Match Report v SEM Phoenix (Round 8)

The NBL’s two youngest franchises faced off for the very first time, and it was the South East Melbourne Phoenix shaking off a slow start to draw first blood against the Tasmania JackJumpers at MyState Bank Area with a 76-63 win. 

The Phoenix played their first game in 28 days last Saturday and struggled against the Brisbane Bullets, and they started slowly against a JackJumpers team on Sunday as well who were playing their first game since New Year's Day.

South East Melbourne took some time finding their footing in their first ever game against the JackJumpers, conceding five turnovers in the opening five minutes to the glee of the MyState Bank Arena crowd in Hobart, with the home team piling on a 12-0 run early. 

But the JackJumpers couldn't hold on to their early advantage. Most of the damage for the Phoenix was done in a 32-15 third quarter.

With five blocks and a highlight reel alley-oop in the third quarter, Will Magnay showed plenty of the talent the one-time New Orleans Pelican possesses. He also added 10 points and eight rebounds. 

JackJumpers’ captain Clint Steindl led from the front. He was deadly from three-point range (nailing 4/9) on his way to a team-high 16 points. On the other hand, JackJumpers guard Josh Adams (four points) was unusually inaccurate, making only 2/14 field-goal attempts (14 per cent). 

Adams’ fellow import Josh Maggette (nine points) was a little better (3/13), but Scott Roth will stress to his side that they’ll struggle to win with shooting like that. 

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth took positives from the game that was their first since January 1.

"I mentioned in the locker room after the game, 20 days off regardless of what is happening is 20 days off. I thought we handled ourselves very well early on," Roth said.

"The third quarter was not good but I don't want to blame anything on COVID. We've been off 20-something days... this has nothing to do with COVID at the end of the day. 

"We did some really good things. For me, I don't get caught up in the wins and losses. We're very competitive and we want to win. For me it is about going through the process of building this roster and competing. Obviously our offence is lagging, but the ball has to go in. Our defence has to be consistent."

The JackJumpers are at home again to the Adelaide 36ers on Friday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 8
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 63 (Steindl 16, Magnay 10, Magette 9, McIntosh 9)
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 76 (Creek 19, Zhou Qi 18, Adnam 13) 

BOX SCORE