Wells: Second Quarter “flame out” cost Sixers

Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells has lamented a five minute second quarter period where his side was off offensively as a major reason for Friday night’s home loss to Tasmania.

The JackJumpers outscored the Sixers 15-2 in that stretch to open up a 13-point half time lead, before holding on to win 80-72 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Wells also highlighted the fact the Sixers didn’t have a single free throw in the first half but got 13 in the third period alone in what was a highly contested and physical encounter.

While it was just the side’s second loss in 14 games, and the result won’t impact the Sixers’ hold on top spot in the Hungry Jack’s NBL, Wells said it was tough to take.

“We won three quarters,” he said.

“We didn't have a free throw in the first half. We had 13 in the third, and then we had like two in the fourth, and we ended up with 15 free throws.

“We had a five minute stretch of the second quarter that we were outscored 15 to two.

“I give them a ton of credit. They're well coached. They're good physical team. You know, they're a team that you can play good against, and you can lose because they have a style.

“The game and the tempo was probably played at their pace and their rhythm a little more than we would like, but we won quarters.

“We just had a little bit of a flame out right there where we couldn't generate some offence.”

After a couple of slow starts in the last two games, the Sixers spoke in the lead-up about wanting to start strong and they burst out of the blocks , with Bryce Cotton leading the way as they opened up an eight-point lead.

Then the shots stopped going in and the scoring dried up, leaving the home side three points up at the first break after a low-scoring 16-13 opening period.

It didn’t get much better for the Sixers in the second period with Cotton held scoreless and going at just 25 per-cent from the field, and Zylan Cheatham providing the only highlights with seven points for the quarter including a big bucket from beyond the arc.

The JackJumpers on the other hand shared the scoring around in an 11-point run to open up a 13-point advantage at the main break, all while keeping the Sixers to just 27 points for the half – their lowest scoring half for the season.

The lead stretched to 16 early before Flynn Cameron went to work. The Most Improved Player candidate had nine points for the third quarter to drag his side back into the contest. When Cotton hit three free throws in the final minute, the margin was back down to six, until a Bryce Hamilton three for the visitors put it back out to nine at the final break.

With Will Magnay fouling out, the Sixers were able to close to within four points in the dying stages but, as it seemed all night, the JackJumpers found a way to wrestle back the momentum, eventually winning 80-72 and in doing so, restricting the Sixers to their lowest score of the season.

Wells said his side would learn from the performance, more than it may have if it had found a way to win.

“We won 12 of our last 13, so, I'm up there in front of the group, you know, sort of like, ‘hey, you got to stay sharp, you got to take stay on the edge’.

“Those type of runs in this league, we don't take for granted.

“It's a special, special group to figure out how to win and compete and play, and we’re almost there.

“Our group has been really, really good, you know, and hopefully this will help me get their attention.”

The Sixers will next travel to Perth to play South East Melbourne on Sunday week as part of HoopsFest.