Match Report v Melb United (Round 2)

What a night! Our first game of the season, 'Bass Strait Battle' powered by Marinus Link, saw us raise the 2024/25 championship banner in front of a packed and electric MyState Bank Arena. The energy was incredible, and we fed off that from the moment the ball tipped. Led by a physical and relentless Will Magnay, along with some clutch shooting from Jordon Crawford, we secured a hard-fought 81-72 victory over Melbourne United.

This was no ordinary game. It was a rematch of last season’s Championship Series, and the intensity was palpable. We were back at our ferocious best, leading from the early stages and never letting go of control, with the crowd behind us every step of the way. The pregame banner ceremony, set the tone, and we hit the court determined to play like the champions we are.

Will Magnay was a beast. He took on the challenge of facing former teammate Marcus Lee and Melbourne’s veteran Rob Loe and absolutely dominated. Will finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five massive blocks, controlling both ends of the floor. His physicality and leadership helped us set the tone early and keep the pressure on throughout the game.

Of course, Jordon Crawford—our hero from last season’s Game 5—came up big once again, dropping 19 points and making critical shots when we needed them the most. It was a complete team effort, but we leaned on Jordon’s ability to create and score at key moments. His quickness was too much for Melbourne, and he kept them on their heels all night.

Milton Doyle also came through with a solid performance, contributing 13 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and dishing out three assists. Reuben Te Rangi added 11 points, including a dagger three-pointer late in the game that sealed the win. Everyone played their part in this gritty, grind-it-out victory.

Our defense was relentless. We held Melbourne United—a team that had won its first two games—to just 72 points on 33% shooting. It wasn’t always the prettiest, but we played hard, played together, and got the job done.

Coach Scott Roth was proud of the performance and the entire evening, saying:

“The banner raising was a special moment, and it was tastefully done. We knew Melbourne would be a tough challenge, but I think the fans enjoyed it, and we got down to the grit and grind of playing hard. It’s not always about pretty basketball, but it’s about being effective, and tonight was a great example of that.”

Melbourne’s coach, Dean Vickerman, acknowledged the physical nature of the contest:

“Any time these two teams play, there’s a high level of physicality. But we just weren’t good enough offensively tonight, and they did a good job of disrupting us.”

We started the game with a bang, racing out to a 9-2 lead as Crawford, Magnay, and Doyle made early impacts. By the end of the first quarter, we held a 20-14 lead, and by halftime, we had stretched it to 44-33. Melbourne tried to fight back in the second half, but each time they got close, we responded. A quick burst from Crawford and our new import Craig Sword in the fourth quarter pushed our lead to 17, and from there, we never looked back.

It was the perfect start to our season, and now we shift our focus to the next challenge. We’re on the road to face the Cairns Taipans this Friday, looking to keep the momentum rolling. Melbourne United will travel to Perth to take on the Wildcats later that night, but tonight, it’s all about celebrating a hard-earned victory with our amazing fans.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Crawford 19, Magnay 18, Doyle 13)
MELBOURNE UNITED 72 (White 21, Clark 13, Goulding 11)

BOX SCORE