Wells lauds Sixers’ resolve in JackJumpers win

After his club’s best start to an NBL campaign in 25 years, Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells has lauded his side’s resolve and ability to find different ways to win.

Chasing a third straight win to open the season for the first time in 25 years, the Sixers were well served by the reliable Bryce Cotton (29 points, two rebounds, nine assists) and big man Isaac Humphries (24 points, five rebounds, two assists) as they recorded a 98-89 win over Tasmania at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday night.

It was a bruising and physical encounter and the JackJumpers would not lie down, but for Wells it was proof that the side is starting to click.

“We've done so much work that kind of create a whole different environment with this team and maybe we don't get off to a good start, but it's really nice to have the win.

“It sort of gives you the validation that you're on the right track and we've had a couple of games where, you know, we didn't play, I would say, really in sync in game one, and we got a win, and we found a really interesting rhythm in game two and today was a completely different kind of game because of what Tasmania brought, so we're already showing some characteristics of being able to win multiple different ways.”

The usually boisterous Adelaide crowd was kept quiet in tight first quarter where there was no real fluency from either side.

It was a spirited start to the second period including some physicality between Sixers co-captain DJ Vasiljevic and fellow Boomer Will Magnay that saw players from both teams involved in some push and shove.

Humphries got the crowd into it with a big dunk and when Isaac White hit a tidy three with just under five minutes in the half, the home side was up by nine points.

The arm wrestle continued but as the seconds ticked away Zylan Cheatham pulled down a huge reverse dunk and Flynn Cameron came up with a skilful layup to push Adelaide’s advantage to 12 points, though it was back to nine at the main break.

Cotton had 19 first half points while no JackJumper had made it to double figures but they guarded him tightly in the third, restricting him to just three points and two assists as the Tasmanians closed to within a point.

A late three pointer by DJ Vasiljevic saw the Sixers holding a four point lead as the sides broke for the last time.

A hot start by Humphries and another Vasiljevic three had the crowd rocking again, and the Sixers back out to an 11-point lead with eight minutes to play.

It would finish as a nine point win for the Sixers in front of 9,320 people.

Wells said there appeared a different resolve in the group, where last season the team may have capitulated once the margin narrowed.

“When I take a time out or something, there's just a different sort of collective resolve, right,” he explained.

“I mean, they were all in there talking before I ever sat down. And I've said it a couple of times… when I'm sitting down and they're not really talking about the offensive side at times, to me as a head coach, that's a really good sign that we're on the right path.

“They're all talking about what we need to be in and the coverage and so that kind of makes my job a little bit easier.”

With the side having its best start to a season since 2000-01, Wells says he is comfortable with supporters daring to dream about finals, praising the 9,320 in attendance on Thursday night for their support.

“I think that it's been a long time since the 36ers have been good,” Wells said. “And we want to be good.

“I think the guys in that locker room have committed to each other about trying to be good and trying to do something special.

“We’ve got a long way to go but, you know, I think we're on the right path to do something.

“We love our home crowd. You could feel the energy out there tonight… (and) yeah, I'm excited, I think our guys in the locker room are excited and I hope everybody is.”

The Sixers don’t have long to reflect on the win with another home match-up against Sydney on Saturday night.

That game is officially sold out, however tickets are still available for next Thursday night's game against South East Melbourne.