Sixers continue winning start to NBL Blitz

The new-look Adelaide 36ers have made the perfect start at the NBL Blitz in Tasmania making it two wins from their opening two outings with a 63-56 victory over the Perth Wildcats on Tuesday.

The Sixers beat the Cairns Taipans in overtime on Sunday to open their pre-season campaign and life under new coach CJ Bruton on a winning note, and then were able to back it up on Tuesday against their old foes from Perth.

Daniel Johnson put up 33 points on Sunday for Adelaide but the six-time club MVP sat out on Tuesday along with Kai Sotto and Todd Withers. Dusty Hannahs came into the line-up as did centre Isaac Humphries and Next Star Mojave King.

The 36ers did well early to open up a double-figure lead during the first half and then withstood a fightback from the Wildcats who were making their first appearance of the NBL Blitz under new coach Scott Morrison.

Adelaide went on to score the seven-point win having won the rebounding battle 51 to 43 while also forcing Perth into 25 turnovers and holding them to shoot 31 per cent from the field and 20 per cent from three-point range.

Next Star Mojave King was equal top-scorer in his first game for Adelaide with 11 points while new import Dusty Hannahs put up 11 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists in a composed first up performance.

Cam Bairstow put up another eight points and seven rebounds in a hard-working display with Sunday Dech adding eight points, four rebounds and two assists, and Tad Dufelmeier eight points, five boards and two steals.

Captain Mitch McCarron put up seven points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals too for the Sixers with Isaac Humphries contributing four points and seven rebounds, Manny Malou two points and four boards, Nick Marshall two points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, and new development player Zac Gattorna two points and two boards.

The 36ers were coming off their overtime win against the Cairns Taipans on Sunday and with the addition of Isaac Humphries, Dusty Hannahs and Mojave King to the line-up, they were able to get off to a good start.

Adelaide did well to hold Perth to just the 12 points in the first term on 2/12 shooting from beyond the arc with the 36ers leading 17-12 by quarter-time on the back of seven points and a three ball from Hannahs in his first appearance for the Sixers.

The Sixers then started the second period on fire scoring 10 of the first 12 points to go out to a double-digit advantage, which was still 36-28 by the half-time break.

A three-point knockdown from Mojave King had Adelaide back up 11 heading towards three quarter-time but 36ers-Wildcats rarely go without a bit of drama and pre-season is no different.

Suddenly Perth was within a point to start the fourth quarter before captain Mitch McCarron responded for the Sixers with a three ball of his own. Scoring was proving a challenge for both teams but two more McCarron free-throws stretched Adelaide's lead to four.

King then knocked down another pair of free-throws too to stretch the lead to six before a McCarron putback on an offensive board inside the last minute secured Adelaide the seven-point win.

The 36ers are next in action at the NBL Blitz in Tasmania on Sunday against the local Tasmania JackJumpers and Jack McVeigh from 2.30pm.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

ADELAIDE 36ERS 63 (Hannahs 11, King 11, Bairstow 8, Dech 8, Dufelmeier 8) 

PERTH WILDCATS 56 (Wagstaff 11, Law 11, Majok 8)

BOX SCORE