Phoenix Finals Flame Extinguished

South East Melbourne will be playing for pride in their last two home games of season 2022.

The Phoenix were unable to overcome the determined Tasmania JackJumpers, who had too much firepower in an insane third quarter for the Phoenix to handle.

It means the Phoenix cannot catch the Perth Wildcats, who currently occupy fourth place on the ladder.

After Xavier Munford scored the first five points of the game, Tasmania ground it out in a dour first quarter that had the two teams tied up at 19-all at the end of one. Almost all of the Phoenix points were scored by Mitch Creek (8) and Munford (7).

A blistering second-quarter burst blew the lead out to 14 points, with Creek and Munford continuing to roll and Izayah Le’Afa chipping in.

A three-pointer to JackJumper Jarrod Weekes on the halftime buzzer trimmed the lead to 12 points.

That gave the visitors a spark and they went on an incredible scoring blitz as nothing went right and the defence broke down for the Phoenix.

It was 32 points to 18 in the third as the JackJumpers stole back the lead thanks to Jack McVeigh and Josh Adams, who each had eclipsed 20 by the last break.

In the last, it went blow for blow, but the JackJumpers had too much grit for the Phoenix, despite an epic night from Mitch Creek, who tried to put the team on his back with 27 points. Munford also tried hard with 17, but the Phoenix supporting cast couldn’t quite follow.

(Zhou Qi looking to attack the rim.)

The Result

South East Melbourne Phoenix 80-84 Tasmania JackJumpers

The Numbers

Phoenix
Creek: 27 points, 7 rebounds
Munford: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

JackJumpers
McVeigh: 26 points, 9 rebounds
Adams: 23 points

(Mitch Creek had another great outing with 27 points.)

The Player of the Game

Mitch Creek
Every time the Phoenix needed a bucket, the star forward was there to deliver. He brought them back into it in the first, crashed the glass, keyed the big second-quarter lead, stepped up late in the third and then brought it in the last, making big play after big play.

The Play of the Game

Mitch Creek
A delightful pinpoint crosscourt skip pass from Le’Afa to Munford gave the import the chance to penetrate baseline and drop it off for a streaking Creek to rise up and throw down a ferocious two-handed hammer. It was Creek’s 13th and 14th points of the night and gave the Phoenix and eight-point lead.

(Xavier Munford was on fire in the first half.)

From the Coach
“Nothing changes for the next two games, we’ve given ourselves a chance to have a look at Owen Foxwell, he’s come on and done some really good defensive work for us. For us as a team, we’ve had this conversation before, even at 11-5, we’ve said, look, we’re just scratching the surface, we’re really quite a ways off where we need to be on both sides of the ball. Our endeavours at that point are no different to our endeavours right now and that’s to put a team out there that can play 40 minutes of basketball, execute both sides of the ball and come out victors.”
-Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell on his approach to the last two games.

From the Player
“We have to go and show these amazing supporters and Phoenix fans that we are here to play and perform for them and show them that their hard-earned money is well spent, because we need to go and show them all the due respect they deserve.
-Mitch Creek on the motivation to reward Phoenix fans for the last two games of the season.