Match wrap: Sharp starting Phoenix shuts down Sixers

The Adelaide 36ers coughed up 42 points in the first quarter including ten three pointers and despite a second-half fight back fell short of the South East Melbourne Phoenix 108-94.

The Phoenix have threatened to have a breakout shooting night all season and that started early on Saturday night back at John Cain Arena in their first game since thumping the Cairns Taipans last Saturday night.

South East Melbourne went 10/12 from the outside in a phenomenal shooting display before they scored the first 17 points of the second quarter and went into half-time leading 72-43.

The Phoenix were shooting 69 per cent from the floor and 13/20 from deep but things dried up from there with only another 36 points on 29 per cent with 5/18 from beyond the arc in the second half.

Adelaide did win the second half 51-36 but the deficit proved too much to overcome despite the encouraging signs with Bryce Cotton starring still and getting some more help along the way.

The Phoenix are now 4-5 with back-to-back wins with Angus Glover going 6/8 from behind the arc for 20 points with six rebounds and three assists.

D'Shawn Schwartz hit 3/6 for 20 points with three rebounds, three assists and three steals with Dash Daniels contributing 18 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Nathan Sobey 20 points, six boards and three assists.

Yannis Morin had a significant impact inside with nine points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks with Skylar Mays adding eight points and four assists, and Akech Aliir eight points.

The 36ers are 4-5 despite the best efforts of six-time MVP Cotton. He finished with 37 points and eight assists with 13/29 field goal shooting and 8/9 at the stripe.

Nick Rakocevic finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds including 10 at the offensive end with Zylan Cheatham adding 21 points, eight boards and three assists.

It was a remarkable opening quarter performance from the Phoenix and coach Josh King has talked about wanting his team to continue shooting and eventually the shots would fall, and that certainly happened.

In the opening 10 minutes, South East Melbourne knocked down a remarkable 10/12 from beyond the arc including three to Angus Glover, and two each to D'Shawn Schwartz and Dash Daniels.

As a result, the Phoenix were leading 42-25 by quarter-time with the 36ers helped by going 10/10 at the foul line and with Bryce Cotton and Nick Rakocevic combining for 21 of their 25 points.

After scoring the last five points of the first quarter, South East Melbourne then scored the first 17 in a stunning start to the second with three-pointers to Glover and Tanner Krebs part of that.

Adelaide went scoreless for more than four minutes before a triple to Jacob Rigoni. He hit another soon after for a brief 8-2 run, but the Phoenix retained control to head into half-time leading 72-43.

Those 72 points were on the back of shooting 69 per cent from the field with 13/20 from downtown with Glover up to 12 points on 4/5 from the outside.

Cotton had 18 points and four assists for Adelaide but it was a lone hand for the most part in the first 20 minutes with zero bench points and 11 turnovers.

The momentum completely flipped in the third quarter and the 36ers managed to go on a 13-0 run and ended up outscoring the Phoenix 29 to 14.

That cut South East Melbourne's advantage to 86-72 by three quarter-time after shooting just 4/17 from the field in the period with 3/10 from downtown.

Cotton added another six points and four assists for the Sixers but he got more help especially from Rakocevic and Zylan Cheatham who were up to 16 points after three.

Adelaide couldn’t quite grab the same momentum in the fourth quarter with the Phoenix doing enough to secure the 14-point win despite just 36 points on 11/38 shooting in the second half.

The Phoenix have until next Sunday to play again when they host the Tasmania JackJumpers with the Sixers heading to Auckland to play the New Zealand Breakers on Friday.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 108 – ADELAIDE 36ERS 94

SE Melbourne Phoenix
Angus Glover – 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
D'Shawn Schwartz – 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Dash Daniels – 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Nathan Sobey – 13 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds
Yannis Morin – 9 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks

Adelaide 36ers
Bryce Cotton – 37 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds
Zylan Cheatham – 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
Nick Rakocevic – 18 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Jacob Rigoni – 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3/5 3PT
Isaac White – 5 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists

BOX SCORE