The Townsville Crocodiles have maintained their reputation as the NBL's road warriors while consigning the Adelaide 36ers to the bottom of the ladder with their fifth successive defeat and a possible first-ever wooden spoon with a nail-biting 88-87 victory at The Dome on Saturday night.
The Crocs, after leading for much of the first three quarters, looked gone when they suddenly found themselves 11 points in arrears midway through the fourth quarter following an inspired 26-9 burst from the home side.
But the visitors, minus star playmaker Corey Williams, who fouled out with a mere six points at 29 percent, scrapped away and uncorked a 10-0 run in the space of 90 seconds to go from trailing by seven to leading by three, 88-85, with 55 seconds on the clock.
Matt Burston hit successive free throws with 46 seconds left to reduce the gap to one point before a Townsville shot-clock violation gave the Sixers another chance, which they were unable to execute.
Burston's rushed jumper at the death from an equally-frazzled Groves pass drawing iron.
The 36ers tried four different opponents for Brad Williamson, but ultimately had no answers for the talented shooter (21 points at 70 percent including six-of-eight threes - all after quarter-time), while bustling big man Rolan Roberts scored nine of his 15 points in the frantic final quarter.
For the home side, Burston (17 points) and Groves (16 points, nine assists) led the way but were unable to finish at the death, while Adam Ballinger was steady (14).
Skipper Ballinger started well but the majority of the opening period was on Townsville's terms, the visitors, after a slow start, jumping out to a 19-11 advantage on a Stephen Hoare triple, which capped a 16-5 run as all 10 Crocodile squad members saw first-term on-court action.
The Sixers pegged the buffer back to three at the first change, 23-20, largely through the skill of Nathan
Herbert (seven first-quarter points) and hustle of Brad Hill (five boards).
Williamson opened the second stanza with a three-point bomb and stroked another trey shortly after.
The sharp-shooting guard scored 11 points (4-of-5 from the floor, 3-of-4 from three-point territory) for the term and along with Russell Hinder (nine points for the quarter) would score all but two of the Crocs' second-term points.
Darren Ng's 10 third-quarter points (including two big threes) kept Adelaide within striking distance but the hosts could not wrest back the lead, Townsville up 45-40 at the main interval.
The third quarter looked like going down much the same path of the second, the 36ers battling hard and attempting numerous charges but the Crocs, with their superior shooting percentage, particularly from the perimeter, held sway as Peter Crawford found his range.
That was until a 12-2 Adelaide run, behind which Groves and Hill were the catalysts, which gave the 36ers their first lead since the opening three minutes of the match.
Groves, who had eight points and four assists for the period - after being held to just two points in the first half - finished the quarter with a nice finger roll with a second left to give the Sixers a 66-64 three-quarter time lead.
Adelaide played some inspired ball to commence the final period, its 12-3 start coupled with a 14-6 finish to the third giving the home side an overall 26-9 run and an 11-point lead with 6:48 remaining.
But an 8-0 flurry by Townsville followed by an even better 10-0 burst late in the term, highlighted by a clutch Roberts free throw and Michael Cedar triple, handed the lead back to the Crocs, which Adelaide was unable to rein in at the death.
The Crocs' triumph gives them a 14-11 record, including a league-best 6-7 away from home, while the Sixers slump to 10-16.
Townsville 'McDonald's' Crocodiles 88 (Williamson 21, Roberts 15, Hinder 12)
'Hood Sweeney' Adelaide 36ers 87 (Burston 17, Groves 16, Ballinger 14)
@ The Dome, 30/01/2010. Crowd: 6,991.
