South East Melbourne lost its coach and four key players on the eve of its clash with the Perth Wildcats. It didn’t end well for the Phoenix.
Billed as the battle of the NBL’s top-three early-MVP candidates and most-prolific scorers, a young Wildcat with NBA prospects and a familiar foe stole the show from a Covid-depleted South East Melbourne in its first home game at John Cain Arena in nearly two months.
Wildcats Bryce Cotton, Vic Law and Phoenix forward Mitch Creek are seen as the men leading the MVP race.
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Bryce Cotton caught fire in the Wildcats win. Picture: Getty Images
Early on, it looked like it would be the Phoenix star’s night, his six first-quarter points leading South East Melbourne to a 12-point lead at the break. Cotton and Law missed their first seven shots before the former got on board half way through the second quarter.
It sparked something in the three-time MVP, he and Wildcats young gun Luke Travers instrumental in a game-changing 21-0 run in the second quarter that undid South East Melbourne’s start.
Judd Flavell searches for answers in the Phoenix loss. Picture: Getty Images
Assistant Judd Favell was a late call-up on Friday night for coach Simon Mitchell, who, along with four other phoenix players, missed through Covid protocols.
Flavell refused to use the late scratchings as an excuse, saying the Phoenix had enough time to prepare.
He said his side lost its way in the second quarter, turning the ball over, giving up offensive rebounds and putting the Wildcats on the free throw line.
“That second term was obviously where the game was separated,” Flavell said.
“When we look back on the game, there’s a bunch of different things we can nitpick on and pull apart.
“Things that we could control … things in our hands.
“We needed to tidy up and we failed on that front.
At halftime, the chorus of boos was an indicator of dissatisfaction with the referees during the Wildcats’ run.
Zhou Qi gets called for an offensive foul on Bryce Cotton. Picture: Getty Images
First, an interpretation of an unsportsmanlike foul that could only be described as ticky-tack when Qi half stuck his hand in the cookie jar near his own hoop. He was met with a severe penalty. Letter of the law? Better basketball minds can decide. Then, a late whistle pinged Creek for a foul on Law and, on the ensuing play, a foul was called in a rebounding contest that sent Brandon Ashley and Jesse Wagstaff sprawling to the floor.
Phoenix were up by seven, 36-31, before the Qi unsportsmanlike. Fifty-one seconds later, they were down by three. That’s as big a momentum sucker as you can get on a basketball court.
Flavell would not be drawn on the unsportsmanlike foul but said some of the calls “hurt” as Phoenix tried to quell the Perth run.
Once Cotton gets his tail up, he’s very hard to stop.
Perth young gun Luke Travers was sensational for the Wildcats. Picture: Getty Images
The Perth star finished the game with 21 points and six assists, while his running mate Travers showed why there is NBA interest in the 20-year-old with a game-high 24 points to go with seven rebounds.
Phoenix was best-served by Xavier Munford, who had 18 points, while Creek had 17 and nine rebounds.
With Perth out the way, the Phoenix are in a tough stretch of four games in nine days, with the Hawks in Wollongong on Monday, before home games against the Sydney and Tasmania later in the week. A grand final rematch next Saturday awaits Perth, who will face Melbourne United at John Cain Arena
Xavier Munford tried hard for the Phoenix. Picture: Getty Images
‘Nix Covid crisis
The NBL has previously cancelled games where multiple players were impacted by Covid protocols but this one went ahead with the Phoenix missing captain Kyle Adnam and contributors Cam Gliddon, Reuben Te Rangi and Dane Pineau. It left the Phoenix rotation short and forced big minutes into their starters, including Izayah Le’afa, in his first game back from a bout of Covid himself.
Izayah Le’afa returned after a bout of Covid. Picture: Getty Images
NBL1 gun made good
Lachie Barker, called up as a Covid replacement, did his best Adnam impersonation, netting points and providing the Phoenix with a spark off the bench. His contested bucket in the lane late in the first quarter produced his first NBL points and moments later he drilled a three-pointer from the corner to outline his class. The Phoenix are deep at guard, but the second-tier star did his future NBL hopes no harm in this one, finishing with 11 points
Lachlan Barker got a chance to show his abilities. Picture: Getty Images
NBL not happy with Hodgson suspension
The NBL hierarchy has decided Hodgson deserves more than a one-match ban for his double strike on Sydney King Dejan Vasiljevic last week. It has appealed its independent tribunal’s decision to impose a three-match suspension, with two of those suspended. Hodgson will know his fate in the next 48 hours, with a full tribunal to hear the case, should the appeal be granted.
SCOREBOARD
South East Melbourne Phoenix 101-79 Perth Wildcats
John Cain Arena
Crowd: 3727
Phoenix
Munford: 18 points,
Creek: 17 points, 9 rebounds
Wildcats
Travers: 24 points, 7 rebounds
Cotton: 21 points, 6 assists
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Keyword: NBL 22: South East Melbourne Phoenix hit by Covid absences, lose to Perth Wildcatsgame reports from Round 10