Tasmania are prone to be with out star level guard Josh Magette for the NBL playoffs after he suffered a suspected damaged cheek bone of their fourth-place sealing 87-63 win over Illawarra to complete their season.
The JackJumpers (16-12) wanted a victory to remain away from South East Melbourne Phoenix in fifth heading into their ultimate common season recreation, and did so with suffocating defence on Saturday.
They held Illawarra to simply 47 factors via three quarters and took a 21-point lead heading into the ultimate time period earlier than cruising to a 24-point margin towards the Hawks.
Should the Breakers beat Brisbane in Saturday’s later recreation, the JackJumpers will face Cairns in a third-versus-fourth matchup.
But they’re prone to be with out Magette of their second journey to the NBL postseason after a third-quarter blow to the face on defence.
The American guard took copped successful defending a fast-break and didn’t return to the sport with vital swelling.
Magette averaged 10 factors per recreation, 4.4 assists and three rebounds this season and is the first ball handler for Scott Roth’s facet.
“Magette’s in some serious pain and it’s gonna be probably not a good outcome for him,” Roth mentioned.
“We’re just hoping to rally around him and support him the best we can.
“It’s fairly an costly night time for us simply on the whole. But the truth is, it is sports activities and also you simply do what it’s important to do and these guys simply proceed to get the following man in, the following man up.”
Magette’s departure was the only blemish in a dominant performance, the JackJumpers holding Illawarra to 12 third-quarter points – just three more than in their last outing against New Zealand.
The Hawks were playing for pride and to send retiring Tim Coenraad and Kevin White out with a win, but fell for their 25th loss of the season and finished with their worst record in franchise history.
It was Coenraad’s 374th and final game for Illawarra after making his debut in September 2009.
He tallied eight points and 2-4 from three-point range, ending his career a legend in Wollongong and third on the club’s all-time games played list.
Coenraad’s side started the contest struggling from the field as Tasmania opened up an 11-point margin midway through the term on an 11-0 run.
The visitors would take a 10-point lead at quarter-time, hitting three of their seven three-point attempts and eight players scoring a basket.
Makes from behind the arc would dry up for both teams in the second quarter, stopped by constant fouling with Tasmania committing nine and Illawarra 10 by the main break.
Just as the Hawks would garner some momentum, the JackJumpers would respond quickly with transition buckets as their lead grew to as high as 15 before the main break.
The JackJumpers distributed the ball unselfishly for 10 assists at the break compared to Illawarra’s one as Jack McVeigh (11 points by halftime) led the way for a 46-35 scoreline at the main break.
JackJumpers guard Milton Doyle led all-comers with 20 factors, ending with a double-double after grabbing 10 assists.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
