JackJumpers Show Early Fight but Fall Short Against Phoenix

The Tasmania JackJumpers started strong but ultimately fell to the South East Melbourne Phoenix 116-80 in a challenging outing at the State Basketball Centre. Despite leading for much of the first half, the JackJumpers struggled to maintain momentum, with the Phoenix dominating the second half, including an explosive 41-point fourth quarter.

Head Coach Scott Roth reflected on the performance, saying, "We played probably two and a half quarters of halfway decent basketball. But ultimately, we can’t score at any kind of rate, and once you stop scoring, it’s really hard to be diligent enough defensively across the board."

Tasmania opened the game with energy, jumping out to a 7-1 lead, led by Clint Steindl’s three-pointer and contributions from Nick Stoddart and Reuben Te Rangi. They maintained their edge throughout much of the first half, leading by as much as seven points. Jordon Crawford shone in the second quarter, scoring eight points during a 15-6 run, but a late Phoenix surge saw Tasmania trailing 46-45 at halftime.

The second half proved decisive, as South East Melbourne ramped up their defensive intensity and offensive execution. Back-to-back three-pointers from Joe Wieskamp helped the Phoenix extend their lead early in the third quarter, and by the end of the period, Tasmania found themselves down by 13 points. The fourth quarter saw the Phoenix explode offensively, hitting seven three-pointers and closing the game with a 14-0 run.

Despite the loss, Scott Roth expressed optimism about the development of younger players like Nick Stoddart, who had a standout game with 14 points, two steals, and two blocks. "This is going to expedite their development. Playing these big minutes, perhaps earlier than they’re ready for, is how you grow. Nick has shown he’s capable out there, and it’s exciting to see his progress," Roth commented.

Jordon Crawford led the JackJumpers with 18 points and five assists, while Gorjok Gak, Milton Doyle, and Clint Steindl each contributed 11 points. Roth highlighted the team’s collective effort, despite the challenges: "Our margin of error is zero. It is what it is, but I was quite pleased with the first two and a half quarters of staying with it. A couple of these young kids, like Nick, had a really good game, and it’s exciting to see them play."

The JackJumpers shot just 41% from the field compared to the Phoenix’s 57%. South East Melbourne’s Matt Hurt dominated with 29 points and six rebounds, while Joe Wieskamp added 20 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks.

Looking ahead, the JackJumpers now sit at 12-14, narrowly outside the top six, with three games remaining in their regular season. Despite the loss, the team displayed moments of resilience and will look to regroup as they prepare to face Illawarra Hawks Thursday. Roth emphasized the importance of maintaining the team’s core values: "Motivated values are what get you through, whether it’s a good game or a tough one. That’s what we’ve relied on for the past four years, and we’ll keep building on that."

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 116 (Hurt 29, Wieskamp 20, Foxwell 14)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 80 (Crawford 18, Stoddart 14, Steindl 11, Doyle 11, Gak 11)

BOX SCORE