Sixers win another thriller

The Adelaide 36ers juggernaut continues to roll on as they maintained their grip on top position following yet another trilling NBL win - beating Brisbane 90-89 at the Distinctive Homes Dome this evening.

After trailing by 13 points during the first quarter and by as much as six points in the final term, the Sixers proved again to be in favour with the Gods - their fifth win by less than three points this season.

When the home side took the lead inside the final minute courtesy of a brilliant solo ride to the basket by Willie Farley, Brisbane had 3.4 seconds to conjure up the winning basket after Brett Maher fumbled the ball over the line. Though, time ran out before Leonard Copeland could let his shot release.

Adelaide had plenty of scoring options, with Farley (21 points), Dusty Rychart (20 points and 14 boards) and Maher (20 points and seven assists) again proving their worth all over the court.

Jacob Holmes was quiet points-wise in the first three terms, though, popped up for seven crucial points in the final term.

Stephen Black was responsible for the Bullets' rocketing start, shooting 15 points in the first period - finishing with a game-high 30 points and eight assists.

Bobby Brannen (16 points and eight boards) and Michael Hill (15 points) had fruitful matches, while Mark Bradtke (10 final-quarter points and 15 boards) almost paved the Bullets home in the final quarter.

In contrast to previous weeks, the Sixers' start was rather sluggish as Black sent Brisbane out to a 23-10 lead after notching up over 10 points in only half a quarter.

Rychart and Oscar Forman helped cut back the deficit with eight points apiece for the term, as the Bullets held a 27-24 lead at quarter time.

While Brisbane threatened to blow the game right open, Adelaide stayed at arm's length courtesy of Rychart's efforts in the second term.

Black continued on his way to notch up 22 points by the half, but after the Bullets held a 44-33 lead midway during the second stanza, the Sixers scored 11 of the final 16 points to only trail by five at the half.

While a shoot-out was seemingly on the cards in the third quarter, four-from-four converted double-foul shots for the Sixers saw them take the lead for the first time in the match mid-way during the term.

While Farley and Maher proved unstoppable with 21 points combined for the quarter, Black had notched up 30 points by the final change as Adelaide held a slender 68-67 lead.

Courtesy of Melbourne-pick-up Bradtke, the Bullets opened up a six-point lead in the final quarter when he shot 10 early points and collected board-after-board.

With less than four on the clock, a Forman three-pointer drew the scores back within a point, before Farley netted the winning two points in the final 30 seconds.

Next week, the Sixers travel over to Perth to face the Wildcats on Saturday night, while the Bullets battle with the Pirates in Newcastle.

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