In a captivating showdown between last season’s NBL finalists, the Tasmania JackJumpers emerged victorious once again, dealing the Melbourne United their fourth consecutive defeat. The JackJumpers’ impressive 97-91 win at John Cain Arena on Monday night marked their sixth straight victory, solidifying their status as one of the league’s hottest teams.
The absence of star center Will Magnay did little to slow down Tasmania’s momentum. Point guard Jordon Crawford rose to the occasion, delivering a clutch 12-point fourth quarter performance en route to a 16-point, 6-assist stat line. The JackJumpers’ dominance over United in this venue continued, having now won eight of their last ten meetings at John Cain Arena, including their triumphant championship victory earlier this year.
JackJumpers Jump Out to Early Lead
Tasmania wasted no time asserting their authority, pouring in 36 points in the opening quarter. Captain Clint Steindl led the charge with a trio of three-pointers, contributing to the team’s six long-range makes in the period. Despite Steindl being hampered by a rolled ankle for the remainder of the game, the JackJumpers had built a commanding 14-point advantage by halftime.
United’s Brief Resurgence Falls Short
Melbourne, bolstered by the return of Chris Goulding and Marcus Lee, mounted a valiant comeback attempt. They closed the first half with a 10-0 run, trimming the deficit to just one point by the end of the third quarter. However, the JackJumpers quickly regained control in the fourth, pushing their lead back to double digits.
“We knew United would make a run, but our guys showed tremendous poise and resilience to weather the storm and close out the game strong,” said JackJumpers head coach Scott Roth.
Balanced Attack Propels Tasmania
In Magnay’s absence, the JackJumpers relied on a balanced offensive effort. Reuben Te Rangi stepped up with a season-high 15 points, drilling 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Milton Doyle and Majok Deng chipped in 11 points apiece, while Sean Macdonald provided a valuable spark off the bench with seven points and three assists.
- Jordon Crawford: 16 points, 6 assists
- Reuben Te Rangi: 15 points (season-high), 3-of-5 3PT
- Milton Doyle: 11 points
- Majok Deng: 11 points
United’s Struggles Continue
Melbourne’s loss marked their fourth in a row, a skid they haven’t experienced in over two years. Despite winning the rebounding battle and generating 17 second-chance points, United struggled from long range (10-of-32) and the charity stripe (11-of-20). The ejection of starting center Rob Loe in the fourth quarter for lashing out at Anthony Drmic only compounded their woes.
Chris Goulding led United with 18 points in his return from an ankle injury. Matthew Dellavedova posted a solid all-around effort with 16 points and nine assists, while Marcus Lee added 14 points and seven rebounds. Shea Ili stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, seven boards, and six assists in the losing effort.
“Credit to Tasmania, they played with great energy and made timely shots. We need to regroup quickly with a tough road stretch ahead of us,” said United coach Dean Vickerman.
Looking Ahead
The red-hot JackJumpers will look to extend their winning streak when they host the New Zealand Breakers on Saturday. Meanwhile, Melbourne United faces a daunting challenge as they embark on a seven-game road trip, starting with a clash against the Sydney Kings on Friday.
As the NBL season approaches its midway point, the Tasmania JackJumpers are emerging as a force to be reckoned with. Their gritty, team-oriented style of play has propelled them to the upper echelon of the league standings. With the reigning champions struggling to find consistency, the door is wide open for the JackJumpers to make another deep playoff run and potentially defend their crown.
