NBL Round 23 (Regular Season): Melbourne Utd is upset by Tasmania JJ

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between second ranked United (15-8) and sixth ranked JackJumpers (11-13) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. United was defeated by JackJumpers in a tough game in Hobart 75-84. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Tasmania JJ made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was international center Will Magnay (208-1998, college: Tulsa) who had a double-double by scoring 27 points and 13 rebounds. International forward Josh Bannan (208-2001, college: Montana) chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. American guard Tyson Walker (185-2000, college: Michigan St.) produced 20 points for the guests. Defending champion maintains sixth place with 11-13 record. Melbourne Utd at the other side dropped to the third position with eight games lost. Tasmania JJ are looking forward to face league's leader Adelaide in Findon in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Melbourne Utd will play at home against Cairns and is hoping to win this game.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Findon. First ranked Adelaide 36ers faced 4th placed Kings. Host Adelaide 36ers (19-4) defeated guests from Sydney (13-9) 85-79. American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists. Flynn Cameron contributed with 25 points and 4 assists (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) answered with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for Sydney. Kings' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Adelaide 36ers have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-4 record. Sydney at the other side keeps the fourth position with nine games lost. Adelaide will play against Tasmania JJ (#6) in Hobart in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Sydney will play on the road against NZL Breakers in Auckland and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Leader Adelaide 36ers delivered the nineteenth victory on Sunday night. This time they beat 9th ranked Bullets (6-18) 97-86 in Brisbane. The game was dominated by American players. It was a great evening for Zylan Cheatham who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Terry Taylor responded with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Bullets' coach tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Adelaide 36ers. They maintain first place with 19-4 record. Brisbane lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with 18 games lost. Adelaide will meet at home Tasmania JJ (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Brisbane will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 23 bottom-ranked Cairns were defeated by Illawarra H. in Wollongong 96-78. NZL Breakers were beaten by Perth at home 91-99.



Adelaide - Sydney 85-79

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Findon. First ranked Adelaide 36ers faced 4th placed Kings. Host Adelaide 36ers (19-4) defeated guests from Sydney (13-9) 85-79. American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists. New Zealand guard Flynn Cameron (196-2000, college: UC Riverside) contributed with 25 points and 4 assists (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) answered with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and the former international forward Xavier Cooks (203-1995, college: Winthrop) added 11 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Sydney. Four Sydney players scored in double figures. Kings' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Adelaide 36ers have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-4 record. Sydney at the other side keeps the fourth position with nine games lost. Adelaide will play against Tasmania JJ (#6) in Hobart in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Sydney will play on the road against NZL Breakers in Auckland and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Sydney: K.Davis 26+5reb+6ast, M.Dellavedova 15+7reb+4ast, X.Cooks 11+13reb+4ast, M.Maluach 10+1reb, J.Galloway 7+5reb, T.Soares 6+3reb+1ast
Adelaide: C.Flynn 25+1reb+4ast, C.Bryce 16+5reb+10ast, H.Isaac 15+6reb, V.Dejan 13, C.Zylan 8+13reb+1ast, B.Troy 6+6reb+1ast

Illawarra H. - Cairns 96-78

There was no surprise in Wollongong where 10th ranked Taipans (5-17) were defeated by eighth ranked Hawks (8-13) 96-78 on Saturday. Illawarra H. dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Taipans' 28. It was a great evening for American center Javale McGee (213-1988, college: Nevada) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Tyler Harvey (194-1993, college: EWU) helped adding 18 points and 5 rebounds. Four Hawks players scored in double figures. New Zealand forward Samuel Waardenburg (208-1999, college: Miami, FL) responded with 17 points (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) and naturalized American forward Kyrin Galloway (203-1999, college: UNCG) scored 9 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Illawarra H. moved-up to seventh place. Cairns lost their fourth game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 17 games lost. Illawarra H. will meet league's second-placed SE Melbourne on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Cairns will play against Melbourne Utd (#3) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Cairns: S.Waardenburg 17+3reb+1ast, J.McVeigh 16+1reb+1ast, M.King 11+5reb+1ast, A.Schofield 10+3reb+2ast, K.Galloway 9+9reb, A.Andrews 7+3reb+6ast
Illawarra H.: H.Tyler 18+5reb+3ast, M.Javale 16+10reb+2ast, F.Samson 16+6reb+4ast, P.QJ 14+3reb+3ast, G.Daniel 11+2reb+1ast, L.Wani 10+1reb

Tasmania JJ - Melbourne Utd 84-75

The game between second ranked United (15-8) and sixth ranked JackJumpers (11-13) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. United was defeated by JackJumpers in a tough game in Hobart 75-84. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Tasmania JJ made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was international center Will Magnay (208-1998, college: Tulsa) who had a double-double by scoring 27 points and 13 rebounds. International forward Josh Bannan (208-2001, college: Montana) chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Four JackJumpers players scored in double figures. American guard Tyson Walker (185-2000, college: Michigan St.) produced 20 points and the other American import Milton Doyle (193-1993, college: Loyola, IL) added 17 points and 6 assists respectively for the guests. Defending champion maintains sixth place with 11-13 record. Melbourne Utd at the other side dropped to the third position with eight games lost. Tasmania JJ are looking forward to face league's leader Adelaide in Findon in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Melbourne Utd will play at home against Cairns and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Melbourne Utd: T.Walker 20+3reb+2ast, M.Doyle 17+1reb+6ast, K.Bowen 9+6reb+4ast, C.Goulding 8+1reb+1ast, T.Krebs 7+1reb, J.Edwards 5+9reb+1ast
Tasmania JJ: M.Will 27+13reb, B.Josh 14+6reb+4ast, J.David 11+3reb, M.Nick 10+5reb+2ast, H.Bryce 10+2reb+2ast, C.Tyger 8+3reb+8ast

NZL Breakers - Perth 91-99

No shocking result in a game in Auckland where fifth ranked Wildcats (13-10) defeated 7th ranked Breakers (8-14) 99-91 on Sunday. It was a great evening for naturalized South Sudanese center Jo Lual-Acuil (213-1994, college: Baylor) who led his team to a victory scoring 20 points and 6 rebounds. American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) helped adding 21 points. American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) responded with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists and New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) scored 19 points. Five Perth and four NZL Breakers players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Perth maintains fifth place with 13-10 record. Loser Breakers dropped to the eighth position with 14 games lost. Perth will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. NZL Breakers will play against Sydney (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
NZL Breakers: S.Mennenga 19+3reb+1ast, C.Davison 14+1reb, I.Brockington 12+2ast, K.Lopez 11+7reb+3ast, P.Jackson-Cartwright 10+7reb+7ast, T.Webster 8+3reb+2ast
Perth: D.Kristian 21+4reb+3ast, L.Jo 20+6reb+3ast, W.Dylan 17+10reb, P.Elijah 13+1reb+3ast, R.Jaron 13+1reb+4ast, O.David 11+4reb+1ast

Brisbane - Adelaide 86-97

Leader Adelaide 36ers delivered the nineteenth victory on Sunday night. This time they beat 9th ranked Bullets (6-18) 97-86 in Brisbane. Adelaide made 28-of-36 free shots (77.8 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The game was dominated by American players. It was a great evening for forward Zylan Cheatham (203-1995, college: Arizona St.) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) helped adding 23 points and 7 assists. Forward Terry Taylor (196-1999, college: Austin Peay) responded with 18 points and 7 rebounds and guard Hunter Maldonado (201-1999, college: Wyoming, agency: Octagon Europe) scored 16 points and 9 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Bullets' coach tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Adelaide 36ers. They maintain first place with 19-4 record. Brisbane lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with 18 games lost. Adelaide will meet at home Tasmania JJ (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Brisbane will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Brisbane: T.Taylor 18+7reb+3ast, A.Ducas 18+3reb, H.Maldonado 16+1reb+9ast, J.Holt 15+7reb, M.Norton 8+2reb+3ast, D.Tristan 7+3reb+1ast
Adelaide: C.Bryce 23+4reb+7ast, C.Flynn 18+5reb+3ast, C.Zylan 17+8reb+10ast, H.Isaac 16+3reb+1ast, V.Dejan 8, W.Isaac 7+1reb+1ast