Turnovers Cost Phoenix

Gritty. Gutsy. Hard work.

Undermanned South East Melbourne lived up to their adopted motto with a dogged effort against Cairns — that unfortunately fell apart in a helter skelter last three minutes.

Led by energiser Alan Williams and tireless star Mitch Creek, the Phoenix threw everything they had at Cairns. And it was almost enough.

But a pair of costly turnovers, a lack of composure and weary bodies combined to rob them of what would have been a character-building win

Phoenix started the better and, through Williams, found a reliable avenue to the bucket, taking a four-point lead into the first change. But the Taipans dialled up and flipped the script to take a four-point advantage of their own at the long break.

Battling back through Creek and Williams — neither of whom were 100 per cent — the Phoenix owned the third and then started the fourth with a bang, opening up a double-digit lead.

It was to no avail, though, as Cairns just had the wherewithall to hold off a side missing four of its starters.

It was a tough one to swallow for the Phoenix, who are expecting reinforcements back for next week’s clash with New Zealand.

The Result

South East Melbourne Phoenix 76-85 Cairns Taipans

The Numbers

Phoenix
Creek: 27 points
Williams: 18 points, 8 rebounds

Taipans
Pinder: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
Hogg: 18 points, 8 rebounds

The Turning Point

Sadly, the two late turnovers allowed the Taipans to turn a tied game into a seven point lead as they flew down the other end and made a three pointer and a pair of easy buckets to end any hope the Phoenix had of mounting a comeback.

The Player of the Game

Mitch Creek
Shout out to Big Sauce, who was brilliant in the post, but Creek was a one-man wrecking ball on offence, slicing and dicing the Taipans’ defence with ruthless efficiency. His 27 points came on just 17 shots in what was a huge bounceback from a tough outing in Illawarra.

The Play of the Game

Owen Foxwell
A little basketball poetry from the Phoenix ended in a deuce for young buck Owen Foxwell. The ball went through several sets of hands before landing in Foxwell’s hands in the corner. The Bulleen product bamboozled Taipans import Shannon Scott with a juicy shake and bake that gave him the opening he needed to get to the bucket. Honourable mention to Junior Madut, who tore one down of the defensive glass and sprinted up the floor, finishing among two Taipans and drawing the foul.

From the Coach

“We get some fresh bodies back this week. A little time on the court. We’re going to have to give these guys some rest. We fought the best we could, it’s just a disappointing result and a really disappointing way to finish a game, but I thought it was tremendously courageous.”
—Simon Mitchell

From the Player

“Us, in that locker-room, as far as players go, we know what we let slip out of our hands today and it’s something that you can’t get back. So now, fresh bodies are coming in and we’ll get a new look and we’ll get some more depth. I think it will do well for us.”

—Alan Williams

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Phoenix Media (8/10/22)