THE Ipswich Force may have fallen to the South West Metro Pirates, but one of the biggest factors in the contest was the performance of veteran Nathan Sobey.

The Pirates were seven points too good for the Force in a thrilling encounter, but it was not without pressure from a magnificent offensive performance from one of the competition’s most experienced campaigners.

Ipswich came into Sunday’s game at Hibiscus Sports Stadium on a considerable winning streak, while the Pirates were struggling with inconsistency within their performance. However, the home side stormed home in the final term to snatch an impressive victory in barnstorming fashion.

Although his side fell short of the desired result, Sobey was the most significant presence on the offensive end, exploding for an eye-catching showing on the scoring front.

South West Metro Pirates (98) def. Ipswich Force (91)

Nathan Sobey – 41 points, six rebounds, one assist, six steals

Sobey was unstoppable at times during his side’s clash with the Pirates, putting the team on his back offensively and showcasing how deep his bag is when it comes to scoring.

It comes as no surprise that Sobey’s 41 points were the most of any player in the match, carrying his side in that facet of the game. He has been doing this for a while now, and that experience came to the forefront against the Piates.

He shot a solid 53 per cent from the field, nailing 10 of his 19 attempts from the field. Although he was at his most efficient inside the arc (shooting 5/6 from two-point territory), the 32-year-old splashed home five three-pointers as well.

However, Sobey did his best work at the free throw line, driving into the lane and drawing plenty of contact in the process. The crafty guard went a perfect 16 from 16 at the charity stripe, in a method that ensured his side’s score kept ticking over.

Remarkably, he recorded 18 of his 41 points in a blistering first term, showing a vast range of shot selections, whether it be dunks or shots from behind the arc. He kept his side in touch with a firing South West Metro side, and ensured they were within striking distance until the final quarter of the game.

It was a vintage performance from Sobey, who showed he still has the capability to take over a game at times, and although he could not quite get Ipswich to a win, his efforts are the reason it was a chance to win in the first place.