NBL wrap - round 22

Here are the numbers from the final round of the regular season in the NBL:

Tigers 103 Crocs 87

For the Tigers:

David Barlow 20 points, 6 boards
Luke Kendall 17 points (6 of 9 shooting), 4 boards
Ebi Ere 15 points, 5 boards, 5 assists

For the Crocs:

Corey Williams 22 points, 8 boards
Brad Williamson 21 points, 4 boards
Rosell Ellis 12 points, 7 boards

A big win for the Tigers without their star Chris Anstey. Melbourne dominated the first quarter 29 - 16 and the final quarter 36 - 24. Michael Cedar and John Rillie combined to shoot just 2 of 12 from the field.

Breakers 103 Taipans 69

For the Breakers:

Kirk Penney 19 points (including 4 triples)
Rick Rickert 16 points, 9 boards
CJ Bruton 11 points, 11 assists

For the Taipans:

Martin Cattalini 12 points, 4 boards
Gary Boodnikoff 13 points, 3 boards

Not much to say about this one other than its good to see Kirk Penney back in action. The Breakers won the game in the second and third terms outscoring the Taipans 58 - 31. Phill Jones was the only NZ'er to play more than 24 minutes.

Hawks 102 36ers 95

For the Hawks:

Mat Campbell 23 points (including 6 triples), 5 boards
Dusty Rychart 18 points, 11 boards
Glen Saville 15 points, 4 boards, 5 assists

For the 36ers:

Luke Schenscher 37 points (14 of 17 from the field), 15 boards
Adam Ballinger 17 points, 6 boards
Rod Grizzard 9 points, 7 boards

A good win in the last home game for the Hawks, click here to read more about the night. A balanced team effort got them the win with 6 players in double figures. Schenscher was massive but the rest of Adelaide was kept well in check.

Wildcats 100 Tigers 86

For the Wildcats:

Shawn Redhage 28 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals
Isiah Victor 22 points, 7 boards
Darnell Hinson 14 points, 6 boards, 5 assists

For the Tigers:

Ebi Ere 23 points, 5 boards, 4 steals (but 8 turnovers)
David Barlow 22 points, 9 boards, 4 assists

An important win for the Wildcats to move them ahead of the Crocs on the ladder. Perth dominated the final quarter 27 - 15 to ensure the win. The Tigers shot less than 40% from the field.

Dragons 82 Taipans 80

For the Dragons:

Tremell Darden 14 points, 13 boards, 3 assists, 3 blocks
Donta Smith 19 points, 4 boards
Joe Ingles 18 points (including 4 triples), 7 boards

For the Taipans:

Martin Cattalini 21 points, 8 boards
Ian Crosswhite 15 points, 7 boards
Kerry Williams 16 points, 4 assists

The Taipans did well to keep it this close against the minor premiers but unlike the Hawks they couldn't win their last game as a franchise. The Dragons dominated the boards 56 - 39 but had twice as many turnovers as Cairns (16 - 8). Joe Ingles seems to have turned the corner after a long mid-season slump. In a dramatic finish, Donta Smith drew a foul as time expired and knocked down both free-throws to win the game.

Blaze 114 Hawks 104

For the Blaze:

James Harvey 26 points (including 5 triples)
Justin Bowen 19 points, 10 boards
Luke Whitehead 13 points, 13 boards

For the Hawks:

Anthony Petrie 20 points, 4 boards
Kavossy Franklin 19 points, 6 boards, 7 assists
Dusty Rychart 14 points, 12 boards

The Blaze finish the season with 3 wins in a row ... granted, not against great competition but a positive none the less for the franchise. Was this really Shane Heal's last game in the NBL or will he see him back on the sidelines coaching? The blaze "lived" (rather than died) from downtown hitting 14 triples to just 5 from the Hawks.

Breakers 107 Spirit 97

For the Breakers:

CJ Bruton 30 points (10 of 15 shooting, including 6 triples), 5 boards
Phill Jones 23 points (9 of 12 shooting)
Oscar Forman 15 points (including 4 triples), 12 boards

For the Spirit:

Jason Smith 20 points, 5 boards
Matthew Knight 18 points, 9 boards
Graeme Dann 13 points, 10 assists, 7 boards

The game was close all the way but the Breakers were too good in the fourth quarter outscoring the Spirit 36 - 22. The Breakers hit twice as many (17 - 8) triples as Sydney and were better at the line (18 of 23 to 13 of 23). Spirit were a chance to make the playoffs but finished the season (and their existence) with 8 straight losses.

At the end of the regular season, the NBL ladder finished with the Dragons on top two wins ahead of the Tigers who were two wins ahead of the Breakers. Perth were 4th ahead of the Crocs only on percentages and the 36ers rounded out the top 6. Despite ending the season with three straight wins, the Blaze got the wooden spoon three wins behind the Taipans, Spirit and Hawks.

... back to finish this later