Isaac
Years ago
Funny Rychart demolishes New Zealand
Adelaide's starting guards struggled with their accuracy, but this afternoon Dusty Rychart posted a career-high 44 points to ensure that the 36ERS proved too talented for the visiting New Zealand Breakers, winning 122-101 at the Distinctive Homes Dome. The 21-point victory returned Adelaide to top position on the NBL ladder and continued their perfect home record in 2005/06.
Rychart opened with a blistering 17 point quarter, and closed out the final term with 15 to end on 16 of 26 shooting (62%) as well as adding 13 rebounds. His support came from Adelaide's other forwards as Jacob Holmes had 15 points and 6 rebounds, and Oscar Forman scored 13 and had 10 rebounds for the double-double off the bench.
Though they had little luck from the field, Brett Maher (3-of-12 from the field) and Willie Farley (3-of-15) contributed with 8 and 7 assists respectively, feeding the Sixers' forwards and big man David Cooper who had 10 points and 10 boards himself.
The opening period was nearly all Rychart for the home team as he poured in close-range baskets before feeling the shooter's touch and attempting a successful three-point shot. After less than 7 minutes of early action, he took his first rest, having amassed 15 points.
The Breakers fared better than during the last contest between the two teams which saw them soundly thrashed, even holding a narrow lead early courtesy of solid scoring from import Rich Melzer and Aaron Olson. Olson finished as New Zealand's main offensive contributor, with 23 points, and Melzer had 17, including two impressive dunks.
After the tight 30-28 first quarter, neither side was able to control the game until closer to the half-time break. Paul Rees made a handy contribution, nailing a crowd-pleasing three-pointer, but by the main break, Maher and Farley had been held to 5 points between them and the Breakers were down only 7 points and still a threat.
Ben Pepper (22 points and 13 rebounds) gave the visitors hope in the third, scoring inside and with mid-range jumpers, but it was inconsistent play and foul trouble from New Zealand that kept them from bringing it within a couple of baskets.
A Holmes three-pointer made the margin 11, 68-57, and New Zealand did not bring it within ten until Pepper scored two with 4:37 in the term. A Farley three pushed it back to 12 before Olson and NZ guard Lindsay Tait rallied to make it single figures once again.
The fourth period saw a classy start from the home side, blowing the leading out past 20 points through a three-point play from Rychart, and three points scores to Maher and Rychart again, as the import made his long-range tally two from two attempts.
Olson fought valiantly, scoring in double-digits in the clutch period, but could not reel in the Adelaide lead. Rychart had multiple trips to the free throw line to first pass his previous career-high of 40 points, and then achieve the NBL season high of 42 before he closed on 44 with a couple of minutes to spare and was rested for the remainder of the game.
The Sixers ruthlessly extended their scoring advantage with Maher hitting his only free throws for the match, and Brad Hill and Forman nailing baskets in a 9-0 run to reach the final 122-101 scoreline.
Adelaide 36ERS 122 (Rychart 44, Holmes 15, Forman 13, Farley 11, Rees 11, Cooper 10, Maher 10)
New Zealand Breakers 101 (Olson 23, Pepper 22, Melzer 17, Bailey 10)
