Our Say | Cootamundra Herald | Cootamundra, NSW

Alan Williams and the South East Melbourne Phoenix have taken full advantage of a Brisbane Bullets side still missing Aron Baynes to make it three NBL wins on the trot with a 96-73 victory at John Cain Arena. The Phoenix came into Saturday's game off the back of an emphatic triumph 48 hours earlier in Adelaide against the 36ers, in which imposing centre Williams made his first appearance of the season. The Bullets arrived in Melbourne having lost their past three games and still without suspended former NBA star Baynes. By halftime, Williams already had 10 points and four rebounds for the Phoenix - helping his team to a 45-33 lead at the break - while the Bullets were further hamstrung by starting centre Tyrell Harrison picking up three fouls. That left 17-year-old Next Star Rocco Zikarsky to battle with Williams, and the South East Melbourne big man proved too crafty and strong with the Phoenix going into the break with seven more rebounds, four extra offensive boards and having reached the foul line 13 times to six. Williams hit a wide open three to begin the second half, stretching the Phoenix lead to 15 - which quickly became 22 as South East Melbourne cruised to a 23-point win. The former NBA man ended up with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. Phoenix coach Mike Kelly couldn't speak highly enough about what Williams brings to the team. "He was loud when he wasn't playing and now he's playing really well, and he's still loud," Kelly said. "It's all positive for the group and he'll only get more comfortable, and the group will get more comfortable with him being such a big part of what we do." Ben Ayre also had 16 points, Rhys Vague 12 and Mitch Creek 10 for the Phoenix. The loss was a fourth in succession for the Bullets, with Baynes still suspended for two more games. "We feel like we're searching (for answers) mid-game right now," Bullets coach Justin Schueller said. "We keep getting into these holes and we put ourselves in a position we feel comfortable with - look at that second quarter and we kept their guys to low numbers - but Al Williams comes in and really has an impact. "I really felt when Ty (Harrison) got his third foul that changed the tempo of the game. "We need solutions right now for two more games without Banger (Baynes)." While Nathan Sobey equal top-scored for the visitors with 14 points, he shot seven-of-18 with no other player taking more than nine attempts. Isaac White scored 14 points in 16 minutes on court, while Mitch Norton added 12 with five assists and three steals. To top off a poor evening, the Bullets also lost import point guard Shannon Scott to a hamstring injury. A similar problem sidelined the 30-year-old American with Cairns in last season's playoffs. Australian Associated Press

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