JackJumpers Keep Hot Form Going

The Tasmania JackJumpers might have got off to a shaky start in NBL23 but that sure didn’t last and now they are on an impressive three-game winning run after beating Melbourne United 74-64 on Sunday.

The JackJumpers and United clashed at John Cain Arena for the first time since their memorable semi-final series last season, and Tasmania kept its impressive run going not only this season but also against Melbourne.

Despite United being the regular season champions last season, Tasmania has now won five of the seven meetings between the two clubs and once again their defence, hustle and efficient offence made them mighty tough to beat.

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Tasmania closed the opening quarter with a 12-2 run, led by 13 at half-time and then still by 15 throughout the fourth term on the way to a third straight victory after losing the first three of NBL23.

The JackJumpers were right back at their best to hold Melbourne to 64 points while taking three extra field goals and nine more free-throws. Tasmania also collected 41 rebounds to 33 and 11 offensive boards to six for 13 second chance points to two.

They did enough offensively too with Fabijan Krslovic finishing with 13 points and three rebounds, Rashard Kelly 13 points and 12 boards, and Josh Magette 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Jarrad Weeks hit another couple of threes for eight points with Jack McVeigh adding eight points, and Milton Doyle seven to go with five rebounds and three assists.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was delighted that his team produced a trademark performance for the win.

"We've been a work under progress and every week we've tried to tidy up some things here and there," Roth said. 

"This is a classic JackJumpers win for me with the grit and grind we showed, defending the island and just getting after them. This is the way I love to play and our guys in the last 10 days have really responded to the incremental improvements that we needed. 

"We've been travelling around quite a bit ourselves and no one bitches and moans, we just go out and do the jobs. I've just got a great bunch of guys."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josh Magette gives United the sting and Tassie their third win ? ? <br><br>Watch live &amp; free ? 10Peach/10play/Kayo Freebies | Every game live on ESPN via Kayo &amp; Foxtel. <a href="https://t.co/wMKJUds6m3">pic.twitter.com/wMKJUds6m3</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1581508254026199041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

United couldn’t quite back up their performance to win in Perth on Friday night despite drawing back level early in the third quarter.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes top-scored with 18 points to go with seven rebounds while Rayjon Tucker finished with 15 points and three boards, Isaac Humphries eight points and four rebounds, and David Barlow eight points, seven boards and four assists.

United coach Dean Vickerman was disappointed his team couldn’t find a way to execute through the JackJumpers' defence.

"We are just not at a point right now where our counters are good enough to their pressure to keep the basketball moving," Vickerman said.

"I thought we grew in Perth where at times we moved the basketball and with some precision, but tonight they came aggressive at us and we got stuck with the basketball. 

"By the time we were able to move it they were all set on the next phase of play, and we'd try to create the next advantage, and it didn’t happen so it became one-on-one. 

"The biggest disappointment for me was that when we get stuck with it or play one-on-one we're not good enough right now to either get to the foul line or finish plays."

While Jack McVeigh did open the game with a three ball for Tasmania, Melbourne had the better of the early stages with the next six points with key trio Isaac Humphries, Rayjon Tucker and Xavier Rathan-Mayes all scoring.

However, the JackJumpers soon got rolling and finished the opening quarter on a 12-2 run to lead 22-14 at quarter-time on the back of pulling down 12 rebounds to Melbourne's five.

It was much the same story in the second period where the JackJumpers continued to dominate the glass and went into half-time with 27 rebounds to 11 including seven at the offensive end for 11 second chance points.

That helped Tasmania take a 42-29 advantage into the main break even despite a late triple from United veteran David Barlow.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jack McVeigh ??????????? launching the first bucket of the game ?<br><br>Watch the game live &amp; free ? 10Peach/10play/Kayo Freebies | Every game live on ESPN via Kayo &amp; Foxtel. <a href="https://t.co/HfSKjhZi5Z">pic.twitter.com/HfSKjhZi5Z</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1581482856005570560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

United needed to respond quickly in the second hand and it couldn’t have began better as they fired off the opening 13 points including the first three buckets to Rathan-Mayes, and then a three ball from Chris Goulding.

All of a sudden scores were level in the space of less than three minutes, but the JackJumpers weren’t deterred and got back to work, and scored the next 10 points themselves including a three from Josh Magette and and-one play from Matt Kenyon.

Rashard Kelly then ensured the JackJumpers remained in control leading 61-51 by three quarter-time before the visitors hit the opening five points of the fourth term topped off with Jarrad Weeks continuing his remarkable three-point shooting this season.

There would be no coming back from there for Melbourne with Tasmania going on to win a third straight game in impressive fashion.

United now remain at home to play host to the Cairns Taipans on Thursday night while the JackJumpers are back on their home court on Saturday night hosting the Perth Wildcats.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 3

MELBOURNE UNITED 64 (Rathan-Mayes 18, Tucker 15, Humphries 8, Barlow 8)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 74 (Krslovic 13, Kelly 13, Magette 10)

BOX SCORE