17+5reb+4ast, B.Hamilton 17+3reb+2ast, N.Marshall 11+6reb, J.Bannan 10+12reb+3ast, T.Campbell 9+1reb+2ast, M.Deng 8+3reb

Adelaide - SE Melbourne 89-108

Top ranked Adelaide 36ers (19-6) recorded its sixth loss in Findon on Sunday night. Hosts were rolled over by second ranked Phoenix (17-8) 108-89. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. SE Melbourne looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was American swingman Ian Clark (190-1991, college: Belmont) who scored 27 points. The former international guard Owen Foxwell (188-2003) chipped in a double-double by scoring 15 points and 12 assists. Five Phoenix players scored in double figures. American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) produced 30 points and 6 assists and his fellow American import forward Zylan Cheatham (203-1995, college: Arizona St.) added 12 points and 10 rebounds respectively for the hosts. SE Melbourne maintains second position with 17-8 record having just two points less than leader Adelaide. Adelaide at the other side still keeps top place with six games lost. SE Melbourne are looking forward to face NZL Breakers (#7) in Auckland in the next round where they are favorite. Adelaide will play on the road against NZL Breakers (#7) in Auckland and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
SE Melbourne: C.Ian 27+4reb+3ast, H.Jordan 20+9reb+1ast, F.Owen 15+4reb+12ast, B.John 14+6reb, I.Wes 13+2reb+4ast, G.Angus 7+3reb+1ast
Adelaide: B.Cotton 30+2reb+6ast, I.Humphries 13+7reb+1ast, Z.Cheatham 12+10reb+2ast, I.White 8+2reb+4ast, J.Jenkins 8+1reb, N.Rakocevic 7+4reb+2ast