REBELS ROUSER MAKING A MARK
“YOU want to play some D, man?” With that jibe, Jerrell Sanders arrived in the Darwin Basketball Association.
Twenty-seven jet-lagged points a week ago for his new club Uni Rebels were a warning shot, but Thursday night’s early perimeter fireworks were something to behold.
Sanders’ quip came after back-to-back triples – his fifth and sixth from beyond the arc – and TV Jets coach Jason Ah Sam called a time-out.
There were still 3½ minutes left in the second term.
Jerron Jamerson, Ansett’s superstar import, chuckled at Sanders’ verbal bomb before turning to a fellow spectator and telling them: “I told you he can light it up.”
Sanders finished with a slightly disappointing 25 points, but the ex-NBA DLeague forward fits comfortably in the league’s exciting batch of imports.
Rebels coach Malix Laurel said as much after watching his team beat the Jets 76-66. It was just Uni’s second victory in seven matches, but good enough for rivals to be wary, particularly if Marcus Ch’ng and Lance Schmidt return.
“With Jerrell coming in, we’ve got a better chance to be in that (title) mix,” Laurel said.
“The big test will be on Friday (week) against Ansett. They’re undefeated, have great momentum and a solid supporting cast as well.”
The margin blew out to 15 points before quarter-time and was never in single digits from there – peaking at 23.
The Rebels’ other import, Chad Bewley, scored 15 points and kept Jets’ big Travis Ellis to 18, while Jake Kirby’s strong campaign continued with 17.
Laurel conceded his players “got a bit sloppy” at the end, but was generally pleased.
“It was a big improvement on our defence from the previous games, but we’re not there yet,” he said. “We want to keep getting better, make the final four and give a good run for the championship.”
Jamerson produced his own show a night later, torching Razzle for 52 points in a 135-79 triumph. Razzle’s two imports Reed Ridder (30) and Daniel Calcatera (27) carried a heavy offensive burden.
Alex Fertig scored 28 points in Eagles’ 81-68 defeat of Challenge season champions Lightning. Lightning’s Austin Kisselev had 29.