Melbourne United falter in Throwdown IX

Melbourne United fell to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday afternoon at John Cain Arena in Throwdown IX.

After a tight first half, United was unable to slow down Keifer Sykes and Mitch Creek as the pair led the Phoenix home.

It was a back-and-forth battle early as Sam McDaniel hit a pair of triples in the opening three and half minutes, but Reuben Te Rangi gave South East Melbourne a five-point lead, 15-10, after four minutes of play.

Jock Landale got into the game as the first term progressed, while Creek – who recorded 5 points and 4 assists in the first quarter – was generating plenty of offensive looks for the Phoenix.

A Scotty Hopson dunk courtesy of a David Barlow offensive rebound evened the scores in the final minute and at the first break, it was all square at 20.

Much like the first 10 minutes, the second quarter was another battle between two teams with plenty to play for.

Shea Ili scored first for Melbourne with a tough drive and finish, but Ryan Broekhoff answered quickly on the other end with his first triple of the game.

Hopson and Creek traded three-point makes as neither team was able to break free. Landale’s domination in the paint continued in the second quarter and when he drained his sixth make of the afternoon midway through the quarter, United held a one-point lead, 35-34.

A special Chris Goulding stepback two-pointer was one of the highlights of the first half, but Kyle Adnam put the Phoenix back in the lead, 43-41, in the final minute with a triple.

A pair of McCarron free throws evened the scores and at half time, scores were tied up at 43. Landale (12 points) and McCarron (6 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds) were involved in everything for Melbourne, while Creek (8 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds) led South East Melbourne.

The third quarter began with a McCarron drive and dish to Mason Peatling, while Landale scored a bucket after three and a half minutes to give United the lead, 49-48.

The Phoenix responded with a 5-0 run as offensive rebounds continued to hurt United and Sykes was asserting his influence on the contest. A Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and-1 play and Barlow triple had United back to within one-point, 59-60, with just under four minutes to play in the quarter.

Sykes nailed another three-pointer, while Yannick Wetzell and Ben Moore scored buckets to give the Phoenix their biggest lead of the game, 69-61, with less than a minute to play.

At the final break, South East Melbourne held an eight-point lead, 71-63.

Adnam and Sykes got the Phoenix off to a strong start in the fourth quarter and after a minute of play, they held a game-high 14-point lead, 77-63, after an 8-0 run.

Goulding and Peatling scored back-to-back buckets, but Sykes answered again with consecutive scores. McCarron did his best to keep Melbourne in the game with a triple and when Hopson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored, United was back to within eight points, 81-73, halfway through the quarter.

United wouldn’t go away in the final stages of the game as they continued to battle and when Landale sunk a pair of free throws with just over two minutes to play, Melbourne trailed by just six points, 86-80.

Unfortunately for United fans, Te Rangi answered with a strong driving layup and while Goulding hit a late triple, it wasn’t enough as South East Melbourne claimed the honours in Throwdown IX with a 94-83 win.

Landale (19 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists), Goulding (13 points) and Hopson (11 points and 6 rebounds) scored in double figures for United, while McCarron (9 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists) did a bit of everything.

Sykes (26 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds) and Creek (14 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists) were both electric for the Phoenix.

Despite the loss, Melbourne remains on top of the ladder with a 23-7 record. United will look to bounce back on Tuesday night when they head to Wollongong to take on the Illawarra Hawks at 7:30pm to kick off Round 19.