Roth: "We've been in this fight before"

The Tasmania JackJumpers are into their second Championship Series in three seasons, and head coach Scott Roth believes the building of a “core group” of players is what has set the club up for on-court success.

The JackJumpers comfortably defeated the Perth Wildcats by 16 points in the final game of their Playoff Series, which meant the NBL’s newest side overcame a 1-0 series deficit to eventually prevail 2-1 over the competition’s second seed.

Their run to the Championships Series started with a Seeding Qualifier win over Illawarra, and Roth believes the high number of players who have experienced this level of post-season basketball helped drive the way forward for his side.

“We’ve been in this fight before, I think the experience of having this group together in these games for three years in a row, we were probably four or five minutes away from going back to the Grand Final last year in New Zealand, but they had a hell of a team and beat us,” Roth said post-game.

“Our guys have experience of being in these moments, we have eight or nine guys who have been in these moments, and I think it was hugely important coming in here and playing the right way. I thought we were on point in a lot of areas, and to say I’m proud of them would be an understatement.

“One thing I learned while I was here at the Wildcats was to establish a core group that’s functioning. Someone will eventually retire and the next guy steps in ... establishing that core group of driving culture, driving what it means to be a JackJumper, what it means to be in Tasmania.

“That six or seven guys we continue to bring back – and people wonder ‘why are they bringing those guys back? They’re not as talented or as good as other guys you can get’, that is a myth ... the guys we have are fantastic in what their roles are and how they go about their jobs, and they’re quite, quite talented.”

The victory means that Tasmania will progress to face Melbourne in the title-decider, after United overcame Illawarra in their own series decider earlier on Wednesday night.

The defeat for Perth also means there’s a chance NBL fans have seen the last of Jesse Wagstaff, who at 37 years of age is yet to comment on whether he’ll continue his stellar career.

Roth, who spent two seasons as an assistant at the Wildcats, praised Wagstaff for his contributions to the club, and highlighted John Rillie’s efforts in turning Perth’s season around.

“Wagstaff, I don’t know if this is going to be his last game in a Wildcats jersey or not, but I wouldn’t be sitting here without his recommendations when I went through my job process,” Roth continued.

“Him and Damian Martin were huge in what transpired in me getting this job so I would not be sitting here, I love Jesse, he’s everything that’s great about basketball and this franchise, I’m indebted to this franchise and have much respect for this franchise.

“If this is his last moment here to retire as a Wildcat, what a tremendous, tremendous icon.

“And really a lot of kudos to John and his coaching staff for digging themselves out of the hole everyone was trying to bury them in, and staying the course and doing his job. He’s done a wonderful job of flipping that team around ... great courage by him to stick with it and do what they needed to do to have a good season.”

The first game of Tasmania’s Championship Series clash with Melbourne will tip off on Sunday evening at 4pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach, and 10 Play.