JackJumpers prevail, but Cook stars for Phoenix

Tyler Cook was mighty impressive in his first appearance for the South East Melbourne Phoenix but it was the standout depth of the Tasmania JackJumpers that saw them prevail 97-84.

It was the opening game on the Gold Coast at the NBL Blitz for 2023 two weeks out from the start of NBL24 with the JackJumpers once again showing why they have made the finals in their first two seasons in the league.

Tasmania finished the game with five players scoring in double-figures, another four scoring at least seven points and it's that team first mentality that looks set to again be their calling card in NBL24.

While the JackJumpers were impressive with the 13-point win, the signs were exciting for South East Melbourne too especially with how Will Cummings produced and then with how injury replacement big man Cook performed in the absence of Alan Williams.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&#39;s showtime at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBLBlitz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBLBlitz</a> ? <br><br>Watch every game live &amp; free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch at <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/0DlGC51CRu">pic.twitter.com/0DlGC51CRu</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1702952231971049839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was quite the high octane start to the NBL Blitz too with the two teams combining for 54 points in the opening quarter with the Phoenix leading 29-25 by quarter-time.

However, the JackJumpers worked on top with 29 points to 18 in the second quarter with Jack McVeigh leading the charge fresh off playing in Germany this off-season.

Tasmania would lead 54-47 by half-time and then despite South East Melbourne doing well to make a game of it in the absence of Williams, Mitch Creek, Matt Kenyon and Gorjok Gak, the JackJumpers were too deep and too well drilled to run out 13-point victors.

It was the all-round contributions that was most impressive for Tasmania in the win with Fabijan Krslovic ending up top-scoring with 16 points to go with six rebounds on 7/11 shooting.

McVeigh added 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals with 3/5 three-point shooting while Sean Macdonald had 13 points and four assists fresh off an NBL1 North season at the Darwin Salties.

Junior Madut added 11 points, three rebounds and three assists for the JackJumpers, Anthony Drmic 10 points and six assists, Milton Doyle eight points and four assists, and Marcus Lee eight points and four boards even though he managed just 13 and-a-half minutes before fouling out in the third period.

The story of the game for the Phoenix was the performance of Tyler Cook. Signed as an injury replacement for Alan Williams, he starred showing he could hold down a regular roster spot in the league as a dynamic big man finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler Cook HAMMERED IT home ? <br><br>Watch every game live &amp; free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch at <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/LTkI01QDXk">pic.twitter.com/LTkI01QDXk</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1702960944987439387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Will Cummings showed encouraging signs too with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists while Reuben Te Rangi contributed 17 points coming off playing with New Zealand at the FIBA World Cup.

Craig Moller also showed he is warming up nicely for his return to the NBL by starting and putting up eight points and two rebounds in almost 18 minutes for South East Melbourne. 

The Phoenix will be next in action on Monday evening taking on the defending champion Sydney Kings while the JackJumpers next face the New Zealand Breakers on Tuesday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 97 (Krslovic 16, McVeigh 13, Macdonald 13)
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 84 (Cook 18, Cummings 17, Te Rangi 17) 

BOX SCORE