Tassie get the jump to defeat 36ers

An opening half avalanche has helped Tasmania JackJumpers to a 94-59 win against Adelaide 36ers at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart on Saturday night.

The JackJumpers, fresh off a two-week break, faced an Adelaide side who had travelled from Christchurch less than 48 hours prior, came out on fire led by Milton Doyle and Jack McVeigh.

Doyle scored a game-high 20 points to go with six assists and five rebounds, while McVeigh added 14 points with six rebounds.

DJ Vasiljevic toiled hard for a team-high 15 points with three rebounds, while Jacob Wiley added 14 points and six rebounds and Alex Starling was a real spark with eight rebounds, four points, three assists and two blocks.

A three-pointer from Anthony Drmic, an alley-oop to Marcus Lee and a triple from McVeigh gave the home side an opening 8-1 lead before Isaac Humphries scored down on the low block.

Humphries scored the 36ers’ first five points, then Wiley got going at the offensive end as Adelaide cut the Tasmania lead back to 18-12.

But the hosts finished the opening 10 minutes with a 7-0 run to take a 25-15 lead into the first break.

Adelaide lifted the intensity of the contest to start the second quarter, Humphries continued to win the battle under the hoop, reducing the Tasmania lead to just six points.

Another 7-0 run from Tasmania gave the JackJumpers a double-digit lead as Doyle looked to take over the game.

The 36ers offense dried up as McVeigh scored four straight points as the JackJumpers took a 45-23 lead into the main interval.

Humphries and Wiley’s advantage inside saw Tasmania start Will Magnay in the second half, but Humphries scored the opening basket of the third quarter.

But Tasmania found another scoring run, the home side going on a 17-0 run to extend their lead to a game-high at 62-25 before Cadee swished a three-pointer.

Vasiljevic started to attack the hoop, getting to the free throw line as Trentyn Flowers, Starling, Kyrin Galloway and Nick Marshall came on to add some spark, but the hosts took a 73-43 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Starling and Galloway scored the opening two baskets of the 36ers looked revitalised early in the final quarter at both ends of the floor.

But the JackJumpers had all the momentum as the 36ers finished the road trip 0-2 and will now face Cairns Taipans on Brett Maher Court at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre next Saturday night.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 94 (Doyle 20, MacDonald 15, McVeigh 14) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 59 (Vasiljevic 15, Wiley 14) at MyState Bank Arena, Hobart.

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