JackJumpers Triumph in Overtime Thriller, Stun Wildcats at Home

The Tasmania JackJumpers secured an exhilarating 84-79 overtime victory over the Perth Wildcats at MyStateBank Arena on Sunday, clawing back from an early deficit to even their season record at 2-2.

Milton Doyle hit a clutch three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime, where Majok Deng’s decisive triple with 25 seconds remaining sealed the win for Tasmania in front of a roaring home crowd. Doyle finished with 20 points, while Deng and Jordon Crawford added 16 points each.

Head Coach Scott Roth praised the team's resilience, noting, "It was a tough, physical battle, but these guys hung around long enough to make the key plays we needed."

Tasmania trailed for much of the game, as Perth raced to a 7-0 start and led 23-9 by the end of the first quarter. Bryce Cotton was influential for Perth with a game-high 24 points, supported by Kristian Doolittle’s 14-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Roth highlighted the JackJumpers’ late-game adjustments: "We went with the small lineup, which helped us claw back. Doyle was pivotal—his shooting was huge, especially that three off JC’s pass."

Tasmania cut Perth’s lead to six points by halftime and began to chip away, eventually outscoring the Wildcats 16-2 to open the final quarter and taking the lead with five minutes remaining. A thunderous dunk by Deng in the third quarter also kept the JackJumpers within reach.

Roth credited the team’s defensive consistency for keeping them in the game: "Our defense, which we pride ourselves on, allowed us to stay in striking distance when scoring wasn’t coming easy. The effort was key."

Perth rookie Elijah Pepper briefly restored the Wildcats’ lead with a late three-pointer, but Doyle’s buzzer-beater sent the game into overtime, where Deng’s heroics sealed the five-point victory.

Roth concluded, "It didn’t always look pretty, but the guys hung tough. I’m really proud of the way they competed."

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 84 (Doyle 20, Crawford 16, Deng 16)

PERTH WILDCATS 79 (Cotton 24, Doolittle 14, Withers 11)

BOX SCORE