Ninnis disappointed with third quarter effort

Adelaide 36ers head coach Scott Ninnis has lamented another third quarter stumble in Sunday night’s 91-84 loss to Illawarra Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre.

The 36ers went into the main interval with a 41-40 lead after Isaac Humphries dominated the opening 20 minutes, scoring 20 points.

But the Hawks started the third quarter with a 23-4 run and outscored Adelaide 31-12 in a decisive 10 minute stretch which was the difference in the game.

“It’s rinse and repeat for us again, we just have those quarters where we get bogged down offensively so much and then compound the problem down the other end,” Ninnis said post match.

“We talk about it a lot, I was really pleased with the first half, to hold any team in the league to 40 points in a half you give yourself an opportunity to win.

“But when we come out in that third quarter and we can’t get anything done and I’m burning time outs left, right and centre and trying different line-ups and just couldn’t get it done.”

Trey Kell was everywhere for the 36ers and recorded a triple double of 16 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

“I would not have guessed that if you had told me he (Kell) had a triple double, we kept fighting and we had kept the fight up for most of these past few games, but it means nothing if you don’t get the result,” Ninnis said.

“We are in a position where we don’t want to be and we just have to continue to work and do whatever it takes.”

Adelaide now has a whole week to prepare for league leaders Melbourne United next Saturday night at home as the 36ers celebrate the 25-year anniversary of the 1998/99 NBL championship win.

“There just has to be an expectation now that we get back out on the training track and we iron out these kinks, then when we hit those roadblocks during games, we find a way as group to get out of them,” Ninnis said.