STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Tasmania spoil Ian Clark's Phoenix debut

The Tasmania JackJumpers were battle hardened and recorded just a third home win of the season to stay solid in sixth position withstanding a late scare to beat the South East Melbourne Phoenix 87-84.

The JackJumpers were playing a fourth game in nine days while the Phoenix were playing their first in that same period, and it showed from the start with the home team on fire early at My State Bank Arena.

Majok Deng put up nine points in the first to help Tasmania to the 23-15 lead by quarter-time which they converted to a 49-33 half-time edge on the back of a combined 25 points on 8/14 shooting from Deng and Bryce Hamilton.

Only Nathan Sobey was keeping South East Melbourne afloat hitting his team's only two three-pointers of the half for 14 points while the rest of the team managed just 19 points on 5/26 shooting.

The Phoenix started to find their feet in the second half, though, and got all the way back within four with a three from Jordan Hunter with just over a minute to play.

It was then just one when Hamilton missed two free throws for Tasmania and Sobey hit a monster three up the other end from way downtown.

Deng was fouled up the other end and made both for the JackJumpers, but the Phoenix had a chance to send it to overtime with Sobey getting two good looks at a three that didn’t quite fall for the home team to hold on by three.

On the back of that hot start to the game, Deng starred for the JackJumpers finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds including going 6/8 from the foul line on a night where his teammates combined to go 13/24 to keep the Phoenix in touch.

Even though Tasmania opened up a 19-point lead on the Phoenix, South East Melbourne willed themselves back into the game taking better care of the ball in the second half and finishing with 20 offensive rebounds.

With David Johnson fouled out for Tasmania, the Phoenix threatened to pull off the huge comeback when Sobey slotted his fifth three-pointer with 21 seconds remaining to make it a one-point ball game.

But Sobey then intentionally fouled Deng, who made two crucial free throws to ultimately seal the win.

After Sobey missed two triples, the Phoenix still had possession after a timeout with 1.8 seconds left but new signing Ian Clark couldn’t get off a good look.

Bryce Hamilton finished with 17 points and four assists for Tasmania with Josh Bannan adding 11 points and seven boards, Johnson nine points in just 20 minutes, and Tyger Campbell nine points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Sobey continued his career-best form for South East Melbourne with another 27 points and five assists with 5/13 three-point shooting.

Owen Foxwell ended up with 17 points and five rebounds with John Brown III pulling down another 10 rebounds including four that were offensive to go with 13 points with the Phoenix +9 in his 31:35 of court time.

Former NBA and NBL championship winner Ian Clark, who has been part of the past two Championship Series' with Melbourne United, made his Phoenix debut and had seven points and four assists in over 15 minutes.

The Phoenix will have a 48-hour turnaround to play on New Year's Eve against the Taipans in Cairns.

FULL TIME STATS

Sobey: 27p/2r/5a/2stl
Foxwell: 17p/5r/1a
Brown III: 13p/10r/1a/1stl
Hunter: 9p/8r/1blk
Clark: 7p/2r/4a
Aliir: 6p/7r/3a
Glover: 3p/5r/1a
Iwundu: 2p/3r/1a
Lewis: 2r/1a/2stl/1blk

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