JackJumpers Close Season with Teal Game Victory Over Taipans

The Tasmania JackJumpers concluded their season with a 90-83 victory over the Cairns Taipans at MyState Bank Arena, marking the annual Teal Game in support of the SHE Foundation. The win ended a six-game losing streak and saw the JackJumpers finish the season with a 13-16 record, missing the top six on percentage.

Both teams were locked into their final standings before tip-off, with Tasmania set in seventh and Cairns in last place, but there was still plenty on the line. The JackJumpers were determined to finish the season with a win in front of their home crowd while raising awareness for gynecological cancers.

"We took no short corners. We wanted to make sure we honoured our values from the entire year… This game was monumental for us to do the right thing and play the right way, regardless of the outcome," Head Coach Scott Roth said post-game.

Tasmania started strongly, leading by as much as 19 points in the first half. Milton Doyle opened the game with an and-one play and followed it up with two three-pointers to set the tone early. By quarter-time, he had 12 points, and Tasmania held a 26-20 lead. The second quarter saw an early 12-1 run from the JackJumpers, including a three-pointer from Ian Hummer and and-one plays from Majok Deng and Jordon Crawford. However, Cairns responded with an 18-7 run to close the half, cutting the deficit to 49-41.

The Taipans continued to fight back in the third quarter, finally hitting their first three-pointer of the game after missing their first 14 attempts. By the end of the period, the JackJumpers' lead had been trimmed to five at 65-60. However, Tasmania regained control early in the fourth quarter, scoring the first six points of the period and getting back-to-back three-pointers from Nick Stoddart and Crawford to push the lead back out to 13. Cairns continued to challenge, but another three from Crawford with five minutes remaining helped Tasmania secure the seven-point win.

Majok Deng led the JackJumpers with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Jordon Crawford added 19 points and four assists. Anthony Drmic contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Doyle finished with 12 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Tasmania took advantage of Cairns' 16 turnovers, scoring 19 points from them, and controlled the fast break with 21 points in transition. Defensively, they held the Taipans to just 3/27 (11.1%) from three-point range.

For Cairns, Tanner Groves was the leading scorer with 17 points and eight rebounds. Taran Armstrong finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Alex Higgins-Titsha and Sam Waardenburg added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Despite their struggles from beyond the arc, the Taipans finished the season with some momentum, winning five of their last 10 games after breaking a 15-game losing streak.

With the win, the JackJumpers ensured a positive end to their season despite missing the playoffs. Injuries and a slow start (3-8) made for a challenging campaign, but Tasmania remained competitive throughout, finishing just outside the top six on percentage.

"Even when we were 3-8, they just kept coming in. It’s a great credit to our guys," Roth said, reflecting on the team’s resilience.

While the season may be over, the JackJumpers’ impact extends far beyond the court. Roth acknowledged the significance of their presence in the Tasmanian community:

"If you're not from down here, you won't understand these comments, but the impact they've had off the floor has been fantastic again… The JackJumpers' brand and ‘Defend the Island’ is just another wonderful year."

As the team heads into the off-season, preparations are already underway for the next campaign, with Roth and the front office working on free agency and player development.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 90 (Deng 21, Crawford 19, Drmic 12, Doyle 12)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 83 (Groves 17, Armstrong 16, Higgins-Titsha 15)

BOX SCORE