Sport

Triumphant Kings back holding court

SOUNDING an ominous warning to the rest of the competition, the Sydney Kings put in an empathetic 22-point win over the Adelaide 36ers at their first home game at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday night.

Sydney jumped Adelaide early, racing to a 30-14 first quarter advantage and despite a brief period early in the third when Adelaide cut a 17-point halftime lead to just eight, they reasserted their dominance quickly to finish the game 102-80.
Finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Kings, Jae’sean Tate showed he has plenty of star power, while veteran Brad Newley was also impressive with 18 points and six rebounds.
Daniel Kickert was brilliant off the bench with 16 points, while Craig Moller netted the Kings 12 points and four boards, Shaun Bruce had a team-high seven assists and Casper Ware finished with what was, for him, a quiet 10 points and five rebounds.
Every Sydney player, including development player Lochlan Hutchison, saw court time, although Sydney Next Star Didi Louzada was a late withdrawal due to ongoing back soreness.


The Kings managed to turn most of the fourth quarter into a celebration for the 8,575 basketball fans in attendance, with head coach Will Weaver the first Sydney coach since Brian Goorjian to win his first two games on debut.
“I think anybody who has been around our program recognises that the approach these guys have taken in the offseason; the individual journeys they’ve been on and their spirit as a group have been A-plus,” he said.
The Kings are at home again this Friday night playing the New Zealand Breakers before heading to Auckland for a return engagement with the Breakers on Sunday afternoon at Spark Arena in Auckland.