Hamilton puts on a show but Phoenix upstage JackJumpers
Murray Wenzel |
Bryce Hamilton looked set to claim the spotlight but missed his game-winning cue in Tasmania’s 103-102 loss to South East Melbourne in Launceston.
The JackJumpers’ import guard had 36 points on 70 per cent shooting, adding eight rebounds and four assists incredibly without a single trip to the foul line in Thursday’s high-scoring thriller.
But after dragging his side back from a five-point deficit in the final minute, he was unable to find space for the potential match-winning shot.
Pressure forced a Nathan Sobey turnover from the in-bound pass and Hamilton took the ball up the court from the restart.
Double-teamed, the 24-year-old was forced to switch to an open Ben Ayre, whose three-point effort rimmed out.
In a dramatic conclusion, Phoenix coach Josh King’s attempt to console his former player – still with time on the clock after the ball had bounced out – was swiped away by a filthy Ayre.
The hosts had possession but were unable to concoct a miracle play with less than one second on the clock.
“That ball was three-fourths of the way down,” King said, stressing his respect for the former Phoenix and Cairns guard.
“I’m happy it didn’t fall, but I told him after the game I’d bet all the money I have that it would have.”
JackJumpers coach Scott Roth, a former NBA forward, said he couldn’t recall a stat-line like Hamilton’s and endorsed his decision not to take the game-winner himself.
“You have to trust others on your team,” he said.
“That’s a good basketball play.
“The basketball gods aren’t always kind to you … it’s the ebb and flow of sports.”
Hamilton’s was no one-man act, with Sobey (28 points, four assists, three steals, six turnovers) shooting five-of-eight three-pointers and making a tough three-point play late in the fourth.
Trinidadian Next Stars talent Malique Lewis shot nine-of-11 for his 23 points to go with four rebounds and four assists, while Owen Foxwell (15 points, five steals, four rebounds, four assists) was instrumental in the final quarter.
John Brown III (10 points, 14 rebounds, four steals), described by King as a “freaking warrior”, also grabbed a decisive offensive rebound – his eighth – in the final moments that led to a crucial Lewis bucket.
Josh Bannan had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts.
Victory meant King’s team kept pace with Adelaide in second place at 7-2, while Scott Roth’s side fell to 5-6.
“We’re playing well, but we’ve got to get better,” King said ahead of Saturday’s clash with leaders United.
“We’ve got to keep playing with a chip on our shoulder.”
AAP
