Disappointing return 'home' for 36ers

It wasn’t quite the homecoming to Adelaide 36ers Arena the Sixers were hoping for on Saturday night in celebration of the 2002 NBL championship with the New Zealand Breakers taking away the 84-75 victory.

The Breakers were incredible in the first half at Adelaide Entertainment Centre back on December 12 to lead by as much as 19 points in the first half with Will McDowell-White and Hugo Besson producing unbelievable shooting performances.

However, they couldn’t keep it going and Adelaide dominated the second half to win by 13, but it was a different story at the 36ers Arena on Saturday night this time around.

The start was similar with the Breakers racing to a 19-6 lead only this time it was Chasson Randle and Ousmane Dieng who were instrumental in setting up.

The similarities to the last meeting continued with Adelaide fighting back with Kai Sotto leading the charge for them to get back within five on the court they still train on all the time.

However, this time the Breakers had all the answers when it mattered and it was again Besson who made some huge plays down the stretch, and then Chasson Randle who shut the door with a three with 30 seconds left for the eventual nine-point win.

Kai Sotto had an especially impressive second quarter for the 36ers on his way to finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds in over 20 minutes of court time.

Daniel Johnson also had 12 points and five rebounds for Adelaide, Sunday Dech 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Dusty Hannahs 11 points and four boards, and Cam Bairstow 11 points and seven rebounds.

Sixers coach CJ Bruton was back at the helm after contracting COVID, but didn’t get the performance he was hoping for.

"We've been fighting all season long and we've had our moments at different times, and I thought that tonight's effort, we had glimpses again," Bruton said. 

"We've had glimpses in every game where we've stood out but it wasn’t where I would have liked to finish the night off. Clearly we've got to find a way to get a better start as well."

Back on their old home floor and current training base, the 36ers started well with Sunday Dech and Daniel Johnson combining for the first four points, but it quickly went to water after that despite the familiar surroundings.

Reminiscent of the first meeting between the teams this season when the Breakers led by as much as 19 points in the first, they got hot again scoring the next nine points. Chasson Randle then hit his second three with Finn Delany also connecting from downtown as part of another 10-0 run.

That saw New Zealand lead 19-6 and it was the injection of Kai Sotto and Dusty Hannahs that briefly settled the 36ers, but late threes from Will McDowell-White and Hugo Besson still saw the Breakers up 30-16 by quarter-time.

That lead was out to 15 when captain Tom Abercrombie hit a triple for New Zealand, and it was 16 soon after thanks to Peyton Siva.

Adelaide needed to dig deep and it was their Philippines teenager Sotto that sparked them. He knocked down a three ball, threw down a dunk and ended up with 12 points and seven rebounds for the half.

The Sixers closed the half on 10-3 run but the Breakers still clung to the 46-40 advantage.

New Zealand pushed the lead back out to double-figures early in the third quarter with Next Star Dieng feeling it and showing his offensive arsenal both in the mid-range and taking it to the rack.

Siva then stretched the lead back to 13 and an offensive rebound from Abercrombie and his putback had it at 16. However, he took a nasty knock leaving him concussed and the 36ers were able to grab the momentum after that.

A couple of nice dishes from Tad Dufelmeier and good finishes from Dech had Adelaide back within 11 by three quarter-time.

Triples from Johnson and Dech early in the fourth breathed some life into the 36ers, but Besson with five quick points of his own to keep the Breakers up 12.

CJ Bruton turned to Nick Marshall and Hyrum Harris for some late energy and it worked with six straight Adelaide points to make it a six-point game with three minutes to go. 

The Sixers had their chances, including getting off five shots on one possession late, but it wasn’t to be and Randle hit a three up the other end for New Zealand to say goodnight.

The 36ers are next in action on Friday back at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Friday against the Cairns Taipans.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 15

ADELAIDE 36ERS 75 (Sotto 14, Johnson 12, Dech 12) 

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 84 (Besson 17, Siva 16, Dieng 13)

BOX SCORE