Franks Leads Sixers Comeback Win

Robert Franks produced his best game in Adelaide 36ers colours as they delivered a stunning 84-77 comeback win over the Illawarra Hawks to remain a chance to win consecutive NBL Blitz crowns.

The Sixers went through undefeated to win last year's Loggins-Bruton Cup in Tasmania as winners of the Blitz and they remain a chance to do so again, although they had to do it the hard way in Darwin on Thursday night.

Both teams were down a star import with Antonius Cleveland's first game for Adelaide against Illawarra having to wait now until the regular season while the Hawks were also without Justin Robinson who had an impressive first two performances.

However, it was Mangok Mathiang and George King who helped Illawarra open up a 19-point half-time lead, but they couldn’t hold on. 

With Franks terrific all night and then Craig Randall starting the second half on fire, and Daniel Johnson and Kai Sotto closing the deal, the Sixers turned it around to win by seven and to leave Darwin undefeated. 

They will win the Loggins-Bruton Cup if Melbourne United beats Brisbane Bullets on Friday night or if the Bullets win it will come down to who won the most quarters.

Franks produced the type of performance that had him a standout for a lot of last season with Brisbane. He showed just why Adelaide was so keen to get him finishing with 30 points and 10 rebounds on 9/16 shooting including going 4/8 from deep and 8/8 at the charity stripe.

Randall added 16 points and four rebounds, Johnson 15 points and 11 boards while captain Mitch McCarron had nine points, eight rebounds and five assists. Sunday Dech also dished out seven assists.

King produced his best pre-season performance for Illawarra with 20 points and eight rebounds on 9/12 free-throw shooting with Mathiang impressive too with 14 points, three boards and two steals.

Tyler Harvey added 10 points and four assists, Alex Mudronja seven points and Kevin White six points and four assists.

Deng Deng made the most of his start for Illawarra by hitting a three to start the game but then the Adelaide frontcourt of Daniel Johnson and Robert Franks combined for the next nine points.

That was as good as it got for the Sixers, though, with Tyler Harvey hitting a couple of three balls, and then George King and Kevin White connected from downtown too as part of a 13-0 run.

Illawarra took a 26-17 lead into quarter-time on the back of an alley-oop flush from Mangok Mathiang on the pass from Lachie Dent on the buzzer.

Franks was doing his best to keep Adelaide in the contest in his best showing in Sixers colours on his way to 15 points for the half, but he didn’t get enough support and the Hawks kept pulling away.

Mathiang was putting on a show with 12 points for the half on 5/5 shooting including delivering a huge block while King had his best half for the Hawks with 11 points on 8/11 free-throw shooting.

Illawarra had another 11-0 scoring streak during the second term to go into the main break up 52-37.

It had been such a dominance from the Hawks in the first half that really there were no signs of what was to come to start the third quarter. The Sixers shot out of the blocks with the opening 12 points starting with five quick ones from Craig Randall.

Franks then continued his form including a huge finish over former Brisbane teammate Deng. He then hit a three as well to make it a three-point ball game before Mathiang and King continued their good nights with steadying buckets for Illawarra.

The Sixers were just warming up, though, and three balls from Randall and Franks saw them grab the lead, and then heading to three quarter-time the lead continued to fluctuate before Illawarra turned up 65-64 after Tim Coenraad's three ball.

While Randall and Franks set up the Adelaide fightback, it was Kai Sotto and Johnson who closed the deal throughout the fourth quarter combining for 13 of the team's 20 points on the way to the seven-point win after being down 19 late in the second period.

That wraps up the Blitz for both teams with the Hawks now turning their focus to their NBL23 season opener against the defending champion Sydney Kings in Wollongong next Saturday night.

The Sixers don't play their first game until Thursday October 13 against the Tasmania JackJumpers as they now head to the United States for NBLxNBA games against the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The NBL Blitz will wrap up on Friday night with the New Zealand Breakers playing the Sydney Kings, and then finally Melbourne United takes on the Brisbane Bullets.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ – DAY 7

ADELAIDE 36ERS 84 (Franks 30, Randall 16, Johnson 15) 

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 77 (King 20, Mathiang 14, Harvey 10)

BOX SCORE