Phoenix Open the NBL's Pride Round with a Win

Phoenix was again playing for their finals life in front of a packed State Basketball Centre.  

The game was back and forth, with neither team taking the ascendency until a period of time head coach Simon Mitchell described as "35 seconds of madness."

With just over four minutes left and Phoenix down by one, Trey Kell drained a three; Reuben Te Rangi stole the inbound pass, was fouled and hit one of two free throws. He recovered his own missed shot and threw the pass to Mitch Creek, who paused and drained the three as the 3,200-plus Phoenix faithful threatened to blow the roof off the stadium.

And with that sequence, the Phoenix had blown the game open, winning by five points.

Phoenix head off to Sydney for their final game for the regular season on Sunday.

(Kell shooting in the win over the Taipans.)

The Result

South East Melbourne Phoenix 85 - 80 Cairns Taipans

The Numbers

Phoenix
Creek: 27 points, seven rebounds
Williams: 17 points, 13 rebounds
Kell: 17 points, six assists 

Taipans
Hogg: 24 points

The Turning Point

35 seconds of madness

A three to Kell, a steal, a foul, one of two free throws, a recovered miss, and a three to Creek and the Phoenix went from a one-point deficit to a six-point lead.

Play of the Game

Te Rangi Brick Wall

Back-to-back steals from Te Rangi, stole the ball and the game from the Taipans.

The Player of the Game

Creek’s Power

As the Taipans crept up in the final quarter, Creek lifted, draining a big three to steal the momentum from the Taipans. Creek ended the night with 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal.

(The 3,200 plus crowd were electric on Wednesday night.)

From the Coach

Simon Mitchell

"I thought he was tremendous (Trey Kell), he made some really key shots down the stretch when we really needed him and was involved in that 35 seconds of madness which was great."

From the Player

Alan Williams

“The energy is there. I give and they give it, it’s just perfect kind of tendon chemistry between the players and the crowd and it just gets you up. The South East Melbourne Phoenix fans are just incredible.”

Phoenix Media (25/1/23)