New faces shine as Bullets fire

Photo: Adelaide 36ers Media

It was a pair of new faces that proved the difference for the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday afternoon, as they claimed a confidence-building win in Adelaide.

Isaac White and Sam McDaniel were the standouts for Justin Schueller’s team, in a 103-78 victory at The Lights Community & Sports Centre. 

Former JackJumper and Hawk White has been waiting for this opportunity, and a 19-point, five-rebound performance will only increase his chance of playing more minutes in NBL24. 

McDaniel was equally as damaging, showing his strength on the offensive boards, on his way to 14 points and five rebounds. 

Both White and McDaniel made the move from Tasmania in the off-season and loom as key players in the Bullets’ rotation.

In all, six players scored in double-figures for the winners, with experienced heads Nathan Sobey, Tyrell Harrison and Mitch Norton hitting 14, 14 and 12 points respectively.

Development player Matthew Johns put his hand up too, with 11 points and three assists in 22 minutes. 

Adelaide started the game strongly, leading 27-25 at quarter-time, but Brisbane quickly took the ascendency in the second quarter, with a dominant 34-15 scoreline. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&#39;s a block party for Kyrin Galloway in Adelaide.<br><br>Stream live and free on the NBL app - <a href="https://t.co/TSpRK2tOn2">https://t.co/TSpRK2tOn2</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/f45ixTLF4Z">pic.twitter.com/f45ixTLF4Z</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1700378793670496437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Bullets continued to control the game in the second half, outscoring their opponents, 44-36. 

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the 36ers though; Jacob Wiley showed plenty of promising signs, scoring 16 points and pulling down four rebounds in just 16 minutes’ game-time. 

Fellow import Trey Kell was lively, with 14 points, while Next Star Trentyn Flowers had some exciting moments at the rim, to end the game with nine points and six rebounds. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Next Star. Next level.<a href="https://twitter.com/FlowersTrentyn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FlowersTrentyn</a> with the early drive &amp; finish.<br><br>Stream live and free on the NBL app - <a href="https://t.co/TSpRK2tOn2">https://t.co/TSpRK2tOn2</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/u1B8Vj1Bew">pic.twitter.com/u1B8Vj1Bew</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1700369397292945550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Both teams will continue their NBL24 preparations at the Hungry Jack’s NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast, which tips off next Saturday, September 16. 

BRISBANE BULLETS 103 (White 19, Sobey 14, Harrison 14, McDaniel 14) 
ADELAIDE 36ERS 78 (Wiley 16, Kell 14, McCarron 12)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rocco puts the exclamation point on a big win for the <a href="https://twitter.com/BrisbaneBullets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brisbanebullets</a> in Adelaide! <br><br>Stream every pre-season game live and free on the NBL app - <a href="https://t.co/TSpRK2tOn2">https://t.co/TSpRK2tOn2</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/etjEyV1MAn">pic.twitter.com/etjEyV1MAn</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1700394016464945318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>