Melbourne ended a six-game losing streak and recorded their first win of 2012 with a hard-fought NBL home victory over a struggling Adelaide 36ers 87-81 on Friday night.
Cam Tragardh bagged 14 of his 20 points in the final quarter to lead the Tigers home, while Liam Rush (18 points) had a productive outing.
Chris Warren provided the spark for the 36ers with a game-high 31 points, while fellow import Diamon Simpson (17 points, nine rebounds), centre Daniel Johnson (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Stephen Weigh (12 points) were key contributors.
Scoring dwindled after the 36ers jumped to an early 10-0 lead, with Adelaide turning to a zone and the Tigers using their full-court press to get easy baskets.
Myron Allen (12 points, eight assists, six rebounds) did his best to involve his team-mates after picking up a couple of early fouls, but the Tigers’ lack of movement against the zone trapped them on the perimeter and starved Tragardh of opportunities.
The Tigers upped their energy in the third quarter with Adelaide switching back to man-to-man and Ron Dorsey (12 points) finding lanes to the basket.
Melbourne took their first lead with two minutes to go in the period, but the 36ers held strong to level the scores at 61-61 at the final break thanks to a Weigh triple.
But it was Melbourne’s crafty new point-guard Allen, Tragardh’s late heroics and a coast-to-coast Daniel Dillon basket that brought relief to the Tigers’ faithful.
Off the court for the Tigers, long-time Melbourne board member Michael Slepoy has been appointed chief executive, replacing the controversial Seamus McPeake.
The Irishman’s last course of action while CEO was to spray Melbourne players after a loss and sensationally sack star import Ayinde Ubaka without the knowledge of the coach or any of the staff on January 15.
Coach Trevor Gleeson was in a post-match press conference after yet another crushing loss in a tough season for the Tigers when McPeake gave Ubaka, who has since gone onto excel with new club Wollongong, his marching orders.
Slepoy is a director at telecommunications company Dodo and was keen to pay tribute to his predecessor.
“I know I speak on behalf of the entire club when I say I am very grateful to Mr McPeake for the enormous amount of hard work he has done as the CEO of the Melbourne Tigers. Within this club there is a great level of respect and admiration for his contribution over the past decade”, Slepoy said.
“I am excited to be able to contribute to and further the professional image of this great club. I want the club to be known as the most professional basketball organisation and continue the great Tigers legacy of family values and success. I am looking forward to working with our valued members and providing enhanced value to our corporate partners.”
In additional news, fellow Dodo director and Tigers board member, Larry Kestelman, has been endorsed to take on the role of chairman, with the change to be ratified at a scheduled board meeting early next week.
