Chargers women crash to defeat against Geelong
Chargers’ women coach continues to feel like he’s bashing his head against a brick wall after watching his side crash to an all too familiar NBL1 defeat. GAME DETAILS >>
Tasmania
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CHARGERS women coach Mark Nash continues to feel like he’s bashing his head against a brick wall after watching his side crash to an all too familiar NBL1 defeat at Kingborough Sports Centre.
Hobart slumped to an 11th loss from 12 matches in 2021, going down 98-69 to a Geelong outfit spearheaded by Sara Blicavs (34 points).
The hosts were again picked apart defensively, coughing up 40 points in the paint while allowing the Supercats to shoot at 46.3 per cent from the floor.
Sloppy care of the ball (26 turnovers) didn’t help the cause, despite the best efforts of star addition Maddie Garrick (28 points) and Ellie Collins (20).
But the biggest issue _ defence aside _ is an obvious lack of team chemistry and unwillingness to support each other.
“It is just becoming more and more of a challenge for us guarding the ball,” Nash said.
“Teams aren’t running anything structurally, they are just lining us up, they know we are struggling to move laterally to contain and we are not helping each other out.
“We talked about that in the changerooms, but really it is a pretty simple game plan against us because we have an inability to guard the ball.
“Ultimately it is a one on one challenge, in an individual match up there needs to be some effort and desire to do it.”
Blicavs was supported by her sister in law Stephanie (19 points), while Sarah Elsworthy had 20.
Nash turned to his development players in the final five minutes, with the likes of Maddie Straatsma and Eliza van de Kamp getting some invaluable experience at the level.
Son of former Devils star becomes JackJumpers’ first free agent
THE son of one of the Devils most popular imports and an NBL great has become the Tasmania JackJumpers inaugural free agency signing.
Just days after featuring in Melbourne United’s championship campaign, Sam McDaniel has agreed to a three year deal with the league’s 10th and newest franchise for the 2021-22 season.
It kickstarts the assembling of the JackJumpers roster under head coach Scott Roth, with another free agent, Adelaide 36er Jack McVeigh, also linked to the club, although official paperwork is yet to be ticked off by the NBL.
McDaniel, 26, is the son of former American import Wayne, who finished his decorated 288-game career with the Devils in 1994.
Known as the “Big Mac”, Wayne was a four time NBL All-Star and one of the competition’s most prolific scorers, spending his final six seasons in Tasmania after stints with Newcastle, Geelong and Adelaide and instantly became a crowd favourite.
Sam — who was born in Hobart but grew up in Adelaide — has been part of United’s roster since signing as a development player in 2018-19.
He emerged as an import role player for the side this season, most noticeably on the defensive end and was crucial in helping United defeat cross town rivals South East Melbourne in the semi-finals.
Trailing at stages during the deciding game three, United deployed McDaniel to shut down Phoenix star Keifer Sykes after halftime.
McDaniel started in 24 games in 2020-21, including all three grand final matches against Perth. but saw limited minutes as United swept the injury-hit Wildcats 3-0.
“It is a super exciting time with a new club coming into the NBL … and I just thought it was a great opportunity to get on board and get down to Tassie,” said McDaniel, whose partner hails from Burnie.
“I feel it will definitely feel like home when I get down there, my partner has family all over Tassie and my dad played some pretty good ball there all those years ago.
“As soon as free agency broke the JackJumpers contacted my agent who let me know and from there I got on the phone with Scott and had a chat to get a feel what he was like and what his vision was for the JackJumpers.
“I like a lot of what he was talking about, it is a great opportunity for my young family to go back down to Tassie and hopefully continue to grow my family and my career.”
While McDaniel becomes the JackJumpers first fully contracted signing — Launceston teenager Sejr Deans was the historic maiden announcement as a development player — one of the club’s main targets is believed to have resisted the temptation to change teams.
Point guard Mitch Norton was firmly in Tasmania’s sights but despite being close to reuniting with former Perth assistant coach Roth, is understood to have re-signed with the Wildcats.
NBL: How to get a Tasmania JackJumpers membership
The Tasmanians JackJumpers will launch their memberships for their 2021/22 NBL season at 9am today.
More than 3000 fans signed up to be foundation members in October last year and were given the chance to get the jump on memberships for the upcoming season.
More than 1000 memberships were sold in the five day presage period.
JackJumpers General Marketing Manager Christine Finnegan said there were multiple options for membership.
“A variety of seating packages are available to purchase across family, adult, concession and juniors,” Ms Finnegan said.
“Our March as One supporter membership is also available to those that want to show their support of the Club but can’t attend games.”
For more information head to Tasmania JackJumpers’ website.
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