Melbourne's Chris Goulding swoops on a loose ball during his dominant peformance against the 36ers. Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun
ADELAIDE 36ers coach Joey Wright first discovered Melbourne Tigers star Chris Goulding as a 16-year-old playing in a Monday night competition in Brisbane.
Yesterday he would have been rueing the day when his former protégé burned his 36ers side with a mesmerising shooting display to inspire the Tigers to its first NBL win of the season.
Goulding – who is fast becoming one of the NBL's most lethal players – scored 29 points that included five three-pointers as Melbourne scored a crucial 93-79 victory.
"We were a lot more aggressive today – we certainly didn't want to drop another game three weeks in a row," Goulding said.
"At half-time we spoke about putting the foot on the pedal in the second half and it worked out well with 34 points in the final quarter."
The shooting guard said he had to work hard for his points.
"I just tried to stay aggressive and keep Gibbo (36ers guard Adam Gibson) moving," he said.
"He's a really good defender so you just can't stand there and let him guard you.
"I tried to come off as many screens as I could."
There was a scare for Goulding in the third term when he fell hard and had to rush off the court to the change rooms clutching his stomach.
But he soon returned much to the relief of Tigers supporters.
"I got hit in the jejunum and like in the movie Semi-Pro, it makes you vomit right away," Goulding laughed.
"I got an elbow flush straight in there so for the next minute or two I was sure I was going to bring up my breakfast.
"But after a couple of minutes I was fine."
Tigers big men Scott Morrison (15 points and nine boards) and Lucas Walker (14 points and 10 rebounds) were equally important in front of 3236 at The Cage.
Forward Mark Worthington also played a big role – particularly when the game was on the line – to finish 17 points and seven boards.
Tigers coach Chis Anstey said there was a lot of work to do despite the win.
"It was better but we still got a long wrong," he said.
"We rebounded poorly but I thought we defended well.
"It was pleasing the way the boys responded down the stretch in the fourth quarter."
It was a very even start with neither side able to establish an early buffer.
The 36ers – coming off a strong road win over the Taipans in Cairns on Friday night – quickly established they would be no push over.
But it was a fired-up Walker who was determined to swing the game in Melbourne's favour.
The big man was everywhere in the first half – scoring 10 points and grabbing six boards.
It helped the home side to a handy seven-point lead at half-time despite the fact Adelaide was dominating the boards.
The lead blew out to 11 points during the third term with Goulding beginning to have a real impact.
They have lost from this position before this season, but there would be no denying the Tigers this time.
WALKER VOWS TO PLAY THROUGH OSTEITIS PUBIS
Recovering Melbourne Tigers forward Lucas Walker has vowed to continue to playing through the pain after starring in yesterday's stirring win over Adelaide.
Walker only started training again earlier this month after being struck down by the dreaded osteitis pubis during the pre-season.
It is still affecting him but it won't stop the big man from contributing to the Tigers' cause.
That much was evident when he scored 14 points and grabbed 10 boards in a lively display yesterday.
"It (the injury) is still giving me a little of trouble," Walker said.
"At half-time I get a little bit stiff but when I get back out there and warmed up it is fine.
"It is just something I have to manage during the week at training.
"During game time I am running on adrenaline so I'm not thinking about it, so I'm trying to not let it hinder me at all."
It was a much slicker performance by the Tigers yesterday and Walker said it wasn't an accident.
"It was something we tried to work on during the week," he said.
"We wanted to play fast but not hurry.
"We want to control the tempo and play the way we want to play."
Nick Smart
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