Wells Pleased with Hard-Fought Road Win over Breakers
Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells described their recent victory over the New Zealand Breakers as an “ugly win,” yet expressed satisfaction with his team’s grit and determination. The Sixers secured an 83-79 win at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch, marking their first triumph at that venue in three attempts.
Bryce Cotton led the team with 23 points, adding five assists and two crucial steals to withstand a late rally from the Breakers. Despite momentum swings throughout the match, the Sixers prevailed, maintaining their strong record against New Zealand with three wins in their last four encounters.
“I thought that was a really, really hard fought NBL game. On the road, you've got to kind of bite and scrap and do a whole bunch of things, and sometimes it's not perfect and it's not pretty, but we got the win,” Wells said.
The coach highlighted the defensive efforts, particularly the team’s ability to limit the Breakers to 32 points in the entire second half after conceding 33 in the second quarter.
“I thought our transition defence was outstanding, particularly in the fourth (and) I thought that we had some really good efforts and big games from a lot of different guys,” Wells added.
Wells acknowledged the need to refine their play in closing moments but praised the resilience from both teams.
“Of course, we want to clean it up a little bit at the end so it could be a little bit easier, but, you know, you give them credit, they fought, they scrapped, they fought, and we hung in there, and we got to win.”
The win boosts Adelaide's confidence ahead of their upcoming games, showcasing their ability to battle on the road under tough conditions.
Mike Wells values perseverance and teamwork, guiding the Sixers to a challenging but vital road victory.