AUS/NZL - Re-born Kings finally making noise in the NBL

MELBOURNE (NBL) – Their return to the NBL following a two year hiatus was beginning to look like a horror story, but the Sydney Kings are starting to make an impact on the competition behind the play of rising star Julian Khazzouh and veteran international Mark Dickel.

The Kings, three-time NBL champions, won the first game of their return season against the Melbourne Tigers before going on a franchise record 14-game losing streak. But in the last week they have defeated the Wollongong Hawks and Melbourne Tigers, to create some hope they may avoid last place.

The 81-71 win over Wollongong was Sydney’s first on their home court, where they average more than 5000 fans to lead the league in attendance. Rookie Ben Madgen continued his emergence with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but it was his backcourt partner Dickel who made the biggest difference.

While the New Zealand Tall Black star’s numbers of 8 points and 4 assists were hardly spectacular, he provided leadership, energy and poise at the point guard position that had been lacking since starter Luke Cooper went down with injury more than two months ago.

Against Melbourne it was the ever-improving Khazzouh who secured the 85-67 win, scoring a career high 29 points, pulling in 9 rebounds and holding star Tigers centre Luke Nevill to just 7 points and 3 rebounds.

Madgen scored 12 points, 204cm Graeme Dann continued his improvement with 12 points and 8 assists, while former Memphis Grizzly Trey Gilder had his best game in the NBL with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.

In other games, the New Zealand Breakers thrashed the Adelaide 36ers 91-77 behind 21 points from import Gary Wilkinson and 19 points from Kirk Penney.

Veteran import Ira Clark had his best NBL game with 29 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Gold Coast Blaze to a 90-85 win over second placed Cairns and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Australian Boomers guard Adam Gibson provided support with 19 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds, while rising star Chris Goulding had 18 points. Import Ron Dorsey continued his recent good form for Cairns with 21 points, while centre Ian Crosswhite had 16 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.

Townsville’s Luke Schenscher (25 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks) dominated new Perth Wildcats import Andre Brown, but it was the Wildcats who emerged with a 88-68 home win behind 19 points and 6 rebounds from Beijing Olympian Shawn Redhage.

It would be Redhage’s last full game for the season though, as he tragically dislocated his hip two nights later against Adelaide. Perth could not overcome his absence, as Adelaide’s Adam Ballinger hit a game-winning three-pointer with four seconds remaining in the game.

Ballinger finished with 26 points and 7 rebounds in the 77-76 victory, while import Ron Howard showed improved form with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. For Perth, rising star Stephen Weigh was outstanding with 17 points and 9 rebounds.

The Melbourne Tigers won just their second game of the season against a top five opponent, defeating Cairns 83-76 in Melbourne behind 19 points and 6 rebounds from Luke Nevill.

The outstanding performance of the night came from Cairns point guard Ayinde Ubaka, who scored 32 points and dished out 4 assists. With 15 seconds remaining Ubaka created a wide open three-pointer for Ron Dorsey that would have tied the game, but he was unable to connect and Melbourne hit their free throws to secure the win.

Paulo Kennedy
FIBA