The Tasmania JackJumpers continued their season of sheer unpredictability after finally snapping their horror run at home with an 87-84 upset of South-East Melbourne on Monday night.
Just three days after one of their worst offensive displays of the season in an overtime home defeat to New Zealand, the hosts capitalised on a lethargic start from the fast-finishing visitors, who were playing their first game in nine days.
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Tasmania built a 16-point halftime lead and, despite the second-placed Phoenix threatening to erase the deficit, held firm to spring the upset.
The visitors got at close as one point with 30 seconds left, but couldn’t secure the comeback.
Nathan Sobey missed two potential game-levelling three pointers in the dying seconds to ensure Tasmania held on.
After losing their previous match-up to Tasmania at Gippsland, South-East Melbourne had won three straight games but looked disjointed offensively from the outset in the first half.
The Jackies capitalised to build a big enough lead to move to 10-12 and solidify for fight for sixth spot ahead of the Breakers (8-13).
A quiet night from skipper Will Magnay (six points) was offset by the JackJumpers’ bench finally catching fire led by Majok Deng’s 21 points.
SLUGGISH SOUTH MELBOURNE
Did the Phoenix have too much Christmas pudding?
Coming off a nine day break over the festive period, the visitors looks lethargic from the jump offensively as the JackJumpers built a healthy 49-33 halftime lead.
In the first half South East Melbourne shot less than 30 per cent from the field, took nine attempts to land a three pointer, and simply didn’t seem as locked in as they were in building a three-game winning streak.
After an inbound pass after making a bucket, the Jackies somehow found themselves in a two-on-one situation to score. That doesn’t happen when a team is fully focused.
Perhaps the clearest indication of how more organised and structure Tasmania was on offense was the 12-5 assist count at the main break.
Only Nathan Sobey, who had 14 of his 27 points and three assists before half-time, kept the Phoenix in it.
Before the game, the in-form star had mixed feelings whether the long break between games was a blessing or a hindrance.
It was the JackJumpers’ fourth game over the same period.
“It’s one of those one where if you’re rolling you want to keep playing games but also about getting bodies back we’ve been missing for a while and integrating them in, as well as Ian (Clark),” he said.
NZ break Tassie hearts in OT thriller | 00:53
CAN ANYONE PREDICT THE JACKIES?
The JackJumpers are deadset harder to read than an algebra textbook.
They’ve beaten the Phoenix twice and third-placed Melbourne United in their past six games, but can also toss up a stinker like the one-point overtime home loss to the Breakers on Boxing Day.
Monday’s victory was just their third in 11 home games this season. Is this the strong victory against a quality opponent which finally translates to a season resurgence?
CLARK QUIET ON DEBUT
No one realistically expected him to light it up immediately, but Ian Clark took the first steps towards integrating himself into the Phoenix’s structure.
He finished with seven points, four assists and two rebounds in 15 minutes after the club announced the former championship winner with Sydney and NBL Sixth Man of the Year just the day before the game.
Never afraid to put up shots, his aggressive mindset should suit the Phoenix’s fast style of play once he finds his feet.
DENG CATCHES FIRE
Majok Deng scored just nine points in his past three matches combined, but already had 13 at halftime and was ultra aggressive from the outset.
With Will Magnay getting in early foul trouble for the second straight game, Deng took advantage and shot 4-8 from the field.
The Jackie’s bench was pivotal in the win, outscoring the Phoenix 39-16. That’s a welcome change given the team is ninth in the league in bench point scoring.
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