Illawarra Hawks 86 (Reath 25 points 9 rebounds 3 blocks, Cleveland 20 points)
defeated by
Tasmania JackJumpers 96 (Adams 28 points, McDaniel 20 Magette 16 points 5 assists)
Boxscore
Summary
In one of the more extraordinary games of basketball we’ve seen in NBL22, the Tasmania JackJumpers put together an impressive effort at both ends of the floor to upset the Illawarra Hawks 96-86 in Wollongong.
A lot was made (ourselves included) of how the a shorthanded Tasmania, without starting centre Will Magnay, would match up against one the NBL’s bigger front courts such as the Hawks Duop Reath and Sam Froling.
But Tasmania simply out played and outmuscled their bigger opponents for 40 minutes. They played hard nosed defence, boxed out and made every hawks offensive possession a grind.
They outrebounded the taller hawks 45-41, including 17-16 on the offensive rebounds. Jack McVeigh and Mikyle Mcintosh were huge in this area, combining for nine offensive boards between them, with some huge boards down the stretch in the final quarter.
But the night belonged to the shooters, where the the JackJumpers seemed inspired by the NBA 3 point contest earlier that day, as they set an NBL 21/22 season record of 21 made threes at 52% shooting from outside. The hawks simply had no answer, with 6 different JackJumpers knocking down three point baskets.
“I think they’re the best team at moving the ball, spreading the floor, and the court got real spread when they were shooting the ball like that, “Illawarra coach Brian Goorijan said.
“That’s hard to beat, its like you felt like you’re playing the Phoenix Suns out there,” he said.
The match began as a clash of basketball styles, that you rarely see outside of US college basketball. Illawarra went inside at every opportunity and got to the foul line. While Tasmania patiently used the full 24 seconds of each possession, got the ball through plenty of hands, and looked for an open shot.
McVeigh got the visitors going early with two straight baskets from outside, but those were the only field goals for the opening 7 minutes. Duop Reath was cleaning up on the offensive glass and getting to the line as the home team jumped to a 14-6 lead. But late threes to McDaniel, Adams and Steindl closed out the quarter to keep Tasmania in the game 22-20.
The second quarter could be summed up in two words: Sam McDaniel. After losing his starting role to Matt Kenyon earlier this month, he came off the bench for 15 points for the quarter, shooting 100% from the field. His halftime tally of 20 points was a career high, as he took the JackJumpers into the second half with the lead 46-43.
It’s a clinic from the arc. Sammy Mac lookin good💥 #FEARTHESTING pic.twitter.com/N40yzauhWH
— Tasmania JackJumpers 🐜 (@JackJumpers) February 20, 2022
After shooting the lights out from outside in the first half, Brian Goorjian and the hawks fans were expecting the the JackJumpers hot shooting to drop off and order to be restored. Much as what happened last seek, when Tasmania faded out against the Phoenix, going 1-13 from long range in the second half.
But the onslaught continued, with Josh Magette at the helm, he continued to find open players to knock down shots. Duop Reath was playing a lone hand on offence for the Hawks as he continued to find baskets under the rim and get to the foul line. Tasmania rotated through its bigs as they racked up fouls trying to contain the Australian Boomers big man.
The final quarter began with the visitors ahead in double figures. However a number of key defensive plays by Illawarra saw the lead cut to six points and the local fans sensed a comeback. The offence was appearing to dry up for Tasmania, but Josh Adams was having nothing of it. The man from Phoenix had the hot hand, scoring 14 of his 28 points in the final quarter, killing off any hopes of a Hawks comeback.
22 threes – the most by any team in #NBL22 ✅
— Tasmania JackJumpers 🐜 (@JackJumpers) February 20, 2022
Adams with 8/11 from the arc.
📺 @ESPNAusNZ via @kayosports #FEARTHESTING pic.twitter.com/pCcg3h3bW3
“My teammates have given me confidence since day one regardless of what’s being said,” Josh Adams said after the game to ESPN.
“You know I can shoot the ball a little bit. But when you’ve got a guy like Sammy Mac that scores 20 in the first half it takes a lot of focus away. Jack McVeigh hit some threes, Clint hit some threes, you know you can only guard so many people so everything that they did on the floor opened it up for me,” Josh Adams said.
Clint Steindl commented after the game that despite being down players at times, the team is sticking together in their debut season.
“We understand we’re a first year team and we’ve probably got a whole heap of stuff going against us with that. So there’s no point turning on each other when we’re losing”.
“We stick together as a group, we win as a team and lose as a team, and that how we look at it,” Clint Stendl said.
Embed from Getty ImagesKey takeaways from the game
Team effort on the boards
A mentioned earlier, with their key big man out, the the JackJumpers attacked the glass as a team. Nobody dominated, but seven players registered 4 rebounds or more.
Shooting records
The 21 made three point shots ties the record for most 3’s made in an NBL season in the 40 minute era. They match Melbourne United 22 made 3’s in 2014.
After getting the starting gig last week, Jock Perry was back to a “DNP- coaches decision” in this game. Jarrad Bairstow was starting centre, with McIntosh and Krislovic handling Centre duties.
Up next – the JackJumpers have a five day break before taking on the Bullets in Brisbane on Saturday. Then backing up against the Wildcats on Monday in Hobart.
