NBL Round 21 (Regular Season): NZL Breakers beat Tasmania JJ by one after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 21 in the NBL took place in Hobart. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 6th ranked JackJumpers (10-12) to seventh ranked Breakers (8-13) 81-80 on Friday evening. NZL Breakers dominated down low during the game scoring 64 of its points in the paint compared to JackJumpers's 36. It was a good game for American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) who saved his team from a defeat with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals. New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) contributed with 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Breakers' coach Petteri Koponen used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Bryce Hamilton (193-2000, college: UNLV) answered with 23 points for Tasmania JJ. NZL Breakers maintains seventh place with 8-13 record. Defending champion Tasmania JJ keeps the sixth position with 12 games lost. NZL Breakers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tasmania JJ will play on the road against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Important game to mention about took place in Hobart. Sixth ranked JackJumpers (10-12) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 3rd placed Phoenix (13-7) 87-84 on Monday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Phoenix. South Sudanese forward Majok Deng (205-1993, college: ULM) stepped up and scored 21 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and Bryce Hamilton chipped in 17 points and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was the former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) with 27 points and 5 assists. Phoenix's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion maintains sixth place with 10-12 record. SE Melbourne at the other side keeps the third position with seven games lost. They share it with Sydney. Tasmania JJ will play against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round. SE Melbourne will play on the road against Cairns (#10) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
NBL top team - Adelaide 36ers (17-4) managed to deliver another win on Sunday. This time they beat fifth ranked Wildcats (11-10) in Findon 95-84. Bryce Cotton nailed 36 points (!!!) and 7 assists for the winning side. Kristian Doolittle came up with 18 points and 6 rebounds for Perth in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Adelaide 36ers have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 17-4 record. Loser Wildcats keeps the fifth position with ten games lost. Adelaide will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Perth will play against Brisbane (#9) and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 21 Illawarra H. was smashed by Sydney on the road 108-84. Brisbane lost to Melbourne Utd on its own court 87-92.



Sydney - Illawarra H. 108-84

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Kings (13-7) crushed 8th ranked Hawks (6-13) in Sydney 108-84 on Thursday. Sydney made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Illawarra H.'s players. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) nailed 27 points and 9 assists for the winning side and the former international forward Xavier Cooks (203-1995, college: Winthrop) accounted for 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). American center Javale McGee (213-1988, college: Nevada) came up with 20 points and 6 rebounds and the former international power forward Samson Froling (209-2000, college: Creighton) added 13 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Illawarra H. in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kings have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Sydney moved-up to third place, which they share with SE Melbourne. Illawarra H. lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with 13 games lost. Sydney will meet at home Brisbane (#9) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Illawarra H. will play against Tasmania JJ and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sydney: D.Kendric 27+4reb+9ast, C.Xavier 21+6reb+5ast, N.Kouat 18+3reb+2ast, G.Jaylin 12+2reb+1ast, S.Tim 8+7reb+3ast, K.Bul 7+4reb
Illawarra H.: J.McGee 20+6reb+1ast, W.Lo Buluk 15+2ast, S.Froling 13+12reb+1ast, Q.Peterson 11+4reb+3ast, W.Hickey 7+4reb+3ast, B.Jackson 6+3reb+2ast

Tasmania JJ - NZL Breakers 80-81

The most exciting game of round 21 in the NBL took place in Hobart. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 6th ranked JackJumpers (10-12) to seventh ranked Breakers (8-13) 81-80 on Friday evening. NZL Breakers dominated down low during the game scoring 64 of its points in the paint compared to JackJumpers's 36. It was a good game for American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) who saved his team from a defeat with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals. New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) contributed with 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Breakers' coach Petteri Koponen used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Bryce Hamilton (193-2000, college: UNLV) answered with 23 points and international swingman Nick Marshall (198-1999, college: Clarke) added 15 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Tasmania JJ. NZL Breakers maintains seventh place with 8-13 record. Defending champion Tasmania JJ keeps the sixth position with 12 games lost. NZL Breakers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tasmania JJ will play on the road against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
NZL Breakers: M.Sam 20+7reb+1ast, J.Parker 17+7reb+10ast, L.Karim 13+4reb+1ast, B.Robert 8+6reb, T.Reuben 8, W.Tai 7+5reb+1ast
Tasmania JJ: B.Hamilton 23+4reb+1ast, N.Marshall 15+10reb+1ast, W.Magnay 10+8reb+2ast, T.Campbell 10+2reb+1ast, B.Ayre 8+1reb+1ast, D.Johnson 7+8reb+2ast

Brisbane - Melbourne Utd 87-92

Very expected game when 9th ranked Bullets (6-16) lost to second ranked United (15-7) in Brisbane 87-92 on Saturday. Melbourne Utd looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The former international forward Kyle Bowen (203-2000, college: SMC) nailed 14 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side and the former international guard Chris Goulding (192-1988) accounted for 19 points. New Zealand center Tyrell Harrison (214-1999) came up with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds and American guard Javon Freeman-Liberty (191-1999, college: DePaul) added 21 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Brisbane in the defeat. Bullets' coach tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Melbourne Utd maintains second place with 15-7 record having just one point less than leader Adelaide. Loser Bullets keeps the ninth position with 16 games lost. Melbourne Utd will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Brisbane will play against Perth (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Melbourne Utd: G.Chris 19+2reb+2ast, W.Tyson 16+1reb+3ast, B.Kyle 14+8reb+2ast, K.Tanner 12+4reb, E.Jesse 11+4reb, D.Milton 9+3reb+8ast
Brisbane: T.Harrison 23+11reb+2ast, J.Freeman-Liberty 21+7reb+3ast, T.Taylor 15+5reb+6ast, S.McDaniel 9+5reb, A.Ducas 7+3reb+3ast, M.Norton 5+3reb+6ast

Adelaide - Perth 95-84

NBL top team - Adelaide 36ers (17-4) managed to deliver another win on Sunday. This time they beat fifth ranked Wildcats (11-10) in Findon 95-84. American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) nailed 36 points (!!!) and 7 assists for the winning side and New Zealand guard Flynn Cameron (196-2000, college: UC Riverside) accounted for 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) came up with 18 points and 6 rebounds and the other American import Dylan Windler (201-1996, college: Belmont) added 10 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Perth in the defeat. Four Perth players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Adelaide 36ers have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 17-4 record. Loser Wildcats keeps the fifth position with ten games lost. Adelaide will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Perth will play against Brisbane (#9) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Adelaide: C.Bryce 36+3reb+7ast, C.Flynn 17+6reb+5ast, V.Dejan 17+2reb+1ast, C.Zylan 8+9reb+4ast, H.Isaac 7+5reb+1ast, R.Nick 6+5reb
Perth: K.Doolittle 18+6reb+3ast, E.Pepper 12+2reb, J.Lual-Acuil 11+3reb+1ast, D.Windler 10+5reb+1ast, D.Okwera 8+3reb+1ast, B.Henshall 7+3reb+4ast

Tasmania JJ - SE Melbourne 87-84

Important game to mention about took place in Hobart. Sixth ranked JackJumpers (10-12) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 3rd placed Phoenix (13-7) 87-84 on Monday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Phoenix. SE Melbourne was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. South Sudanese forward Majok Deng (205-1993, college: ULM) stepped up and scored 21 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and American guard Bryce Hamilton (193-2000, college: UNLV) chipped in 17 points and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was the former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) with 27 points and 5 assists and American power forward John Brown III (203-1992, college: High Point) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. Phoenix's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion maintains sixth place with 10-12 record. SE Melbourne at the other side keeps the third position with seven games lost. They share it with Sydney. Tasmania JJ will play against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round. SE Melbourne will play on the road against Cairns (#10) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Tasmania JJ: D.Majok 21+7reb+1ast, H.Bryce 17+2reb+4ast, B.Josh 11+7reb+1ast, J.David 9+2reb+2ast, C.Tyger 9+3reb+3ast, A.Ben 7+1reb+5ast
SE Melbourne: N.Sobey 27+2reb+5ast, O.Foxwell 17+5reb+1ast, J.Brown III 13+10reb+1ast, J.Hunter 9+8reb, I.Clark 7+2reb+4ast, A.Akech 6+7reb+3ast