Unsung heroes on song in derby

CALL them the surprise guys.

Recruits Jack White and Yannick Wetzell have quickly exceeded expectations to become linchpins for their respective Melbourne teams.

White put on a show and Wetzell was one of his side’s best player in the NBL’s return to Bendigo, the former’s United holding off a spirited challenge from the latter’s roadweary Phoenix, 96-90, in the first Throwdown of 2021.

Jock Landale and Scott Hopson might have grabbed the headlines, but White has arguably been the pick of United’s recruits in 2020.

A defensive dynamo, the Traralgon boy has finally been given the chance to show off his offensive capabilities after spending much of his college career at Duke as a meat and potatoes player supporting the likes of now-NBA superstars Zion Williamson and Jayson Tatum.

It’s a refined package of outside shooting, inside grunt work and transition finishing that Phoenix wore the full brunt of.

He was everywhere in the first half, posting a career-high 17 points — including a stretch of 11 in a row for United that flipped a one-point deficit into a six-point buffer.

United would not fall behind again, as White (22 points, six rebounds, four blocks) opened the second half with a pair of blocks that resulted in buckets — one to Jock Landale (16 points, seven rebounds, two blocks) and one to himself.

United coach Dean Vickerman said anyone who underrated White did so at their own peril.

“We just feel like he’s a little bit older than he is right now, he’s had some amazing experiences with basketball already,” Vickerman said of the 23-yearold.

“The rap on him at different times was his shot hasn’t been consistent. We’ve seen him shoot the ball so consistently in practice and we have the utmost confidence in him.

“The way he came out and just shot the ball, really good confidence early, and got rewarded, and then you see the way he protected the rim, came up with four blocked shots as well. He’s helping us in a lot of areas.”

White paid tribute to the Phoenix, who have not slept in their own beds since December 31, post-game.

“Full credit to them, they’re a great team, they fought until the buzzer sounded,” he said.