Phoenix Fall Just Short in First Outing

The matchup was the first hit out for Mike Kelly’s new-look outfit, with a clear direction to play quickly and play aggressively.

Much has been made of the Phoenix’s perimeter shooting and the opening half didn’t disappoint with knockdown former-NBA guard Joe Wieskamp (3-6) and Next Star Malique Lewis (3-6) exciting the 900-strong Wangaratta crowd from beyond-the-arc.

Despite the Phoenix showing strong signs early, the visitors led by as much as 16 points with Tyrell Harrison (24PTS, 11REBS) and Rocco Zikarsky (16PTS,7REBS) proving a handful.

The physicality was on show from both sides, with both Owen Foxwell and Majok Majok (five fouls) falling into foul trouble early for the hosts as the bigs on both sides dominated the opening stanza in the paint, and from the charity stripe.

Ten of the Phoenix players played at least seven minutes in the opening half, with Kelly and his staff clearly keen to see what different rotations could do.

Not until two minutes into the third term did the Phoenix hit the front, before an ebb and flow affair in the final term that saw the lead change a number of times with plenty of pivotal moments swinging momentum.

It would be off-season recruits Wieskamp, Angus Glover, Derrick Walton Jr and Tom Vodanovich that would show the most in the final, with Vodanovich (13PTS) nailing a trio of threes to keep the Phoenix in it.

Post-game, the players stuck around for a signing session with local kids, with the team just 48 hours away from their next game against Melbourne United on Saturday at the State Basketball Centre. VERY LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN FOR SATURDAY, CLICK HERE TO SECURE THEM.

Full Stats

Lewis: 15P/4R/1A
Wieskamp: 14P/5R/3A/2S
Vodanovich: 13P/1A
Glover: 10P/3R/2A/1S
Hunter: 7P/5R/1A/1B
Walton Jr: 7P/1R/8A
Foxwell: 7P/2R/1A
Kenyon: 5P/1R/1A
Sobey: 4P/3R/2A/1S
Majok: 3P/5R
Rosendale: 1P/1R