Townsville topple 36ers for fourth-straight win

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The Townsville Crocodiles registered their fourth straight win by defeating the Adelaide 36ers 79-69 in a dour affair at The Swamp on Wednesday.

The Crocs did only what was needed to hold on after jumping to a double-figure lead midway through the second quarter, where three consecutive triples from Olympic hopeful Peter Crawford (14 points) broke the game open.

The 36ers failed to mount a genuine challenge, having one brief moment of hope early in the second quarter when emerging superstar Daniel Johnson (21 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals) unleashed a nine-point scoring spree.

Adelaide were woeful early, making just 5-of-21 from the field, while Townsville struggled for cohesion themselves and relied on giant Luke Schenscher to stay in front 19-14 at the first break.

Johnson then cut lose for the 36ers as they claimed the lead, but Crawford's brilliant run of triples blew the margin into double figures.

Adelaide turned the game into a grind in the third term and import Chris Warren found his range, but Townsville hit back through the Michael and Chris Cedar, the brothers' solid sinking from beyond the arc enough to keep them in front 60-53.

Michael Cedar opened the final term with a long-range three to ensure the margin remained comfortable as the Crocs controlled the remainder of the encounter.

Johnson attempted a last ditch effort to salvage the match and slashed the margin to seven, but he was a lone-ranger in an otherwise disappointing night for Adelaide, who committed 20 turnovers but handed out just five assists.

- AAP