Sixers can't quite close deal against JackJumpers

The Adelaide 36ers did a lot right for a lot of the night in Hobart on Friday, but in the end the Tasmania JackJumpers finished the stronger to claim the 76-71 victory.

The Sixers came into the game looking to continue a good run at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena. They won the NBL Blitz in Tasmania back in November going through undefeated and then also beat the JackJumpers in Round 2 of the #NBL22 season.

Even in the absence of key pair Isaac Humphries and captain Mitch McCarron, the Sixers started well. It was Dusty Hannahs who set the tone, he was more aggressive and put up 11 points in the first quarter alone.

Adelaide was able to open up a 12-point lead and were still up six at half-time and by seven at three quarter-time even with an almost five-minute scoring drought to start the second half.

The Sixers still led 69-67 after a Sunday Dech three with 3:30 left in the game, but the rest didn’t play out how the 36ers hoped with Tasmania finishing with a 9-2 run to end up winning by five.

The 24 turnovers Adelaide coughed up and 20 offensive rebounds allowed to the JackJumpers didn’t help, but it wasn’t a night without positives.

Hannahs finished with 22 points while Cam Bairstow did a power of work once again for 11 points, 18 rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists.

Kai Sotto showed encouraging signs with 12 points too while Daniel Johnson finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. 

Sunday Dech had five points and four rebounds, Tad Dufelmeier four points, three boards and three assists, Todd Withers three points and four rebounds, Mojave King two points and Hyrum Harris two points and two boards.

It was an understandably flat Sixers coach CJ Bruton after the game.

"It's definitely frustration and I'm a little disappointed with how we sort of gifted that game away," Bruton said.

"The turnover count wasn’t all in the back court, it was in the front court too and the offensive rebounding gave them an extra 20 shots. Anyone who gets 20 extra shots has a pretty good lead on you to start with. 

"I thought we did a good job for almost three quarters doing the little things that got us the lead and kept us in front."

Todd Withers and Cam Bairstow helped Adelaide to a 4-0 opening to the game before Daniel Johnson and Dusty Hannahs combined for the next eight points for the team for the 12-9 edge.

Hannahs then continued to warm up nicely hitting a three from way downtown, a pair of free throws and another jumper in the space of just over a minute. He had 11 points to quarter-time and the Sixers were up 24-15.

Johnson scored first to open the second period to stretch the Sixers lead to 12, but some turnovers began to creep back in for the 36ers and the JackJumpers were slowly working their way back into the contest.

Bairstow was a steadying influence under the rim for the Sixers and he helped himself to seven quick points to stretch the lead back out to eight, and Adelaide was still on top 47-41 going into half-time.

It wasn’t the start to the second half the 36ers were after, giving up the first six points to the JackJumpers and not scoring for almost five full minutes until a clever tuarnound jumper from Hannahs.

Tad Dufelmeier added a jumper of his own on the next possession before Sunday Dech scored on a good drive and Hannahs nailed his second three of the game.

Mojave King threw down a dunk as well to ensure the 36ers still led 59-52 by three quarter-time.

The JackJumpers opened up the fourth quarter strongly with an 11-3 run before a steadying bucket to Hannahs with just over six minutes on the clock.

Hannahs hit another jumper soon after to reclaim the lead for Adelaide and then Dech was able to hit a three, but for the last three and-a-half minutes the Sixers only scored once. Up the other end, the JackJumpers raked in the offensive rebounds, scored nine points and won by five.

The Sixers now have a short turnaround to returning home to host the on-fire Melbourne United at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 9

ADELAIDE 36ERS 71 (Hannahs 22, Sotto 12, Bairstow 11) 

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 76 (Adams 24, Magette 16, Kenyon 9)

BOX SCORE