TASMANIA JackJumpers had the measure of South East Melbourne Phoenix again last night, defeating the Victorian side by three points in a thrilling game of two halves at MyState Bank Arena. The JackJumpers lead by 16 points at half-time, before the Phoenix stormed home only to fall three points short at full-time.

Tasmania JackJumpers (87) def. South East Melbourne Phoenix (84)

In a battle between two NBL Finals hopefuls, it was the home side that raced out of the blocks to lead 23-15 at quarter time. Before long that lead grew to as much as 19 points, and the JackJumpers held a 16-point buffer at half-time.

South East Melbourne started to turn the tables after the main break, outscoring the Jackies 23-17 and putting it back to a 10-point deficit heading into the final term. Despite still trailing by 11 points with twp and a half minutes remaining, the Phoenix kept coming. They closed the gap within one point when Nathan Sobey nailed a pull up jumper with 21 seconds left on the clock.

However Majok Deng held his nerve off the deliberate foul to hit both free-throws and make it a three-point game again. Sobey took a couple of shots that were both missed from beyond the arc, and after a timeout and set play by the Phoenix to get it to star inclusion Ian Clark with two seconds remaining, a crucial block from Tasmania’s Bryce Hamilton denied the visitors the most unlikely of score levellers.

Deng finished as the Player of the Match, picking up 21 points – including three of seven from beyond the arc – and seven rebounds, while Hamilton (17 points, four assists and two rebounds) was also busy. Josh Bannan contributed 11 points and seven rebounds in the victory, while skipper Will Magnay managed six points, three rebounds and two assists alongside Tyger Campbell (nine points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals).

Sobey was a star for the Phoenix, draining five of 13 from beyond the arc which helped tally up 27 points, while also recording five assists, two rebounds and two steals. Owen Foxwell (17 points, five rebounds) was lively, while John Brown III picked up a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. In his Phoenix debut, Clark managed seven points, four assists and two rebounds across a limited 15 and a half minutes.

Tasmania JackJumpers’ busy schedule of five games in 11 games comes to an end on New Year’s Eve as they travel to face Illawarra Hawks at the WIN Entertainment Centre, while the Phoenix also have an away trip tomorrow night, heading to Cairns to meet the Taipans.