Order Soon Van
Creativity starves insanity
Late enough as it is, finding seats in dark spot lights is easy when the aisle spits straight into the seats over the hand bar. Tight infiltration in the stadium, a line of Tigers fans with tight pompoms runs away from the Kings section and over to the arc of the bowl. All out sudden death, two games down to the Tigers and a last ditch effort to stave the sweep and a loss of the NBL trophy.
Jason Smith heads a strong, albeit spluttered, start. After three minutes of nothing from Sydney, the captain cranks out the threes and a few lay ups to notch a handy 14 for the first quarter alone. Ian Crosswhite is close behind and it's like the Kings are in fine form.
Second quarter and the things start turning. Fouls and calls by the refs are all over the place, mostly in favour of the Tigers and it's no bad luck that see them rising up close to close the margin of the first. They're in this and so hungry for that sweep that they cut a swathe through the line of Kings to make quick work of the zone.
Half-time is at least pleasant. Watching a production with The Lion King in the background no help in figuring out what the formations and pyramids are all about. Sydney Kings cheerleaders are as awesome as always. Never get that many cat calls and the applause seems to die down the closer to the final buzzer the game rolls.
Third quarter is feisty, the flying elbows feature a little more and players such as Darryl MacDonald and Daryl Corletto are over Smith, sending him up for a little slapping. Damn Chris Anstey, stealing shots with no sweat, coming in from any angle to sink more holes into the ship.
Melbourne throttle the last quarter and watch on as Sydney desperately try to hold things in check. Three after three after three miss the bucket, it's anarchy on the board as the margin braces for a truck. The little hopes of Sedric Webber nailing a three in the closing third bring up a slither of hope. Crowds start filing away with too much work and not enough time on the board.
88 to 83 in favour of the Tigers. Kings no longer the champions of the NBL. Three years, what a run.
Soon Van - Thursday, 2 March 2006 - 09:01
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