JackJumpers don't give up the fight against Wildcats

The Tasmania JackJumpers started on fire and fought back valiantly late but couldn’t quite shut down the Perth Wildcats long enough with the visitors leaving MyState Bank Arena with the 89-78 victory.

The JackJumpers were back home on Monday night to host the Wildcats in their second game of Round 13 in the NBL and looking to bounce back from Saturday's loss in Brisbane against the Bullets.

They started on fire as well scoring 10 of the game's first 11 points but eventually the Wildcats worked their way on top and at one stage did lead by as many as 19.

However, the JackJumpers have earned enormous respect all season long for the fighting qualities and it was again on show when they fired back during the fourth quarter.

They went on an 11-0 run with Jack McVeigh and Josh Adams hitting threes to make it a six-point game, but they couldn’t quite get closer and Perth ended up winning by 11.

It was tough going for the JackJumpers after the 10-1 start who have now lost three of their last four games.

Jack McVeigh top-scored with 16 points and five rebounds with Josh Adams adding 15 points and MiKyle McIntosh continuing his strong recent form with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Captain Clint Steindl finished with 10 points, three rebounds and two steals with Josh Magette contributing eight points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals, Jock Perry seven points, and Fabijan Krslovic six points, four boards and two assists.

However, it wasn’t the game or result that was immediately on coach Scott Roth's mind after the game.

"Obviously this was an important night for Scott Harris and Jo. I've lost two family members to cancer so it's personal to me and her fight, and having this game to fight cancer in general is trying to fight something that sucks," Roth said. 

"We were proud here to play this game and we were hoping for a better outcome, but our thoughts are definitely with Scott and Jo. I also want to give a shoutout to CJ Bruton for what he's gone through. 

"He's another cancer victim who is fighting his way and hopefully he has good news, and positive things happen to him. We're thinking of him tonight as well. The game is important but there's bigger things in life than basketball and we have to pay our respects to them."

He also paid to tribute to former Perth Wildcats owner Dr Jack Bendat who passed away last week.

"The other thing I'd like to say is that Clint, myself, Jacob Chance, Magnay for a short amount of time and Jarred Bairstow, we lost a heck of a guy in Jack Bendat," Roth added.

"I was lucky enough to be in Perth and win a championship with him, Clint won multiple championships with Jack as an owner and we pay respects to his owner. He had a tremendous influence in Western Australia but on Perth and on this franchise which I admire so much. We pay respects to Jack."

Bryce Cotton top-scored for Perth with 20 points while Vic Law added 19, Luke Travers 16 and Matt Hodgson 15.

It was a hot start from the JackJumpers who were looking to take advantage of the Wildcats' anxiety coming off three straight losses and with some battered bodies.

Jack McVeigh got the ball rolling before Fabijan Krslovic made the most of his start knocking down a three. Josh Magette then pulled up in transition to also hit from deep and suddenly the JackJumpers led 10-1.

Perth didn’t make a field goal for more than four minutes and it did come from the wounded Vic Law who came off the bench. Luke Travers backed it up with a three-point play and the 'Cats were back in it, but late Tasmania triples from Jock Perry and Josh Adams had them up 22-16 after one.

Perth got rolling to start the second period, though, and it began with Kevin White draining a wide open three. Travers and Jesse Wagstaff then finished at the rack and Travers hit a three as part of an 11-1 run that saw the Wildcats go up five.

Bryce Cotton then warmed up with seven points in the last two minutes of the half to ensure the 'Cats were up 44-39 at the break.

It was all Perth to open the second half and a game-breaking run of 10 straight points ended with a Cotton three and finished with one from beyond the arc by Law.

When Cotton and Law hit another triple each, the lead was out to 19 and only two late three balls from Clint Steindl had Tasmania in any sort of touch down 13 by three quarter-time.

Six points from Matt Hodgson, Cotton and Todd Blanchfield early in the fourth saw Perth's lead grow to 17, and with five minutes to go another three from White stretched it to 18.

Tasmania weren’t quite done yet, and a couple of threes each to McVeigh and Adams breathed life back into it making it a six-point game, but Cotton closed the door with his fourth three of the night.

Tasmania remain at home to take on the New Zealand Breakers on Saturday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 13

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 78 (McVeigh 16, Adams 15, McIntosh 15)

PERTH WILDCATS 89 (Cotton 20, Law 19, Travers 16) 

BOX SCORE