– Jonathon Tuxworth
THE JackJumpers squandered an opportunity to nearly put one foot by way of the NBL playoffs draw after a sloppy begin value them dearly in Wednesday evening’s 86-75 loss to South-East Melbourne Phoenix at Launceston.
Tasmania (13-11) have been sizzling favourites to safe a 3rd straight win in opposition to a beforehand freefalling South East Melbourne, who had misplaced their previous 5 matches, at a bought out Silverdome.
But a poor first quarter from the hosts and an enormous efficiency from Phoenix’s MVP contender Mitchell Creek, who did most of his injury early, proved too troublesome to beat.
JackJumpers coach Scott Roth labelled their last-start win over Adelaide as their greatest win of the season, however their efficiency in opposition to the Phoenix was arguably their worst.
Tasmania entered the conflict in fourth spot on the desk and a win would have seen them edge near all however securing a second straight post-season marketing campaign.
The Jackies shot 43 per cent from the sector to 39. But after giving up 16 offensive rebounds, shedding the help rely 19-11 and committing 14 turnovers to seven, they’ll enter the final 4 video games of the common season proper within the playoff melting pot, with six groups battling for the final 4 spots.
The JackJumpers have been torpid out of the blocks, giving up an early 24-14 quarter time lead.
Hungry to arrest their slide the Phoenix (13-12) have been aggressive from the outset, attacking the rim and forcing the JackJumpers into quite a lot of early fouls.
Aside from the odd burst of JackJumpers momentum within the second half, the Phoenix managed the competition to maintain their playoff hopes alive.
JackJumpers import Milton Doyle (16 factors, 5 assists) discovered some spark late and ahead Jack McVeigh continued his good type with 15 bench factors, however the Creek-led Phoenix packed too many punches.
Tasmania was made to pay for a poor first stanza the place they misplaced the turnover rely 5-0, gave away too many offensive rebounds and allowed the Phoenix to reside on the free throw line.
A 7-0 Jackjumpers run halfway by way of the second time period lower the margin to 30-25.
However the Phoenix responded to construct the lead out to 12, and prolonged it to 14 on the fundamental break.
Creek (21 factors, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) was very good for the guests within the first half particularly, racking up 16 factors and 7 rebounds earlier than half-time.
His deal with attacking the basket resulting in eight free throw makes an attempt after forcing 5 fouls on the Jackjumpers.
A 9-0 run late within the third quarter bought the JackJumpers again within the recreation after chopping the deficit to 59-56.
But as had been the case all through the match, the Phoenix discovered a strategy to snap Tasmania’s momentum and restored their buffer to 64-56 on the closing break.
The hosts by no means actually threatened to bridge the hole within the final quarter as they left their second and closing recreation in Launceston this season empty-handed.
The JackJumpers journey to Cairns to play the Taipans this Friday evening.
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE86 (Mitch Creek 21, Alan Williams 16, Gary Browne 15) defTASMANIA 75 (Milton Doyle 16, Jack McVeigh 15, Rashard Kelly 12) at Launceston on Wednesday evening.
Originally printed as NBL23: Slow-starting JackJumpers miss golden alternative with loss to South East Phoenix
