36ers open NBL22 account in Tasmania

The Adelaide 36ers have opened their account under coach CJ Bruton this #NBL22 season controlling most of the contest and then holding on late to beat the Tasmania JackJumpers 83-80 on Thursday night.

The Sixers opened the 2021/22 NBL season with losses last week in Perth to the Wildcats and at home to the Illawarra Hawks, but they returned to Tasmania to open Round 2 on Thursday where they had won all five of their Blitz match ups.

Despite conceding the first five points, Adelaide was on top virtually the rest of the way including leading by as much as 14 points in the first half, and then still by 13 with 7:30 left on the clock.

Sixers import Todd Withers had done a tremendous defensive job on JackJumpers guard Josh Adams, but when he fouled out, Adams cut loose and put up 11 points in no time to give his side a late sniff on their home floor at MyState Bank Arena.

However, the two biggest plays of the game were made by 36ers shooting guard Dusty Hannahs. It started when he jacked up a three to beat the shot clock with just over a minute left. It went down to mark his first three-pointer in the NBL.

Then on the next possession, he made a cool play and hit a floater to again beat the shot clock and ultimately that was enough to secure the three-point win for Adeliade.

Adelaide's turnover count at 16 was again a concern but it was a better all-round performance from the 36ers with Hannahs ending up top-scoring with 15 points and four assists on 4/6 shooting from the field and 6/6 from the foul line.

Hannahs was just happy to contribute to the win at the end of the day after a tough couple of outings to start his NBL career.

"I had a tough first two games and I felt like I let my teammates down, and the staff and everybody," Hannahs said.

"Today was just about getting back on track and the team getting a win. I'm glad I was able to get that three in a time when we needed it."

Daniel Johnson added another 14 points for Adelaide, Cam Bairstow nine points and five rebounds, Mitch McCarron nine points and six rebounds, and Withers nine points, three boards and two assists.

Mojave King stepped up to hit 3/4 from three-point land for 10 points and three assists with Manny Malou making his NBL debut and delivering six points on 2/3 shooting from deep. 

Isaac Humphries also finished the night with six points, six rebounds and two steals with Tad Dufelmeier returning to Tasmania and producing five points, two rebounds and two assists.

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton was delighted to get his first win and especially was impressed with the defensive efforts of Withers before he fouled out.

"I'm definitely happy and happy for the team. I'm happy for the 36ers and I'm excited to be on the board. But I hope to get many more," Bruton said.

"At different times we are going to need different guys to step up, but Todd is an amazing athlete and can defend multiple positions. 

"He was unfortunate on some of those calls but as I remind him, just stick with it and the league is going to recognise just how talented he is on the defensive end of the floor, and try to go away from who he is defending a lot more."

It was a slow start for the Sixers who went scoreless in the opening three minutes, but they then warmed into the game nicely starting with Dusty Hannahs opening the scoring.

That turned into a run of nine straight points for Adelaide topped off with a three ball from Cam Bairstow. There was a scare with Todd Withers suffering cramp, but Mojave King replaced him and immediately knocked down a pair of three-pointers.

Manny Malou then marked his NBL debut and connected from deep to put the 36ers up six, and their lead was still 25-22 after one.

Adelaide opened up the second quarter in dominant fashion at both ends. The Sixers went on a 13-2 run in the opening five minutes while keeping the JackJumpers to without a field goal in that time.

That included three balls to Mitch McCarron and Withers who returned to the floor, and despite 15 points from Tasmania captain Clint Steindl, Adelaide was in control 42-34 at the half-time break.

Daniel Johnson might have only had two points in the first half, but he had five quickly to start the second half to keep Adelaide on top. 

Triples to Malou and King then kept the JackJumpers at bay before the 36ers closed the third quarter with the last five points to be up 66-56 by three quarter-time.

Five straight points to Johnson saw Adelaide's lead grow to 13 again early in the fourth quarter, but the JackJumpers refused to go away and the Sixers' turnover count continued to mount.

Then when Withers fouled out, Josh Adams got on a roll to give Tasmania a sniff but ultimately it was two clutch buzzer-beating shots from Hannahs that sealed Adelaide's first win of the new season.

The 36ers will head back to Adelaide and host the New Zealand Breakers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 2

ADELAIDE 36ERS 83 (Hannahs 15, Johnson 14, King 10)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 80 (Steindl 22, Adams 15, Magette 11)

BOX SCORE 

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