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WAYBACK Wednesday was a weekly feature I wrote last season for Adelaide 36ers website, which now you can revisit, see for the first time or completely ignore!

ADELAIDE 36ERS V CAIRNS TAIPANS

DISTINCTIVE HOMES DOME, FEBRUARY 11, 2006

SWEET-shooting Cairns guard Anthony Stewart delivered the death dagger to Adelaide's Philips Championship dream with a corner 3-pointer 1.6 seconds from the siren.

For the second year in succession, home-court advantage was of little benefit to the 36ers in their KO quarter-final when Stewart's three drained the bottom of the net on a 106-103 overtime heart-stopper at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

Yes, that’s the same Stewart who, along with one of his opponents on this fateful night – 36ers swingman Mark Nash – now is working hard to get a Tasmanian team up for the NBL in 2015-16.

But eight years ago, he was helping make history for the Taipans, advancing to the best-of-three semi-finals against reigning champion Sydney - the deepest the club had progressed in its seven years of NBL action.

The victory also was huge for coach Taipans Alan Black, dumped after getting Perth to the championship series in 2003 and responsible for the best decision of a gut-wrenching play-off game.

Black subbed Stewart back into the fray for the final four seconds of overtime and despite Adelaide causing a quick deflection on the inbounds pass, when play was re-started with 3.5 seconds left, the Taipans found Stewart lurking in the corner.

He had no hesitation in taking the game-winner and despite a desperation heave from Brett Maher, the celebration was in full swing for Cairns.

Actually, the match that would prove Paul Rees' last in the NBL - the four-time championship-winner midweek announced he would retire at season’s end - should have been won by the Taipans in regulation.

Willie Farley gave the 36ers the lead 92-89 with 3:03 left when he stuck a monster triple but Darnell Mee, a dual-Adelaide championship winner, was not done yet for the visitors.

Mee had been held to just two points but in the last quarter, he scored 12 on 5-of-6 shooting, reminding everyone just what a champion he is.

He drove and banked a jumpshot, then 30 seconds later, another 36ers' championship winner, Martin Cattalini nailed two free throws for a 93-92 Cairns lead, with 2:08 left.

It was like a former 36ers’ stars conspiracy!

Maher split the Taipans' defence with a great drive for 94-93 but unsung Aaron Grabau - who was terrific for 20 points at 67 per cent - grabbed a huge offensive rebound after Gary Boodnikoff missed a triple attempt.

Boodnikoff hurt the 36ers all night from the perimeter but Grabau's board was decisive, gave Cairns a second bite and Mee hit another jumper for 95-94.

Adelaide had enough time for a full possession but Cairns scrambled defensively, shut down the Maher and Farley options and it was left to Dusty Rychart to hurry up a shot as the shot-clock wound out.

It was an airball, Adelaide fouled Mee with 4.8 seconds left in regulation, and he went to the stripe.

Rychart was solid all game, working tirelessly defensively against 209cm Cairns import Chris Burgess, and finished with 25 points and eight rebounds.

Surprisingly, Mee hit just one of his two freebies, allowing Maher time to advance the ball, throw a pass over an outstretched Cattalini and on to Oscar Forman.

He took it at the basket and scored on the buzzer for 96-96 and five further minutes of drama.

On his way to a 16-point, seven-rebound, seven-assist night, Mee scored immediately and Cairns was never headed in the extension, Farley (24 points at 62 per cent) tying it at 103-103 with 31.2 seconds remaining.

But that was all Adelaide had left in its season after the veteran Stewart swished his most important shot of the year.

“If you don't have success, there has to be change,” 36ers coach Phil Smyth said.

“You don't just want to be nuisance value (in the playoffs). The fans need to know you have a legitimate chance.

“Dusty wants to stay and he's a priority for us. I don't think what he's asking for is unreasonable.

“Steve and I will sit down and discuss where we think we need to go, then we'll get with (CEO) Mike (Daws) and see what the club can do.

“It's no secret over the past three years the team has been winding down and we need another quality big man and a back-up for Mahersy.”

Someone such as a Luke Schenscher and a back-up for Maher would make a monumental difference.

From late in the last quarter and through the five-minute extension against Cairns, Maher was severely hampered by his calf strain.

In the end though, if Farley had swished two free throws for the lead instead of one to tie it at 103-103, Stewart's last shot would have been taken under considerably more pressure.

Free throws. Always so important.