Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 16, NBL26)

By Damon Lowery.

Author’s note – “HOOYAH” is the battle cry of the Navy Seals and is given out to celebrate great efforts & achievements.

A “HARDEN UP” is given out when a performance has not been at the expected level.

This is STRICTLY about basketball – it is NEVER personal.

Defeated by Tasmania

HOOYAH – Flynn Cameron: This is an incredible zone you’re in. The hoop must look like the Trevi Fountain to you. 25 points on 9/11 FG - that’s 81%!

HOOYAH – Isaac Humphries: 18 minutes played and only grab 1 rebound? Cmon “Ice”, you gotta put a stop to this madness.

No games.

Defeated Melbourne United

HOOYAH – Andrew Andrews: That was one helluva game. You were handing out assists like Christmas cards. Playing all but one minute, you dropped 13 dimes, had 13 points, and controlled the pace and flow of the game beautifully.

HARDEN THE HELL UP – Admiral Schofield: Hopefully you’ve calmed down since going Full Metal Jacket and terrorising the referee, and hopefully you realise you’re absolutely hurting your team when you selfishly get ejected. There was still a quarter to play and your team could’ve used you.

Defeated by South East Melbourne and New Zealand

HOOYAH – Daniel Grida: This is not the first time you’ve come off the bench and made an impact. The stat’s sheet doesn’t reflect the intensity, aggression, and passion you play with on a nightly basis. You produced 14 points in 15 minutes and I’m not the least bit surprised.

HARDEN UP – Biwali Bayles: I’m all for hard-nosed physical defence, but the forearms you put into Nathan Sobey’s back as he was going up in the air was not defence, it was a dirty play that could’ve injured him. I wonder how you would feel if someone did that to you.

Defeated by Cairns and Sydney

HOOYAH – Chris Goulding: It was good to see you getting back to your gladiatorial ways against the Taipans. Playing in Bendigo, the locals got to see you light up the scoreboard to the tune of 25 points. Hopefully this is the start of some more customary outrageous scoring outbursts.

HARDEN UP - Consecutive losses: That’s three consecutive losses by single-digits. Most recently to an undermanned Kings without two of their starters and Matthew Dellavedova who was injured in the first half.

Defeated by Sydney, defeated Illawarra

HOOYAH – The bounce back: After being demolished and embarrassed by Sydney, it was great to see you bounce back emphatically with a win against the Hawks.

HARDEN UP – All of you: The Kings showed up minus Xavier Cooks and Bul Kuol, and you could only score 62 at home? You scored four points in the second quarter and lost by 41. You’ve angered the Basketball Gods again – what are you gonna do about it?

Defeated South East Melbourne

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Dylan Windler: Possessing one of the sweetest lefty-shooting strokes, you gave the Phoenix headaches all night, equalling your career-high 27 points, with 4 triples and 8 boards.

HOOYAH – Kristian Doolittle, aka “Mr. Payback”: You got even with the Phoenix after blowing that big lead at home in Round 13 where you only scored 4. You gave them a nice 23 points, 12 rebounds and 4 dimes. P.S. I jumped off the couch when you put the crossover move on John Brown III that snapped the tape off his ankles.

HARDEN UP– Jaron Rillie's hamstring: As if the point guard position wasn’t compromised enough, you re-injure yourself. Heal up and recover well.

Defeated Sydney and Illawarra, defeated by Perth

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – DJ Mitchell: In the best “Wild Wild West Shootout” of the season, you showed up and showed out. Coming off the bench with 16 points including 4/4 from downtown, plus 3 assists and 2 boards in just 13 minutes. That’s how you get down.

HOOYAH – Nathan Sobey: Age ain’t nothing but a number. Adelaide had no answer for your 26 points (including 5 treys), 7 boards and 5 assists. Then you took it up another notch against the Hawks with an equal career-high 37, 6 boards and 4 assists, and a vintage two-handed dunk that had the sold-out crowd chanting “MVP”.

HARDEN UP – Defence: This is supposed to be your calling card, but I’m a little concerned about all the points you’re giving up. In your last 3 games, the Kings scored 117, the Hawks got 113, and Perth gave you 107. Tighten that up, fellas.

Defeated by South East Melbourne, defeated New Zealand and Melbourne

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Jaylin Galloway: This was the breakout game I’ve been waiting for. You came off the bench and went berserk, notching up your career-high 27 points on 10/11 shooting and a perfect 5/5 from downtown.

HOOYAH – Kendric Davis: That was your kind of game against the Phoenix, a good ol’ fashion up and down high-scoring shootout. You did as you pleased, dropping a 30-piece on 11/13 FG, and 6 dimes.

HARDEN UP – Xavier Cooks' ankle: Five minutes into the first quarter was all the time you allowed my man to play. Playoffs are around the corner, speedy recovery please.

Defeated Adelaide

HOOYAH – Nick Marshall: What a difference a year makes. Last season you were deep on the bench for the 36ers, this season you’re in the starting five for the Jackies, and playing some impactful, disruptive defence. Your coach sang your praises on the defensive end, and he would’ve been rapt watching you limit Bryce Cotton to 15 on 5/18 shooting. Can’t forget about your 13 points and 6 boards either. Great game.

HOOYAH – Pass.

HOOYAH – Noi vs Copeland: The clap-back at Kouat Noi was sensational. Putting your numbers up in comparison was unbelievably great and we need more of this on our TV screens!

HARDEN UP – Finn Delany's tech foul: Andrew Gaze claimed the game was being “desensitised" and Jason Cadee said he "didn’t like it" - both were referring to an outrageous tech foul called on Finn Delany on Sunday versus Sydney. Finn was called for a foul on the baseline, and showed his displeasure by waving off the referee (who called it from half court) and copped a “T” as a result.