Humphries the hero as 36ers down Wildcats

An inside masterclass from Isaac Humphries has led Adelaide 36ers to their second win of the NBL24 season, an 89-78 success against Perth Wildcats on Brett Maher Court on Saturday night.

The 211cm centre was everywhere for the home side, scoring a game-high 26 points, while also hauling in eight rebounds and collecting three steals in a dominant display.

New recruit DJ Vasiljevic was also pivotal for Adelaide, scoring 15 points, while also adding seven rebounds and dishing six assists and Kyrin Galloway stepped up big time in the second half, pairing 16 points with seven rebounds.

Vasiljevic opened the night from beyond the arc and then found Jacob Wiley (10 points, eight rebounds, four assists) for a layup, the two-time NBL champion then connected again from downtown before finding Humphries inside and the home side had a 11-2 lead.

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Tai Webster (12 points, four rebounds, four assists) brought the Wildcats back into the game, finishing two tough jump shots and finding Keanu Pinder (17 points, 13 rebounds) for an alley oop dunk as the visitors reduced the margin to 17-15.

Vasiljevic then found his way to the basket to make it eight points for the quarter as the 36ers took a 23-20 lead into the first break.

The Wildcats cut the 36ers’ lead to one, before the home side went on a 6-0 run which ended with a nice pass from Jason Cadee (five points, three rebounds, three assists) to Humphries inside for a 29-22 lead.

Corey Webster (14 points) sparked the visitors, who went on a 14-4 run to take the lead for the first time in the match on the back a-of a dunk from Jordan Usher(11 points).

Humphries was a force inside for Adelaide, finishing at the rim and was strong at the defensive end, scoring 15 points in the first 20 minutes, but the Wildcats took a 40-39 lead into the main interval.

Captain Mitch McCarron (six points, six rebounds, three assists) had an athletic put back to give the home side the lead in the opening play of the second half, then found Vasiljevic for a transition three-pointer.

But the visitors made the most of their second opportunities, going on an 8-0 run to open up a 51-44 advantage.

Adelaide responded, going on an 8-0 run after a time out from CJ Bruton to take back the lead 52-51 as Humphries’ huge game continued.

Galloway sparked the home crowed, with a tough bucket inside then swishing a three as the 36ers looked to attack the rim, Cadee and Trey Kell (nine points, seven rebounds) converting on three-point plays as Adelaide took a 67-65 lead into the final 10 minutes.

The 36ers then stopped the Wildcats from scoring for the opening three and a half minutes of the final quarter, extending the lead to 73-65 before a Pinder triple.

Perth got to within a basket on a few occasions but the home side kept their noses in front down the stretch, Humphries scoring some big buckets under the hoop.

Galloway connected on two big three-pointers, his second as time counted down sent the roaring crowd to their feet.

Adelaide is back in action on Thursday night when the 36ers travel to New Zealand to play the Breakers at Spark Arena.
 
ADELAIDE 36ERS 89 (Humphries 26, Galloway 16, Vasiljevic 15) def PERTH WILDCATS 78 (Pinder 17, C. Webster 14, T. Webster 12) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
 
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