Harrell puts up huge numbers in 36ers' win

The Cairns Taipans produced a remarkable three-point barrage in the first half but ultimately Montrezl Harrell and Kendric Davis were too much as the Adelaide 36ers prevailed 99-93 in overtime.

The Taipans hit 11/19 from three in the first half but just 4/17 the rest of the way with the Sixers coming from 19 points down to win in overtime where they outscored the Taipans 11 points to five.

The difference was the imposing presence of big man Harrell who finished with a monstrous 36 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks while even hitting three long balls.

Point guard Kendric Davis then fired in the second half and overtime to end up with 29 points and eight assists with 10/13 foul shooting.

Adelaide coach Mike Wells was pleased with the way his group responded after half-time.

"I think we're probably all feeling exhausted after that, but we probably gave a little too spirited of a talk at half-time," he said.

"I just think we can push the envelope for this group and we're trying to form an identity, and take this group somewhere the 36ers haven’t been in a while, and to break some habits so I hate seeing us go through the first half like we did.

"What we did defensively from the first half to the second was like night and day, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way the group competed for a full 40, and five extra."

The Snakes arrived at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre to play in front of another sold out crowd of 9382 still missing star young point guard Taran Armstrong and import centre Tanner Groves, and having lost three straight.

They produced the most remarkable three-point shooting performance in the first half landing 11 three-pointers with three apiece from Rob Edwards (27 points, six rebounds, five assists), Dillon Stith (nine points, four boards) and Kyrin Galloway (nine points, seven rebounds).

That saw the Taipans lead by as much as 19 points with the stunning 59-43 half-time advantage to leave the home crowd in shocked silence.

Energy wise, it was a vastly different home team to start the second half and they did go on an early 11-0 scoring run and by three quarter-time, they had cut the Cairns lead back to eight points.

The Sixers grabbed the lead on the back of the continued work of Harrell and then point guard Davis in the fourth quarter, but Sam Waardenburg (18 points, 14 rebounds) delivered a three-point play with 12 seconds to go for Cairns to send the game to overtime.

Adelaide managed to lead by six during overtime but Cairns kept on coming even after Waardenburg fouled out.

The Snakes forced a back court violation on the 36ers with 10 seconds to go but the 36ers did enough to hold on for the win to improve to 5-3.

Taipans coach Adam Forde was proud of his group afterwards.

"The boys played their hearts out and I get on them about some stuff, but tonight was not going to be one of those nights," he said.

"They absolutely played their hearts out and I'm proud of them."

Despite the presence down low that Montrezl Harrell was having for the 36ers and even knocking down a three-pointer when left wide open, it was a strong start from the Taipans who despite their injury woes, went into quarter-time leading 27-21.

Harrell opened up the second quarter with another strong and-one play and he would end up with 15 points, five rebounds and four blocks for the half, but the Sixers simply couldn’t do anything but the remarkable outside shooting from the Taipans.

The Snakes caught fire unlike any team has so far this season from deep hitting nine three-pointers on the way to piling on 32 points and heading into the half-time interval with the 59-43.

That was even with Pedro Bradshaw going off with an ankle injury and by the break, Rob Edwards, Dillon Stith and Kyrin Galloway all hit three triples each and they shot 11/19 as a team opposed to the 3/13 from the Sixers to be up 16.

The effort level vastly improved from Adelaide to open the second half and the home team scored 11 straight points before Harrell hit a second three-pointer, and DJ Vasiljevic knocked down his second of the night.

By three quarter-time it was Cairns still with an eight-point lead and Harrell was only just warming up for the 36ers.

The big man was unstoppable and even landed a third triple of the game early in the fourth quarter, and then did his work down low to bring the Sixers back within three with four minutes on the clock.

Adelaide levelled scores a minute later after an offensive rebound from Harrell that led to a triple from point guard Kendric Davis, who also put them in front with just under two to play to complete a 9-0 run.

Davis ended up scoring eight straight Adelaide points before Harrell sealed the game at the foul line with 16 seconds to go but Cairns weren’t done and a huge three-point play from Waardenburg saw Cairns force the extra period.

However, the Sixers with the home crowd behind them closed the deal in extra time for the six-point win and to improve to 5-3 on the season and hand the brave Snakes a fourth successive defeat.

The Taipans now head straight to Melbourne to try and score a fifth consecutive victory against United on Sunday while the 36ers don't play again until next Saturday away to the New Zealand Breakers.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

ADELAIDE 36ERS 99 (Harrell 36, Davis 29, Vasiljevic 16)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 93 (Edwards 27, Waardenburg 18, Gak 14)

BOX SCORE