NBL round 16: NBL: Queensland derby explodes as Lat Mayen and Aron Baynes clash
The NBL’s Sunshine Stoush threatened to explode for the second time this season as the two fiery foes went at it at the Snakepit.
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The NBL’s Sunshine Stoush threatened to explode for the second time this season after Lat Mayen and Aron Baynes clashed in the Bullets’ 102-84 win to go one step closer to sealing a spot in the play-in tournament.
Sunday’s Queensland derby carried high stakes with a top four spot on the line, but the Bullets capitalised on a sloppy Snakes outfit to move to 0.500 and strengthen their post-season chances.
Five Bullets hit double figures, with Nathan Sobey (18pts), Baynes (15), and a Tyrell Harrison double-double (16pts, 13 rebounds) as Brisbane bounced back from Friday’s thrashing in Perth.
Bullets coach Justin Schueller said it was the response they were after.
“What I love is, first off, nobody complained about how many hours we were in a plane, it was how do we respond and what do we need to do to get the job done.
“That’s where I’m so proud of the group, and who we are right now.
“The only thing we could do was respond the right way.”
The Baynes-Mayen clash brought the Snakepit to life.
The men at the middle of an extraordinary blow-up in Brisbane earlier in the season came together seven minutes into the third quarter of the round 16 clash.
Mayen had Baynes’ arm hooked as they contested a rebound, and when Baynes fought to get free he sent Mayen sprawling across the Snakepit floor.
Taipans coach Adam Forde was among those to rush the court to help prevent any retaliation on Mayen’s part, keeping the man who hit Thursday night’s game-winner against the Hawks away from the former Boomers big man.
The crowd exploded, raining boos on Far North product Baynes as replays were shown on the big screen.
Officials ruled neither man was innocent: Mayen was fouled for the hold, Baynes copped one for the push.
Bul Kuol top-scored for Cairns with 19 points, but the Snakes’ sloppy start prevented the side from seriously challenging Brisbane.
“The Bullets really came out with intent, with good energy, and they hit harder on the screens,” said coach Adam Forde.
“We were very slow out of the gates but the Bullets did a good job of making up for the result they were probably disappointed in, I’m assuming, and they wanted to redeem themselves this weekend, which they did.”
MEMORIES OF BRISBANE
The Mayen-Baynes clash wasn’t the first time we’ve seen these two face off this season.
Way back in Round 2, they clashed in similar circumstances under the basket, in an incident which spilled into the back, and led to an angry confrontation between Baynes and Forde.
Boos rained on Baynes when he re-entered the game in the fourth, but the man who started his journey to the NBA in Cairns coolly drained three threes and let the scoreboard do the talking.
“There hasn’t been much for Baynesy up here all year,” Schueller said.
“It was outstanding to see the big fella hit a few threes, I’ve been watching him every day at practice and he doesn’t miss. We knew it was coming at some point.
“The crowd got into him, he enjoys that.
“I’m really happy with his game.”
The clash adds another layer of intrigue to a rivalry in which Cairns have dominated in recent time, winning 10 of their past 11 derbies.
With both teams fighting for play-in positions, we could yet see a fifth chapter before the season is out.
ON THE LINE
Fourth spot was guaranteed for the winner after the Kings’ loss to Perth earlier in the day, and the Bullets were clearly motivated to take it by force.
The Bullets were dominant throughout the entire first half, opening up a 21-point lead as big man Tyrell Harrison, defensive star Sam McDaniel and Sobey cashed in.
“It was a tough game Friday night, we just want to turn it around and play our brand of basketball,” said Harrison at halftime.
Neither team has an easy game in their last four, with dates with league leaders Melbourne Utd and a dangerous Adelaide side.
Taipans’ run home: 36ers (A), JackJumpers (H), Wildcats (A), Melbourne Utd (H)
Bullets’ run home: Melbourne Utd (H), Hawks (A), 36ers (H), Breakers (A)
WHITE-HOT WILDCATS HAND KINGS DOSE OF REALITY
–Matt Cleary
The Perth Wildcats flogged Brisbane Bullets by 32 points on Friday night before flying to Sydney and handing the Sydney Kings a similar dose of reality.
The Wildcats 104-98 victory at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon was their sixth straight, and perhaps their most impressive given their preparation was a 39-hour turnaround between tip-offs.
The Kings battled hard and got within two points at the final break, but the gulf between the sides was best exemplified in the final quarter when Kings guard Jaylen Adams drove to the basket but was unceremoniously rejected by Kristian Doolittle and the outstanding Tai Webster.
When Wildcats ace Bryce Cotton landed a long bomb three pointer and was fouled by Kouat Noi, then followed it up with another three, Perth’s hold on second spot was secure.
The Kings’ hold on fourth position remains tenuous given they face a very tough and crucial clash with competition leaders South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday night.
HOUSE OF USHER
The Wildcats began the game looking sharper than the Kings and were up 34-20 at the first break. Their dominance was highlighted by a fast break and lay-up by Jordan Usher who drew a foul under physical pressure from Angus Glover.
Usher later stormed into the paint, grabbed an offensive rebound like a West Coast Eagles player taking a mark in a pack, and made a basket.
He finished with 24 points and five assists.
COTTON ON
Cotton was his team’s best, again, the diminutive and lithe point guard is in white hot form, and his 29 points seemed almost perfunctory. While he was on the court – which was for the entire 40 minutes – possibility loomed for his team.
He passed 5000 career points in the NBL. He also made four steals and three assists.
KINGS’ GLASS CEILING
The Kings, missing DJ Hogg and Jonah Bolden through injury, began the game with zero from nine from outside.
Their star guard, Adams, fresh from five three-pointers and 39 points against New Zealand Breakers, struggled to find his range – though he did finish strongly to amass 29 points.
“It is what it is,” Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah said. “We learn and move on … it was a great battle, both teams played hard. It was a play-off game.”
The Kings had one commanding advantage, 55 to 39 in rebounds, which pleased Abdelfattah.
“We got 24 offensive rebounds. We shot 25 per cent from three. We don’t crash the glass, we don’t get 98 points.”
MALAUCH FINDS RANGE
An ally-oop dunk and an offensive rebound and basket by Jordan Hunter sparked the Kings late in the second quarter.
A pair of three-pointers by Makuach Maluach – whose major contribution for the Kings this season has been to average one rebound per game - saw Sydney post 37 points for the second quarter and head into half-time down by one.
Maluach’s 18 points in 14 minutes were a career-high.
“He’s always prepared, he stays ready, he’s one of the first guys in the gym,” Abdelfattah said. “I sometimes wonder, and I know he wonders, why I don’t play him more. I know he deserves every minute he gets.”
SIXERS’ RESURGENCE UNDER NINNIS CONTINUES
–Jason Phelan
The Adelaide 36ers’ resurgence under caretaker coach Scott Ninnis has continued, the Sixers climbing off the bottom of the ladder with an impressive win over the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong on Saturday night.
After South East Melbourne’s struggles continued with a heavy loss to New Zealand, Adelaide was presented with the opportunity to move off the bottom of the NBL standings and Ninnis’ men grasped it with both hands to make it four wins from their past five games.
The 36ers led by just four points with a minute remaining, but held their nerve at the foul line and pulled off a key stop on defence to ice a well-deserved win.
Adelaide improved to 9-14 with the result and is 5-5 under Ninnis, while the Hawks are 9-12 after suffering their third defeat in a row.
With energetic import Jacob Wiley still out injured, Trey Kell III was the architect for the visitors who led for most of the contest, Kell with a game-high 26 points, while Isaac Humphries was also important with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
STUCK IN FIRST
The out-of-sorts Hawks couldn’t get out of first gear in a horror start to the match.
The Sixers jumped out to a 9-0 lead after the home side failed to land any of its first nine shots of the game.
Hyun-jung Lee sank his first triple of the night to break the barren run with over four minutes played, but it did little to spark the Hawks, who were shooting 2-from-14 from the floor to trail by 11 points late in the first term before closing the gap to six at the first break.
Adelaide wasn’t exactly shooting the lights out in response, but Kell hit seven of his 10 free throws in the first quarter to lead all scorers with nine.
LEE LIGHTS UP
Star skipper Tyler Harvey had two points on 1-from-6 shooting at the half, and cut a frustrated figure as he was issued a warning by the officials after loudly voicing his concerns when his side was called for its ninth foul to Adelaide’s two.
With Gary Clark struggling with a knee injury, it was Lee who got his team rolling in the second quarter.
The Korean drained three triples to be shooting 4-from-4 from outside the arc by halftime and led his team with 14 points as the Sixers struggles on offence mounted.
The Hawks led for the first time early in the second half when Harvey hit his first three of the night and it was a dogfight from there.
INTERIM ACTION
It was a battle of the interim coaches, with Justin Tatum 7-5 after taking over from Jacob Jackomas and Adelaide 5-5 under Ninnis after he replaced CJ Bruton.
Both coaches have expressed a desire to remain in their roles next season.
“I definitely want to have something locked in before I go back home to the States,” Tatum said of his future on ESPN before the match.
The Sixers are reported to be keen on luring NBL championship-winning coach Brian Goorjian, but Ninnis has mounted a strong case.
The 36ers scored over 100 points just once in 13 games under Bruton this season, but have passed that mark four times in nine games under Ninnis and are averaging 13 points more per game under the caretaker coach.
COTTON MASTERCLASS HELPS THROW OPEN TITLE RACE
- Bradley Elborough
An incredible night of action has blown open the fight for top spot on the NBL ladder.
After top side Melbourne United were blown away by Tasmania JackJumpers, the Perth Wildcats dominated the Brisbane Bullets at RAC Arena, winning by 32 points.
Bryce Cotton’s 28 points led Peth to a sixth consecutive triple figure score, 118-86. Granted, one of those was in an overtime loss to United.
But only two wins now separate Melbourne and Perth and the Wildcats have played one fewer game.
After four consecutive wins, the Bullets missed a chance to ease the pressure, as the battle for a top-six position also heats up.
The Wildcats were missing tall timber Kristian Doolittle (concussion) and young gun Alex Sarr (hip), but the Bullets were unable to make the most of their height advantage.
Perth dominated the opening half and led by 19 points at the main break. They enjoyed a 30-point lead midway through the second term.
But the Bullets are yet to win a game this season after trailing at half-time, something they’ve done now nine times.
TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
Brisbane did threaten to produce something special at the start of the second half.
With Casey Prather for the second consecutive game and Nathan Sobey kept quiet (11 points), they went on a 12-4 run, silencing the Perth crowd.
They got the margin back to a much more manageable 11 points.
Sam McDaniel did most of the damage, scoring nine points for the term, but only managed 12 for the game.
But Perth rattled off 13 of the next 15 points to lead by a safe 24 points at the last break,
Brisbane is back on the court on Sunday in Cairns needing a win to keep a buffer it and the improved Illawarra Hawks.
CHAMP HITS NEW HEIGHTS
Remember when Bryce Cotton was averaging only 14 points a game, over his first seven outings of the season?
It’s easy to forget, considering he leads the league for scoring as the competition starts to head towards playoffs.
As a chorus of ‘MVP’ echoed through the arena, Cotton dropped 28 points, to go with seven assists, against the Bullets, taking his average points per game since that slow start to 28.7.
He only played 33 minutes on Friday night too, enjoying some rare minutes on the sidelines.
Since those first seven games, Cotton has been kept below 25 points just twice.
The triple-MVP has a bigger average this season (23.9) than in any other season he has played in the NBL.
BIG MEN DOWN
Back in round 8, the Wildcats beat Brisbane by three points on the back of winning the rebound battle by 11.
Doolittle produced nine boards to go with 21 points; Keanu Pinder pulled down nine rebounds too.
Without Doolittle and Sarr, the Bullets should have had an advantage on the glass.
The sides shared the honour, with 41 apiece, although Brisbane failed to capitalise on their 18 offensive boards.
Tyrell Harrison dragged in nine rebounds for Brisbane to go with his 16 points and Aaron Bayne and Josh Bannan collected eight apiece.
But Perth’s Hyrum Harris picked up 11 boards and was especially important in the late stages of the third term, to swing the momentum back towards the home side.
JACKJUMPERS SEND REMINDER TO REST OF COMPETITION
- Ryan Rosendale
The Tasmania JackJumpers have sent a firm reminder they are an NBL24 championship contender with a commanding 21-point win over first-place Melbourne United at MyState Bank Arena on Friday night.
Both sides came into the clash fresh from a week off following thrilling round 15 results, but it was the JackJumpers that put the scars of last week’s double overtime loss to Illawarra behind them to record their first win since round 14.
The 107-86 loss was also United’s heaviest defeat this season.
Import Jordon Crawford was back to his electric best for the hosts, dropping 16 first-half points before finishing with a game high 25.
United went in without stars Shea Ili (concussion) and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (personal reasons) while fellow heavy hitters Matthew Dellavedova (11 points) and Chris Goulding (16 points at 6-15) failed to have any real impact on the game.
Tasmania were back to their best from a physicality perspective after what has been an up and down season in an area that’s become their hallmark.
Will Magnay led the charge while the impact of mid-season recruit Tom Vodanovich and vice-captain Fabijan Krslovic from limited minutes had a massive effect on the contest.
The ladder leaders got out to a hot start, taking an 11-1 advantage before the JackJumpers called a time-out that stopped the visitors momentum in its tracks.
Whatever recently re-signed coach Scott Roth said definitely worked with Tasmania going on a 23-11 run from that point on.
Taking a two-point lead into the first break, Tasmania would start the second on a 5-0 run before piling on another 25 points and limiting United to a second straight 22-point quarter.
The home side continued to heap the pain on United in the third quarter, restricting Melbourne to just 14 points with the lead growing to a game high 24 in the closing stages before taking it by 21.
The JackJumpers will now hit the road for a string of away games beginning with a clash against New Zealand next Friday.
For United, they’ll take on Brisbane at Nissan Arena on January 26.
TAIPANS BUZZER BEATER KEEPS HAWKS’ SEASON ALIVE
- Matthew McInerney
Lat Mayen became the unlikely hero for a severely understrength Cairns Taipans, knocking down a game-winning three as time expired to seal a 93-92 win – and keep their post-season hopes alive.
Just as it looked like Gary Clark’s 36-point outing was enough to seal another famous Hawks win against the Taipans, up stepped Mayen, who hit his third long-range bomb from four attempts to send the Snakes into the top six.
The Taipans were already without three men – Sam Waardenburg, Bobi Klintman and Jonah Antonio – as Taran Armstrong, Akoldah Gak and Tahjere McCall all fouled out.
But Mayen was the man of the moment with a dagger to keep their hopes alive.
Earlier, Gary Clark had shown why Illawarra must do all it can to keep the game-breaking forward after putting up 36 points at a ridiculous 76 per cent from the field.
McCall drew a foul for a three-point play to put Cairns up by one point with 22.6 seconds left on the clock, gifting Illawarra a chance to win it.
It was eerily similar to the first time they met this season, when Tyler Harvey hit a long-range bomb in the last second to seal a one-point win.
The stakes were so much different this time around, as both teams viewed it as must-win to keep their top six hopes alive.
The Hawks led by four at the first break, the Taipans led by the same at halftime and the three-quarter break, but Illawarra levelled the score within 53 seconds of the last.
Clark wove his way past several Snakes defenders to draw a crucial foul – which forced McCall out of any extra period – and seal the extra point to put the home side up with just 12.3 seconds to play.
While the Hawks stopped Patrick Miller’s attempted matchwinner, Josh Roberts claimed the offensive rebound, the ball ended up in Mayen’s hands, and it was good night Illawarra.
LOCK HIM UP
Clark showed why the Hawks have reportedly shown interest in bringing the former NBA forward back to the Illawarra with a huge performance for the home side.
He played as a marquee import should. He put the team on his back, putting up 36 points, but, crucially, forced the fouls which rubbed Akoldah Gak and Taran Armstrong out of the game with more than six minutes to go.
He did the same to McCall with 12 seconds left, ruling the Taipans talisman out of any potential overtime period.
Clark’s future as a Hawk has been linked with the interim head coach Justin Tatum, who has steered Illawarra from the doldrums to a genuine dark horse for the post-season.
Based on this outing, the club should do everything to lock them both up for NBL25.
PUSH IT UPHILL
The Taipans were up against it days before tip-off with three men staying home in Cairns, but three early fouls for arguably their best defender put them in serious trouble.
Sam Waardenburg (concussion), Bobi Klintman (concussion) and Jonah Antonio (calf) were all ruled out in the days leading up to the crucial clash.
Kuol picked up three quick fouls which restricted his minutes, but while he managed to play through the majority of the contest, Akoldah Gak and Taran Armstrong exited early.
Forde was already using a short eight-man rotation, but it made for a tough run home – which they, somehow, navigated successfully to slither into the six ahead of a Sunday blockbuster against the Bullets in Cairns.
DOMINANT 36ERS PUT PHOENIX’S PLAY-IN HOPES ON THE BRINK
—Lance Jenkinson
Out of sorts and fast losing touch, South East Melbourne Phoenix’s play-in chances are sinking fast.
The Phoenix had a homecoming to forget, put to the sword by a Kyrin Galloway-inspired bottom-of-the-ladder Adelaide 36ers in a 110-85 loss in a desperately one-sided opening game of Pride Round at the State Basketball Centre on Wednesday night.
Without injured defensive anchor Alan Williams, the Phoenix failed to embrace the grind.
The 36ers had it too easy on the offensive end, particularly in the first half, where they set up a 28-point halftime lead on incredible first half shooting percentages of 70% from the field, 72% from the three-point line and 100% from the free throw line.
While the 36ers were slick offensively, they were certainly aided by Phoenix’s poor application defensively.
It was the Phoenix’s fourth straight loss and seventh from their last eight, slumping to 9-13.
The 36ers are showing fight under new coach Scott Ninnis, picking up their third win in four games.
It was the 36ers first road win since October 26 – snapping a run of six consecutive losses away from the City of Churches.
KYRIN KICK-STARTER
Forward Galloway sparked the 36ers with a dazzling 14-poiint first quarter as part of his 23-point, seven-rebound game.
The 24-year-old was full of confidence early, setting up a double-digit lead with a pair of three-pointers and two huge dunks off offensive rebounds.
Galloway rose with bad intentions to put Phoenix centre Gorjok Gak on a poster on one of his forceful throwdowns.
SHOOT ON SIGHT
Both teams were letting it rip from three-point land in the first quarter, the Phoenix landing five-from-nine and the 36ers six-from-eight.
The 36ers were having a better time of it inside the paint though and led by 11 at quarter time.
With offence ruling in the first, the team that could defend better in the second would be the one to take the ascendancy.
The 36ers were the first to tighten up, restricting the Phoenix to just 17 points in the second, a big reason why they went on to win the game.
With the game a little more compressed and less three-point opportunities appearing, 36ers centre Isaac Humphries went to work.
The big man was a constant handful for a Phoenix team battling without Williams, finishing with a game-high 25 points and seven rebounds, though opposing centre Gak fought hard with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Trey Kell III came back to haunt his former team with 21 points for the 36ers.
NO MERCY
Galloway pushed the 36ers lead out to 30 for the first time with a three to open the second half.
The Phoenix showed some life, going on an 8-0 run, as captain Mitch Creek and import Abdel Nader showed some life.
Nader’s 18 points was a positive for the Phoenix.
The 36ers were never going to let such a big lead slip and put an end to a three-game losing streak against the Phoenix.
SUNDAY’S DAY
36ers forward Sunday Dech recorded his 150th NBL game.
Dech started his career with his hometown Perth Wildcats, where he won two NBL titles, before crossing to the Illawarra Hawks.
The 30-year-old has been a permanent fixture with the 36ers since 2020.
NBL SCOREBOARD
South East Melbourne Phoenix 85 (Nader 18 Creek 14 Gak 12) lost to Adelaide 36ers 110 (Humphries 25 Galloway 23 Kell III 21)
At the State Basketball Centre, Melbourne.
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