Walking over marsh; Sydney Kings vs Townsville Crocodiles - 2006/07 NBL Quarter Finals - 16/02/07

Ethan Switch - Tuesday, January 8, 2008 - Print Version

Pad See-Yew with a crack of an eggshell and the tip-off is underway. Heat builds quick with a shank of plastic down the front. Apparently it works double. Optimistically blind, a row steal the seats one behind, leaving the front all clear as the resolve.

Sydney Kings are impressive with the lead out early over the Townsville Crocodiles. Matt Worthington is out stepping a change up with no sign of slowing down to smell the burning leather. Crocs throw up little in the way of strong defence and formidable offence this early out in the first quarter. Spectacular dunk force from Jerome Beasley is too much as the ball shoots straight out of the ring toward the rafters and its Kings 31 over 22 for the Crocs.

Small kid with no voice manages to score himself the noise cancelling headphones from the Lion. Scam really, the loudest section might pull him in, but the cute is all it really takes to land the goods. Life as we know, Jim.

Flash and the show of super skill is what makes the second a blow out for the Kings. Mark Worthington and Beasley even taking the stride to throw up a quirky alley-oop which leaves Beasley flat on his back. Ian Crosswhite smacks out a green block to deliver Townsville some more hurt. Crocodiles not showing much for an answer as they leave holes in the fence from both sides of the garden. Sydney shoot out to 66 to 39.

Half-time and the dissipation is regular with the mist outside non-existent save for the crackers blowing out eardrums for the eve of the eve of Chinese New Year.

James Cannis, another not so Australian Idol, belts out the Queen a quarter early. Line of Cheerleaders flanking the court the saving grace in a quiet performance. His follow up and closer, "Love To Love You" working better, only by a fare, and that's a return ticket cut in half after the break in the journey. Can't really call it when jumping the barrier into the first car.

Cannis shingles We Will Rock You!

Six times no less, maybe more, Sydney Kings Cheerleaders with their changing array of routines. Tipping point features the soundtrack of Fatboy Slim's "Because We Can" from Moulin Rouge. A fast and hyper kinetic track, the stall in flipping stumbles the line up of the rhythm in their formation. Can-can can only can-can if the can-can line can keep up with the can-can kick time. Washing it away, the follow up numbers nail down any loose leaf.

Quarter three and Jason Smith is dropping the shots with an ease of sliding the Kings into another lead. Ed Scott is magic with the assists that cut the vision from the side and into the baskets. Brad Newley marking up the effort from the visitors to show what life they may have left in them. Both teams scramble to out show each other, the razzle and the dazzle hitting the spuds with a mash doused with pepper corn. Tasty, very tasty and they can't seem to stop the shine. 92 to 60, hosts still with no signs of competition.

Deflection at work as the Lion picks a woman out of the crowd to dance with. The Lioness all huffy and upset at the display of his misdirected attention. Are these two getting the furry love/hate on behind the scenes? Doesn't matter. At a second's turn, a man from nowhere, Akka, is proposing to Rechelle. She accepts, they jump for joy and the game is back under way. Over by the side, the friends all flock around them, the Lion and the Lioness loving the mood. Excellent blind side.

Spectators upstage the Lion once again

Socks cinch up tight for the final quarter. Townsville's Kelvin Robertson finds no trouble any time the ball passes his hands, points easy from the touch. BJ Carter and Beasley working the floor to cover the rest of the flavour and there is not much left to play. Even is the wrong choice of word. Clearly there isn't much in the way. Done, all done, a walk really.

Sydney Kings take it easy on to beat down the Townsville Crocodiles, 122 - 89. Kings move to the semi finals against Brisbane Bullets.