Basketball: Sydney Kings victory creates NBL history

SYDNEY - The Sydney Kings created Australian NBL history when they became the first team to win three straight championships with their 112-85 win over Wollongong in game three of the grand final series.

The win sparked wild celebrations at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, with guard CJ Bruton drowning coach Brian Goorjian with a bucket of water and streamers of purple and gold falling from the ceiling.

Any fears the Kings would be affected by nerves as they stood on the brink of history were wiped away by a barrage of three-pointers, most of them coming from the hot hand of Sydney skipper Jason Smith.

The Athens Olympian hit six of seven from long range on his way to a game high 38 points as the Kings completed a clean sweep of the best-of five series.

Smith was well supported by import Mark Sanford (15 points) and Bruton (11 points, seven assists).

Earlier in the week, Smith had challenged the Hawks to put up a better fight, saying victory in the first two games had come too easily.

What the Hawks would have done for a shooter of Smith's ilk, with the visitors hitting an abysmal 37 per cent of their shots, including only seven of 33 from long range.

Wollongong found no answer to Sydney's zone all series, and must surely admit they were outclassed by a far better Kings team and a master tactician in Sydney coach Brian Goorjian.

- REUTERS