Anstey Trumps the Kings

A huge contribution from likely MVP Chris Anstey has guided the Melbourne Tigers to a thrilling 103-99 overtime victory over the Sydney Kings tonight in game two of the best of five NBL grand final series at the State Netball and Hockey Centre.

With the game tied at 99-99 and only 30 seconds left in the first overtime, Anstey drilled a 24 foot three pointer to send the capacity crowd at ‘The Cage’ into a state of delirium and in the process help move the Tigers within one victory of their first NBL championship since the great Andrew Gaze led side in 1997.

Anstey only played 40 of the 53 minutes after getting into early foul trouble, but still managed to score a game high 30 points on 10/20 shooting and after the match credited his team mates for stepping it up another level when the going got tough.

“We picked it up when it counted,” a pumped up Anstey told Fox Sports.

“We always say if we are in a tight game, when we come out at the end we are a big chance. We’ve got some veteran players who make big plays and tonight was big.”

Dave Thomas also showed what a big game player he is landing a vital double double that saw him score 23 points and grab 13 rebounds, while the 41 year old Darryl McDonald was a handful all night long with 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Things looked dire for the home side when they trailed by 13 points early in the third quarter, but with Thomas and Anstey running the show the Tigers stormed back into the contest, hitting the front late in the game before a last ditch effort from Kings young gun David Barlow forced the extra period.

Foul trouble ended up being the Kings downfall with both CJ Bruton and Jason Smith forced to sit out extended periods of the match leaving the younger players on their squad exposed to the explosive atmosphere created by the sell-out crowd at ‘The Cage’.

Sydney had their chances leading for more than 80% of the game, but when Bruton fouled out one minute into the fourth quarter his exit saw the Kings struggle to contain the rampaging Tigers over the final stages of the match.

Barlow was the shining light for visitors all game long, showing off his great shooting touch with 15 of his 22 points coming from behind the three point arc.

Forward Ben Knight kept was also strong for the Kings with 16 points and five rebounds, while Smith also had 16 points to go with eight rebounds before fouling out of the game in the final 10 seconds.

After being humiliated at the Kingdome in game one last Friday night Sydney came into ‘The Cage’ ready to play and their intensity showed right from the opening tip off with Smith hitting his first long range effort and the visitors used that early momentum as a springboard to race to a 15-8 lead midway through the first period.

Anstey pulled the Tigers back into the contest scoring 10 straight points for his side to cut the deficit to three points shortly before quarter time, but big baskets from Bruton and Barlow saw the Kings head into the first interval leading 29-21.

Both teams were thrown into disarray minutes into the second term with Anstey and Smith picking up their fourth fouls, but it was the Kings who adjusted best opening up a 15 point lead courtesy of some accurate long range shooting from the likes of Barlow and Sedric Webber (47-32).

With the sell-out crowd urging them on Melbourne were able to get the margin back into single digits three minutes before the half time, but a three pointer from Barlow in the dying seconds of the first half saw Sydney take a handy 11 point buffer into the main break (57-46).

The Kings continued to frustrate the Tigers after half time with their physical play and managed to push their advantage out to 13 points before Anstey entered the fray for Melbourne and on the back of some sweet shooting helped to lift the home side back into the contest.

The former NBA player rattled off 12 points in quick time to pull the home side within three points late in the period before an Ian Crosswhite lay up on the buzzer left the Kings with a five point lead going into the final term (78-73).

Sydney suffered a double blow just 50 seconds into the fourth term with Bruton called for his sixth foul on a charge call and in the process hurt his knee leaving him in doubt for the third game of the series.

Melbourne continued to mount their charge and took their first lead of the game since the opening basket of the match on two Rashad Tucker free throws and looked to be heading for the win before Sydney fought back valiantly somehow forcing over time after Barlow picked up an offensive rebound and put the ball back in to tie the game at 94-94.

The Tigers quickly established a three point lead in the extra period, but a Luke Kendall three pointer tied the game up before Anstey’s late game heroics sealed the win and gave Melbourne a 2-0 lead in the best of five game grand final series.

Game three will be played on Tuesday night at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

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