Hungry Phoenix score Throwdown shock

A change in coach has done the trick for the South East Melbourne Phoenix as they ended their run of outs in NBL25 and in Throwdowns by beating Melbourne United 93-84 on Sunday afternoon.

The Phoenix were playing their first game since the axing of Mike Kelly following last Saturday night's home loss to the Brisbane Bullets with Sam Mackinnon stepping into the role as interim coach for Sunday's Throwdown.

Melbourne were without Shea Ili coming into the match up although that was offset with the Phoenix losing Derrick Walton Jr to a hamstring injury in the first half, but it was a decidedly hungrier and more focused South East Melbourne.

The Phoenix were down eight early in the second quarter, but finished out the first half strongly and kept that momentum going including landing five three-point bombs in five minutes of the final period for the nine-point win.

It's the first win of South East Melbourne since January 25 to end a nine-match losing run and to beat Melbourne for the first time since December 3, 2022, ending a run of six outs in Throwdowns.

Big man Jordan Hunter got his first win with the Phoenix on the back of 20 points and nine rebounds with Matt Hurt hitting another 3/6 from downtown for 18 points and seven boards.

Nathan Sobey added 16 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists with Tom Vodanovich contributing nine points on three quickfire second quarter threes.

Angus Glover stepped up in a point guard role in the second half with seven points, eight assists and five rebounds.

While it appears to be the lone game in charge for Mackinnon, he was proud of the group.

"It's been a clearly well-documented tough year," Mackinnon said.

"We focused on getting the group together, gelling and forgetting about last week.

"Getting the chance to best imprint how I want us to play, our style, level of intensity and commitment, the guys have been fantastic."

Ian Clark (19 points, four rebounds) and Chris Goulding (16 points) landed three triples apiece for Melbourne with Flynn Cameron adding 12 points and three rebounds, and Matthew Dellavedova 11 points and nine assists.

"We couldn't put enough pressure on the ball, which allowed them to get their spots a bit better," United coach Dean Vickerman said.

"Credit to their defence, they slowed us down and we didn't create the advantages we wanted."

There was no shortage of intrigue coming into the Throwdown with no Shea Ili for Melbourne and South East Melbourne playing under Sam Mackinnon for the first time.

Even with a scare to Matthew Dellavedova who rolled his ankle, Melbourne did appear in control leading 26-18 a couple of minutes into the second quarter on the back of Chris Goulding knocking down a three-pointer.

However, the Phoenix were determined to make a stand and helped with three fouls apiece to Melbourne big men Rob Loe and Marcus Lee in the first half, they quickly turned the tide.

After falling down by eight early in the second period, the Phoenix closed out the half outscoring United 30 points to 17 to take a 48-43 edge into the main break with nine points apiece from Jordan Hunter and Tom Vodanovich.

That was despite Melbourne shooting 8/17 from three and Ian Clark did hit their ninth of the game early in the second half, but it was the Phoenix on top down low through Hunter and staying on top by winning all the hustle plays.

South East Melbourne were still clinging to a 66-63 advantage by three quarter-time but they weren’t going to be denied with three-point bombs from Nathan Sobey, Angus Glover, Matt Hurt, Hurt again and ultimately Owen Foxwell the dagger blows.

That saw the Phoenix lead by as much as 11 points before holding out United for the nine-point victory.

Both teams back up to play on Thursday with the Phoenix first up in Christchurch against the New Zealand Breakers before Melbourne plays the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

MELBOURNE UNITED 84 (Clark 19, Goulding 16, Cameron 12)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 93 (Hunter 20, Hurt 18, Sobey 16)

BOX SCORE