A dominant double-double from star import Javale Mcgee was the highlight of the night, but it wasn’t enough as the Illawarra Hawks went down 91-86 to the Tasmania Jackjumpers – on a night where the Hawks were given the keys to the city and raised their NBL25 championship banner.
32 points and 13 rebounds from former Lakers, Warriors, and USA star Mcgee was a game-high across both teams. Captain Tyler Harvey finished with 19 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Jackjumpers star Bryce Hamilton led the way for the home side with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk raised the roof early, finishing off a rapid attacking transition half-way through the first period.
Todd Blanchfield was brought into the game mid-way through the quarter and fired early, seeing five quick points within two minutes of coming on.
Tasmania had more than three times the number of shots at the three point line in the opening quarter, sinking three of their 14.
However it was star-signing McGee who caught the attention of the home crowd early.
The three-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist had the biggest moment of the first quarter, two slam dunks in a matter of seconds raising the roof at the entertainment centre to tie the game heading into quarter time.
Four more points from the American in the opening minute of the second had the home fans up on their feet.
The second quarter saw the injection of Harry Froling for the first time, and within a minute he sunk his first three pointer. The perfect injection for the Hawks big man, making his NBL return for the first time since his life threatening brain injury.
Mcgee continued his dominance on the defensive end as well, swatting away Josh Bannan’s floater in the paint half-way through quarter two – before yet another sensation slam-dunk later on in the same period to finish with 18 points and six rebounds at half time.
Two quick back-to-back threes by Bryce Hamilton and Anthony Drmic ensured the Jackjumpers went into half time 49-45 up. Drmic leading the Tasmania scorers at the main break with nine points, while both Hamilton and Bannan had eight each.
It was back to regular programming in the third quarter, Mcgee beginning the second half the way he finished the first with two back-to-back scores at the bucket.
Tyger Campbell wasn’t making any friends with a questionable foul on him shortly afterwards, leading to another three by Hamilton at the other end.
Bannan and Nick Marshall quickly followed Hamilton’s lead from beyond the arc, extending the Jackjumpers lead to nine despite Mcgee threatening for Illawarra.
A couple of calls had the home fans up in arms late in the third quarter. Harry Froling denied three attempts at the line despite what the Illawarra faithful thought was a foul, before a call for a Tasmania travel was waved away.
Just when momentum looked like swinging the Jackjumpers way, up stepped Tyler Harvey.
A block from Mcgee, into a Harvey rebound and three-point play shrinking the margin ever so slightly.
However the visitors would take an eight point lead heading into the fourth.
A monster start to the fourth quarter got the home crowd on their feet, shrinking the margin down to three points after two minutes in the last period. A three each to Blanchfield and Harvey giving the crowd belief.
Two free-throws from Blanchfield brought the margin down to a one point ball game.
Of course, it was a Mcgee rebound and bucket which gave the home side the lead shortly after.
Two quick threes from Major Deng and Campbell restored the Jackjumpers’ margin to five – seeing a time-out called with 5:12 on the clock.
Jaquori McLaughlin’s Hawks NBL debut ended early with a fifth personal foul late in the fourth – finishing with five points, four rebounds and six assists.
Another three by Deng made things tough for the Hawks, left wide open to drain one from deep with two minutes remaining.
Four more points from Deng and three free-throws from Hamilton put the result beyond doubt.
