VMT MATCH REPORT: Energised and Undermanned Phoenix Topple Kings

With barely enough players to fill the bench, not many gave the depleted Phoenix a chance to snap their seven-game losing run.

Mike Kelly midweek preached hope and perseverance, knowing his side were well and truly up against it with starting trio Alan Williams, Matt Kenyon and Gary Browne all out with injury.

But from the tip, a different Phoenix outfit took the State Basketball Centre floor in front of 3,422 one-eyed South East Melbourne fans, shooting out of the blocks with 36 first-quarter points, their highest output of the season.

Captain Mitch Creek (31 points, 10 rebounds) led from the front, recording 25 first-half points and shouldering a heavy load on both ends of the floor.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CREEK SLAMMED THAT DOWN WITH AUTHORITY! ?<br><br>? ESPN ?? Kayo | Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/C6hWjpjAxD">pic.twitter.com/C6hWjpjAxD</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1750449742222618705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Forced to field all four development players in the rarest of rare occurrences, Kelly’s coaching prowess was well on show, his faith too playing all of his youngsters in the first term.

The Phoenix were a team possessed, playing the style of defence that was their trademark before the their New Year downfall.

The third-quarter too was the hosts, outscoring the Kings 21-14 and opening up a game-high 18-point buffer that couldn’t be reigned in.

Ben Ayre (23 points), with the extra responsibility of running point for majority of the game, rose to the occasion, playing arguably his best outing in Green.

The diminutive guard almost lifted the roof off the stadium with a long-range final-term three that would even draw envy from Steph Curry.

The visitors looked to Jaylen Adams (24 points) and Kouat Noi (19 points) to stem the bleeding, but in front of part owner and Australian basketball legend Andrew Bogut, couldn’t halt the South East Melbourne assault.

The Kings got within five points in the final term, but the damage had been done, putting the cherry eventually placed on top of the greatest win in Phoenix history.

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Full-Time Stats

Creek: 31p/10r/2a/3stls
Ayre: 23p/3r/2a/1stl
Stattmann: 16p/6r
Foxwell: 12p/5r/6a/1stl
Gak: 9p/4r/2stls
Rosendale: 8p/1a
Te Rangi: 5p/4r/2a/1stl
Vague: 1r/1a/1stl/1blk
Rissetto: 1r

Less than 40 courtside/platinum seats remain for Saturday's game against the Wildcats.