After being down double figures for long periods of the match, a JackJumpers late comeback almost saw them steal a win from the visiting Brisbane Bullets, going down 74-72 in Hobart.
The two sides have an impressive history of tight clashes in Hobart, with both matches won by Tasmania in overtime. This one wasn’t far off a similar result, with a buzzer beater from Jack McVeigh falling short to hand Brisbane the crucial away win.
The JackJumpers struggled for consistency and never really got going until the second half. Despite this they always kept themselves in the game thanks 17 points from McVeigh. Milton Doyle ended up with 12 points, Sean Macdonald 11 points with 3/6 from outside and Josh Magette 11 points, three assists and three steals.
“When you’re playing defence at times and the ball’s not going in, you can lose track of just continuing to defend and I think that happened to us, and we got a little anxious with some open shots that missed,” JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said.
It was a tough shooting night overall for the JackJumpers, who connected on just 33% of their total shots. They particularly had trouble early in the game, where they shot 4/17 from the field in the first quarter, but thanks to some foul shooting, found themselves only down 19-14 at quarter time.
The JackJumpers shooting woes continued in the second half, Isaac White hitting thier first 3 pointer for the game midway through the second quarter, after 11 straight misses. Countering the poor shooting at the other end, Brisbane were utilising their size advantage of Aron Baynes, Harry Froling and Tyler Harrison. The three 208cm+ towered over the Tassie defenders, and Brisbane looked inside on offense to make the most of the size advantage. Pushing the lead out to a game high 18 points at half time.
The JackJumpers responded in the second half thanks to some improved ball movement on offense, they opened the quarter with a 9-0 run including back-to-back threes from Sean MacDonald. The Bullets were able to comeback with a quick 7 points of their own, but Tasmania was quickly closing the gap behind a boisterous home crowd who’d had little to cheer about in the opening half. Brisbane leading 53-64 at the final break.
Tasmania fought hard in the final quarter but were unable make significant inroads into the lead, with Sobey and Baynes consistently finding a response on offense. However with five minutes left the Bullets led 73-64 and Tasmania stepped up the defensive pressure as they started a final charge to an unlikely victory. Getting it done from the foul line they went on a 9-0 run and the pressure built on Brisbane, capped off by a botched inbounds pass that allowed Magette the simple layup to put them within two points.
Baynes hit one of his two free throws in the following play to give the JackJumpers a chance to take victory or send to overtime, but McVeigh’s running floater fell short.
I just told Jack basically to back himself and you know if wants to shoot a three i’d live with a three. The two when he drove it in there was a good look for him, those are shots that he practices,” Scott Roth said.
“I don’t mind it at all and its a great experience for a young player like that who is going to be part of this franchise for a long time to know the ball is in his hands at that moment and some of the growth is not making those shots, and having those opportunities maybe later on this year or next year and feeling confident about it,” he said.
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 72 (McVeigh 17, Doyle 12, Magette 11, Macdonald 11)
BRISBANE BULLETS 74 (Baynes 16, Sobey 14, Johnson 13)
