Phoenix Fall Short to Kings

Phoenix went into Sunday’s game with their post-season hopes in their own hands; after falling short against the Kings, they are now in the unenviable position of sitting for 12 days to wait and see what happens. 

The game started strongly before the Phoenix went on an 11-0 run to hit the front before the Kings got up again. An Owen Foxwell three kept the margin at two on the buzzer.

It became a bucket for bucket affair in the second as the fast-paced game showed no one was giving up, as it remained tight with the Kings going into the main break up by five.

After a quiet first half, Alan Williams came out strong with the first four points to start the third. But the Kings kept getting their opportunities, leading by 11 points before a big three from Reuben Te Rangi kept Phoenix in touch, down by 6 at the final break.

It all came down to the last quarter; even though Phoenix won the quarter 28-27, they missed a few opportunities late to hit the front and went down by five points to the top of the ladder Kings.

Phoenix has a bye in the final round as they wait on the results from other games to see where they will finish in the top six.

The Result

South East Melbourne Phoenix 106-111 Sydney Kings

The Numbers

Phoenix
Creek: 29 points, nine rebounds
Kell: 18 points, five rebounds
Browne: 14 points, eight assists
Williams: 12 points, 12 rebounds

Kings
Walton Jr: 22 points

The Turning Point

Fourth Quarter Fight

Down by nine a Trey Kell lead fight back saw the Phoenix hit the led with 59 seconds to go; before a Dejan Vasiljevic layup put the Kings ahead for good.

The Play of the Game

End to End Teamwork

Phoenix were down two before a Creek steal led to a Gary Browne pass to Owen Foxwell, who finished the play, tying the game.

Player of the Game

Mitch Creek

Creek has carried the Phoenix on his back, keeping the visitors in the game every time the Kings threatened to pull away. He ended the game with 29 points, nine rebounds, and three steals.

From the Coach

Simon Mitchell

"Disappointed in the fact that we have lost, disappointed we haven’t secured our play-off spot just yet. There’s chances there if we miss it or not. It would have been nice to have held our own destiny in our own hands."

From the Player

Mitch Creek

“It’s still so up in the air like with a lot of teams, but I am proud of what we have done, but the jobs not done. I didn’t think we played defensively really well but we have a lot to play for, it’s not just ourselves. This week’s been huge, with Pride Round and we did great job acknowledging Kent Lockhart tonight with the arm band on the jersey, former NBL player of the South East.”

Phoenix Media (29/1/23)