Surprise loss for Spartans

GRENADIERS have sent a message they could be a Southern Basketball League finals smoky after handing premiership favourites Glenorchy its first loss of the 2020 season.

After a sluggish restart following the COVID-19 shutdown, the Grenadiers are starting to click and a fourquarter performance had them hand the Spartans a 86-74 defeat on Wednesday night.

The Spartans lost Phoenix Robey with an ankle injury before tip-off.

And despite staying in touch on the scoreboard they were never able to wrestle any momentum in their favour.

Matt Young (25 points) led all scorers for the victors, while Sam Youl (22) continues to improve with more match fitness under his belt. Jack Stanwix had a match-high 27 points for Spartans.

In the second of the men’s matches, Kingborough-Huon Kings beat an undermanned Phoenix 105-86 on the back of a combined 59 points from NBL1 trio Elijah Pawson, Jacob Richards and Noah Straatsma.

Sharna Thompson continued her white hot form for Hobart Phoenix with a second straight 45-point haul, but it wasn’t enough to drag her side across the line in an overtime thriller. When she fouled out in the last quarter the Glenorchy Spartans were able to sneak home in the extra period 84-82.

Sarah O’Neill (30 points) and Kate Berry (18) did the damage for Spartans.

Phoenix slipped to second spot on the ladder behind Southern Wolves, who brushed aside the Kingborough-Huon Kings 84-58.

Ellie Collins once again led from the front with 36 points