JackJumpers' Win "Bigger Than Basketball"

The Tasmania JackJumpers don’t often get into an offensive shootout, but they did against Perth on Sunday night.

The traditionally stingy defensive outfit gave up 94 points to the Wildcats at MyState Bank Arena but, crucially, kept them to just 15 points in the final quarter to emerge as eight-point victors in a clash that could end up having crucial finals ramifications.

Tasmania dropped over 100 points for just the second time this season in the win - with their top-scoring game of the campaign coming in its Round 4 win over Perth.

Head coach Scott Roth says he was expecting an offensive-centred clash against the hot-shooting Wildcats side.

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“They’re scoring a large amount of points on everybody,” Roth said post-game. “Even though we were winning and it looked like we were in control I didn’t feel like that at all – I felt like we were playing into their hands to be going up and down at that kind of pace.

“We continued to grind away, got some critical shots up, got some actual stops consecutively and our ball pressure was pretty solid. It allowed us to make a little run there with a few minutes left in the game and put them on the back foot.

“When you’re playing a Sydney or a team like this you really have to enforce your will on the game. One team’s will is going to overpower the other teams will.

“Sydney did it to us and we fell victim to that kind of pace.

“There were moments [tonight] where we bent, but we didn’t break.”

The JackJumpers took to the floor in teal uniforms to support the charity S.H.E (Support, Hope, Education).

S.H.E is a local gynaecological charity that has partnered with Tasmania to raise awareness and funds surrounding gynaecological cancers.

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“The win was very nice, but to war this [colour] and represent it for all Tasmanians, and all Australians, who are fighting a nasty battle with a disease that has no mercy – for us to rally around, show that energy and have a chance to share it with their families is off the charts for me,” Roth said.

“I love my sister and my mother to cancer so it’s quite personal.”

“It was bigger than basketball today,” JackJumpers guard Jarrad Weeks added.

“To get the fans into that atmosphere … it was defeaning. I’m proud of the boys to come out and get the win.

The JackJumpers currently sit fourth on the NBL23 ladder – just one spot ahead of the Wildcats.

Tasmania plays its final game of the regular season on Saturday, February 4 at 5:30pm AEDT against the Illawarra Hawks.

Should the JackJumpers win they could finish the season as high as third, but if they fall to the bottom-placed Hawks they could drop as low as sixth.