Stopping Adelaide 36ers’ run and sticking to game-plan huge keys for Crocs win says coach Shawn Dennis

TOWNSVILLE’s ability to stay with its game-plan is a key for Shawn Dennis’ Crocs as they prepare against Adelaide to revisit their NBL season-defining moment.

14/11/15 - Adelaide 36ers v Townsville Crocodiles at Adelaide Arena. Crocodiles Jordair Jett and 36ersÕ Daniel Johnson battle for the ball. Photo Tom Huntley

TOWNSVILLE Crocs coach Shawn Dennis still shakes his head in bemusement at how his young NBL team pulled off this season’s greatest comeback victory, over Adelaide.

The 36ers on Saturday are back at The Swamp in Townsville where last month they squandered a 15-point lead inside the final four minutes to be pipped on the siren 101-100.

The Crocs will be down sharpshooting Mirko Djeric (eye) for their last regular season meeting with the Sixers but former 36ers “big’ Luke Schenscher (ankle), who has missed all three fixtures between the clubs, is expected to play some important minutes for the home team.

“In that four-minute period, we were able to apply some scoreboard pressure on Adelaide and it stopped them running,” Dennis said of the season’s most remarkable comeback win.

“You know I felt even when we lost (to the 36ers two days later at Adelaide Arena), we didn’t perform badly.

“In that game, for the majority of it, we were right in that game.”

The 36ers eventually won 76-66 but with 90 seconds remaining, only led 70-66.

Jerome Randle put a shake-and-bake move on Jordair Jett, drew a foul and made both free throws.

“I’d dispute that call against Jordair, though it’s the type of call you can expect to get on the road,” Dennis said.

“I think Randle just bounced off him because Jordair’s that solid, then he makes the free throws, we have a bad offence and it’s quickly out to 7-8.”

That’s not to say for even a moment Dennis feels his young team has Adelaide’s measure. He just knows if they can bely their youth sufficiently to stick to a game-plan for 40 minutes — as they have against teams such as Melbourne and Perth — they can get a result.

“It’s mind-blowing how our team has gone from over the last few years being among the better scoring teams, to being unable to put the ball in the hole,” he said.

“We did a terrific job executing against Melbourne and Perth but we struggle against teams such as Adelaide and Illawarra who push the ball down our throats.

“And Cairns got physical with us.”

Adelaide has some demons to exorcise at The Swamp but Townsville won’t be playing exorcist.

Originally published as Stopping Adelaide 36ers’ run and sticking to game-plan huge keys for Crocs win says coach Shawn Dennis