JackJumpers beat 36ers with best performance of season

The Tasmania JackJumpers have consolidated a top four NBL position after blowing the game open against the Adelaide 36ers in the second quarter before building on that advantage for the 98-82 home win.

It was a pivotal match up for both teams at MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night with them locked in the battle for a playoff position, and the JackJumpers proved too strong in front of another vocal home crowd of 4293 in Hobart.

Tasmania did threaten to blow the game open in the first quarter going up eight, but it was in the second term when they did so on the back of a pair of three-point bombs to Sean Macdonald and another to Jack McVeigh.

That helped Tasmania to a 10-point half-time lead and for most of the second half they maintained that advantage before McVeigh just wouldn’t be denied.

McVeigh brought the fans to their feet throughout the fourth quarter knocking down another three three-pointers to finish the game with 28 points points on shooting 6/7 from downtown and lead Tasmania to an edge as much as 18 points before winning by 16.

It was a critical result too with the win improving the JackJumpers to a 13-10 record to stay in fourth spot, but closing in on the 13-8 New Zealand Breakers. Adelaide slips to 11-11 after consecutive losses.

On top of McVeigh's heroics, Milton Doyle finished with 28 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals for the JackJumpers with Rashard Kelly coming up big too with 19 points, five boards, three assists and two steals on 6/8 shooting from the floor and 7/9 at the foul line.

Sean Macdonald hit three first half threes too for nine points while Josh Magette might have shot just 2/10 but did have five points, five rebounds and five assists.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth ranked the performance the best from his team this season.

"For me, I think it was our best game probably all year in my eyes just with the consistency of playing through four quarters, and not having a lot of ebb and floor, or ups and downs," Roth said.

"That was something that we've been inconsistent quite a bit and this was just a solid effort across the board. I'm really proud of the group and guys are coming in, Clint Steindl didn’t play last game and gets in and is effective in his 14 minutes or so. 

"Guys are doing the right things and are all in about representing this team, this state and building this thing. It's nice to get across the line against a very talented team."

Both teams were coming off losses and desperate to consolidate a playoff spot, and while Anthony Drmic scored first with a three for Adelaide, Tasmania soon got going with the next eight points starting with a dunk from Will Magnay and then strong finishes from Rashard Kelly.

Milton Doyle kept the JackJumpers on top with a three-point play before Ian Clark hit the floor and sparked Adelaide from beyond the arc. It was then Jack McVeigh and Sean Macdonald's turn to do the same for Tasmania and their three-pointers helped the home team lead 23-17 at quarter-time.

Things remained tight through much of the second quarter until in the lead up to half-time, Tasmania caught fire with a 9-0 run made up of a pair of three-pointers from Macdonald and another from McVeigh.

That pushed the JackJumpers out to a 10-point lead which is where things stayed at half-time with McVeigh and Macdonald combining for 23 points on 5/7 three-point shooting.

Again the possession game was key for Tasmania's lead with their nine offensive rebounds helping them take nine extra field goals and despite Adelaide shooting better percentages, the home team was in control.

Robert Franks was feeling good to start the second half for Adelaide knocking down three three-pointers, but Tasmania kept control of the contest including a run of Doyle nailing three triples of his own in a matter of minutes.

Another late long ball from McVeigh saw Tasmania remain leading 69-61 by three quarter-time, and then two more bombs by McVeigh early in the fourth saw the JackJumpers open up a game high 11-point edge.

That didn’t stay the biggest margin for long with Kelly continuing a strong game pushing the lead to 16, and then another three ball from McVeigh made it 17 and Tasmania went on to win by 16.

The JackJumpers now don't play again until hosting the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday in Launceston. 

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 15

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 98 (Doyle 28, McVeigh 28, Kelly 19)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 82 (Franks 24, Dech 9, Cleveland 8, Johnson 8) 

BOX SCORE