NBL: Ryan Broekhoff stars as South East Melbourne topples Tassie

South East Melbourne brought the NBL’s new kids Tasmania back to earth thanks to a gutsy effort from a sick Mitch Creek.

The Phoenix rose to the occasion. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

A first-half Ryan Broekhoff masterclass kept South East Melbourne ahead of the curve against a plucky Tasmania and then a sick Mitch Creek dug deep to bring his team home.

Battling a bout of gastro that had him throwing up until just before tip-off, Creek noticeably struggled in the first half, held to just four points as the JackJumpers junked it up and took a two-point lead into the long break.

But Creek simply would not let them win, dropping 11 of his 15 points after halftime, including a pair of huge three-pointers in the last, establishing a seven-point gap that proved too big a mountain to climb for the Jackies.

“He was throwing up right to the point of running out to play,” coach Simon Mitchell, who returned to the sidelines after missing the last three games in NBL Covid protocols, revealed after the game.

“He’s a blood and guts guy. I was looking at him at time-outs and he just had that washed over look on his face, really pale.

“But you know Creeky’s a warrior and you know he’s going to give you everything he has and I thought he was tremendous.

“There were guys who had great games — and I don’t think he had a great game — but I think he was our most valuable player on the night, just through sheer courage and will and that’s the leadership he brings for us.”

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Broekhoff was the man of the hour for South East Melbourne. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Tassie dropped 36 points in the first quarter of their last-start win over Melbourne United, but managed just 14 in this one.

But Phoenix, one of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBL, did not make a single one of their eight first-half takes, as the JackJumpers were wet, hitting on eight tries of their own.

Broekhoff kept them in it, producing a team-high 18 points to go with eight rebounds and five steals.

“He’s been amazing all year long, his rebounding’s impressive and his defence is sublime,” Mitchell said.

“His name’s not going to come up in the defensive player of the year nominations. It won’t. For one, he’s a shooter, for two, it’s not what people associate with him. But, from a team defensive standpoint, he’s as good as anyone in the league.

“You ask him any question about what the opposition does, what are their tendencies for their players and he’s got it down like a professor.”

Missing their best big man in Will Magnay, Tassie made it a dour defensive battle that the Phoenix couldn’t quite shake off until Creek’s late-game heroics.

Phoenix fan favourite Zhou Qi finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

What Covid?

Captain Kyle Adnam, coming off a bout of coronavirus, did not miss a beat, scoring 13 points and setting up five other buckets. He missed the past two games, but says his symptoms were mild. “I didn’t really have anything too full on at all. I wasn’t actually sure I had it until I tested positive. Pre-game, I was a little interested in how the lungs would go. My legs felt fine the last day-and-a-half at practice. I was just interested to see how the wind would go and it held up OK — all those pre-season running drills Simon makes me do definitely helped.”

Throwdown looms

Make no mistake, Thursday night is the biggest game of the year. Who knows what happens, but one thing’s for sure, the Throwdown rematch with Melbourne United will be intense. Adnam is preparing for battle. “They’re a great team and every time we get together, it’s always a physical battle. The fans, the players, everyone goes to another level. We’ll reassess tomorrow (Monday), recover and definitely start preparing for them, it’s going to be a great hitout.”

South East Melbourne Phoenix 83-71 Tasmania JackJumpers

Phoenix

Broekhoff: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals

Creek: 15 points, 5 rebounds

Adnam: 13 points, 5 assists

Qi: 11 points, 7 rebounds

Ashley: 10 points

JackJumpers

Adams: 23 points

Magette: 10 points

Originally published as NBL: Ryan Broekhoff stars as South East Melbourne topples Tassie