36ers fall to JackJumpers on the road

Tasmania JackJumpers were too hot when it mattered most for the Adelaide 36ers 98-82 at MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night.

Led by Jack McVeigh and Milton Doyle, the JackJumpers led at every change to run away with the 16-point success.

Robert Franks tried gallantly for the visitors, scoring a team-high 24 points, including five three-pointers.

McVeigh had a game-high 28 points to go with six rebounds, while Doyle also added 28 points as the duo stopped any momentum when the 36ers looked to counter attack.

Anthony Drmic opened the scoring with a three-pointer, the JackJumpers went on an 8-0 run to get the home crowd involved.

Adelaide tried to steady at the defensive end but couldn’t buy a basket early as the JackJumpers took an early 18-10 lead, forcing CJ Bruton into a time out.

Tasmania continued to find the hoop, a late Daniel Johnson three-pointer cut the JackJumpers margin to 23-17 at quarter time.

The 36ers started to find their groove at the offensive end to begin the second quarter, Sotto and Cleveland attacked the hoop and Franks threw down a dunk.

But the JackJumpers continued to tick the scoreboard over, swingman Jack McVeigh keeping the home side in front 31-25.

A Sunday Dech three-pointer cut the margin to 33-32, but Tasmania then connected on three straight triples, two to Sean Mcdonald and one to McVeigh as the JackJumpers took the margin to double digits.

Drmic then went coast-to-coast, but McVeigh, who scored 14 first half points, scored on the half time buzzer as Tasmania took a 46-36 lead into the main break.

After an early Sotto hoop, Franks came alive to start the third quarter, hitting back-to-back three-pointers as Adelaide looked to increase the intensity.

A third Franks triple cut the Tasmania lead to 55-51, but then Milton Doyle put the JackJumpers on his back, hitting tough shot after tough shot as the home side again built another double figure lead.

Kyrin Galloway had an instant impact from the bench, connecting on a three-pointer, then Daniel Johnson hit a triple, but McVeigh again hit a big shot as Tasmania took a 69-59 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Franks looked to spark his side, swishing a fourth triple of the night, but McVeigh’s big game continued, extending the Tasmania lead to 77-66.

As hard as Adelaide tried to make one final push, the JackJumpers had all the answers for every challenge.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 98 (McVeigh 28, Doyle 28, Kelly 19) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 82 (Franks 24) at MyState Bank Arena.

BOX SCORE