Wells: “We just keep competing”

Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells has spoken with pride at his side’s ability to continue to compete and force the NBL’s Championship Series into at least four games.

In front of a new home record crowd of 10,058 and down by 14 points in the third quarter, the Sixers came back to end the Kings’ 14-game unbeaten run in the most dramatic of fashion and draw level in the series one-all.

After being well held for three quarters, six-time MVP Bryce Cotton exploded for 15 points in the fourth, including the game-winner in an end-to-end play on the final buzzer.

A proud Wells lauded his side’s desire to fight to the end, and extend the series into at least four games.

“We just kept competing,” the coach said after the game.

“I think we've had a whole bunch of games this year where we've been down, and this group is functioning at a really, really high level.

“I think that's our 26th win of the year. That's the most this franchise has ever had and what we've done, a lot of times, being down in a lot of different quarters, and a lot of different games, was just find a way to win.

“You've heard me talk about (how) the team has grit and all those kind of things, and we just keep competing.”

There was a real energy in the arena as the teams took to the court and Adelaide seemed to be riding it early.

After a positive start, the Kings wrestled back momentum, and with Cotton picking up two first-period fouls, held a five-point advantage at quarter time.

From five points down the Sixers went on a run that put them seven points up, leaving the Sydney group looking a little disjointed.

But as they have all season, the Kings responded, capitalising on some missed shots by the Sixers to close to within one by the main break.

After going at 0/18 from three-point range in his last three games, Flynn Cameron found his range and was at 4/5 by three quarter time, but it was Cotton who brought the side home.

After a heated clash in which MVP runner-up Kendrick Davis got in Cotton’s face after fouling him, the pair clashed again after the final buzzer.

Playing it down as part of ‘finals basketball’, Wells was delighted to see his side execute a plan to limit Davis’ impact while drawing level in the series.

“He's a talented player,” Wells said of Davis. “Obviously, I know him quite well. (I’m) probably the only guy that's coached him and Bryce.

“With great players, I don't care what league it is, you're just trying to make them play in a crowd, and it's extremely difficult.

“That's what they're trying to do to Bryce, and that's what we’ve gotta try to do to KD to a degree.

“They’ve got great players around him and we're just trying to figure out a way to get a win and to hold home court.

“It doesn't really matter, like I said, what the score of the first game was. Right now, the series is one-one. That's it.”

The sides will meet again on Sunday afternoon in Sydney.