JackJumpers fight hard in Melbourne but winning streak ends

You couldn’t fault the heart and fighting spirit shown from the Tasmania JackJumpers in the 250th NBL game of captain Clint Steindl, but it wasn’t quite to be against the South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena on Sunday.

The JackJumpers came into the contest as the form team of the NBL having won their previous four matches, but this was the start of a road stand and it was always going to be a significant test against the Phoenix.

Tasmania trailed by just the two points at quarter-time but they went 8/16 from beyond the arc in the first half and turned that into a two-point advantage by the half-time break.

The JackJumpers had fallen behind by seven by three quarter-time but Josh Adams got rolling with nine points in the early stages of the fourth period to help close the gap to six.

A four-point play from Steindl in his 250th NBL appearance kept the JJ's in touch as well but ultimately South East Melbourne took out the 83-71 victory to snap the four-game winning run for Tasmania.

Josh Adams battled hard for Tasmania with 23 points while Josh Magette added 10 points and five assists, Jack McVeigh nine points and six rebounds, and MiKyle McIntosh eight points and four rebounds in just 18 minutes.

Matt Kenyon continues to be important for the JackJumpers too and had seven points, four rebounds and three assists while Steindl put up seven points in his milestone game.

Sam McDaniel finished with five points and two rebounds, Fabijan Krslovic two points and four rebounds, and Jock Perry two rebounds in 13 important minutes starting with Will Magnay out injured.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was quick to not point at the absence of Magnay for anything to do with the final result.

"Don't disrespect my other guys. They all fought very hard. It was Jock Perry's first time starting and Fab, JB and our bigs all fought hard," Roth said.

"This team is not Will Magnay, this team is 15 JackJumpers working and doing the same thing over and over to get better at. We miss one body and there'll be multiple times throughout the year we miss bodies, and we move on. 

"Mags is obviously a big part of everything we do but it's a little bit disrespectful to think my other guys didn’t play as hard as they possibly could to get the job done. I'm proud of those guys for their battle and this team has a lot of grit and character. That's one thing I love about them."

While obviously he would have preferred to celebrate with a win, but Steindl is rightfully proud to reach 250 games with that has been a fascinating journey in Cairns, Townsville and Perth following his college career at Saint Mary's.

"I still remember my first game back up at Cairns Convention Centre and the thing that makes the journey so special all those down times you have," Steindl said.

"You find your way out of them and you have those moments where you win championships, and build relationships. It's just the process of going through a professional sporting career, it's not going to be everything you want it to be all the time. 

"It's those moments where things aren’t going great that you definitely appreciate the lessons you learn from them down the track after the adversity you face. I'll take it any day of the week having those downs but finding a way out of it to feel the success that I've had along the way. 

"The journey continues and there's going to be down days, and there's going to be some great ones. Nothing changes, you just keep working your way at it and just appreciate the fact you get to play this game. Hopefully I get to play a few more."

The Phoenix scored the first four points of the game through Zhou Qi and Kyle Adnam before the JackJumpers hit threes courtesy of Matt Kenyon and Jaylen Adams, but they were the only four field goals in the first six minutes of play.

It was an offensive struggle in the first period with the Phoenix going into quarter-time leading 16-14.

Things didn’t open up too much more early on in the second quarter but the JackJumpers did take the lead on the back of threes from Adams and Josh Magette.

Tasmania weren’t scoring too much aside from those triples with Adams, Magette and Kenyon knocking down another each before half-time. 

As a team they went 8/16 for the half while the Phoenix went 0/8 but 14 points, five rebounds and five steals from Ryan Broekhoff kept them in touch with the JackJumpers up 40-38 at the break.

The Phoenix regained the lead to start the second half with Zhou Qi continued to take it to the rack with his size advantage. And-ones from Creek and Qi pushed the South East Melbourne lead out further before finally they connected from beyond the arc.

Both Izayah Le'afa and Reuben Te Rangi nailed threes and the Phoenix were up 59-52 by three quarter-time.

Adams tried to spark the JackJumpers to a comeback with a couple of jumpers and five free-throws early in the fourth term, and even a four-point play from Clint Steindl in game 250 kept things interesting, but the Phoenix wouldn’t be denied.

They wouldn’t let Tasmania get closer than four points in the fourth term and cruised to the eventual 12-point win.

The JackJumpers have a full week before taking on the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong next Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 11

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 71 (Adams 23, Magette 10, McVeigh 9) 

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 83 (Broekhoff 18, Creek 15, Adnam 13)

BOX SCORE