Brilliant JackJumpers lock in playoff position

Thursday night's Seeding Qualifier was always going to largely come down to which team could control the tempo and it was every bit a Tasmania JackJumpers style of game as they advanced to the playoffs beating the Cairns Taipans 87-79.

The Taipans finished the NBL23 regular season third and the JackJumpers fourth setting up the Seeding Qualifier at Cairns Convention Centre with the winner to advance to the playoffs and the loser to get a second chance by hosting the Perth Wildcats.

With the Taipans having played at the second fastest pace all season and the JackJumpers the second slowest, controlling the tempo was always going to be pivotal, and Tasmania was able to.

The JackJumpers put together an outstanding defensive performance and were then efficient offensively to end up winning by eight points away from home to book in a playoff appearance against the New Zealand Breakers starting in Auckland on Sunday.

The JackJumpers went on a 13-2 run to close the first quarter and then just when the Taipans had the momentum in the third, they regained it by finishing the period with another 13-2 run including 11 straight points.

From there Tasmania was able to maintain control on the back of shooting 48 per cent from the floor, hitting 10/21 from three-point land and 13/16 at the foul line. In comparison, Cairns went 41 per cent from the field, 5/22 from long-range and 14/21 at the free-throw line.

Milton Doyle again was the star for the JackJumpers finishing with 25 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals while hitting 5/10 from three-point range.

Isaac White stepped up in the absence of point guard Josh Magette for 18 points, four rebounds and two steals on 7/10 shooting with Jack McVeigh contributing 13 points and nine rebounds, and Rashard Kelly 11 points, 12 boards and four assists.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth couldn’t hide the pride he felt in his group to be part of the final four for a second straight season.

"Our guys are relentless. They bent but they didn’t break and it's just the next man up," Roth said.

"I'm incredibly proud and very humbled by this because there's a lot of teams who are trying to do what we've done the last two years, and haven’t been able to get across the line over the course of their franchise's history. 

"For our group to do it two years back-to-back is just a great credit to the organisation, my coaching staff and these players."

Fresh off being named to the All-NBL First Team, Milton Doyle opened the game with a three-pointer for Tasmania and it was a good start for the JackJumpers until six straight points for Cairns from Shannon Scott, DJ Hogg and Tahjere McCall to put them up 10-7.

Doyle responded with an and-one and then the JackJumpers closed the opening quarter with a 13-2 run that included five quick Isaac White points and a triple from Jack McVeigh to see them lead 25-16 by the end of one.

The JackJumpers shot 53 per cent for the first quarter to 29 from the Taipans and things were looking dangerous early in the second term for the home team when Tasmania opened up a 13-point lead after another three from McVeigh and bucket to White.

Scott and McCall did their best to try and will Cairns back into the contest and they did combine for 22 first half points, but Tasmania still led 46-37 by half-time with 12 points to Doyle leading the way.

The Taipans picked up their defensive intensity and everything flowed from that in the third quarter. Waardenburg scored their first six points and then when they went on a 7-0 run, they grabbed the lead for the first time since early in the game.

The JackJumpers did well to steady the ship with the next nine points and it forced Adam Forde into a timeout with two minutes in the third quarter to go with Tasmania back up eight.

Sam McDaniel was left all alone rolling to the hoop to make it a 11-0 Tasmania run and the JackJumpers remained leading by 10 at three quarter-time with the job ahead of the Snakes.

Tasmania opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to Sean Macdonald and from there anytime the Taipans threatened a run, the JackJumpers responded. 

White, McVeigh and Doyle all landed long bombs with the JackJumpers winning by eight to advance to the playoffs against the Breakers while the Taipans prepare to host the Wildcats.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL FINALS – SEEDING QUALIFIER

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 87 (Doyle 25, White 18, McVeigh 13) 

CAIRNS TAIPANS 79 (McCall 24, Scott 17, Hogg 13)

BOX SCORE