Rd 12: Tasmania JackJumpers v Illawarra Hawks

Game Day preview

Rd 12 –Tasmania JackJumpers v Illawarra Hawks

Thursday 22^nd December – 7.30pm tip-off

Doors open – 6.30pm AEDT

MyState Bank Arena (SOLD OUT)

Watch LIVE on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel

Game Day Partner: Willie Smith’s -  Willie’s bringing the Valley to the Sea from Dec 24 – Jan 02

State of Play

The JackJumpers will be eager to get back on the winners list, with two straight losses that followed a successful stint on the road.  

Tasmania went down to a strong Cairns outfit at MyState Bank Arena in their homecoming last Saturday, and then fell to Adelaide 36ers away. In both games, the JackJumpers came out strong in the first half but failed to fire after half time and struggled to hit shots, with both opponents running over the top of the JackJumpers in the last quarter.

Illawarra Hawks haven’t had the first half of the season that they would’ve hoped for, sitting on the bottom of the standings with two wins from 16 games this season.

But their best is as good as any team, and the JackJumpers won’t be falling victim to complacency.

This will be the first time the teams have met in the 2022/23 season.

Last time they met  

Round : JackJumpers 65 def by Cairns 91, Round X NBL22  

Tensions were high at the Silverdome last March with the Illawarra Hawks' taking an emphatic 91-65 victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Just one week after the JackJumpers took the W, dominated the clash in Launceston with their lock-down defence setting up a pivotal 32-15 edge in the second quarter as they recorded their first win over the league's newest franchise.

Clint Steindl's long-range accuracy inspired the JackJumpers to an 11-point advantage early in the second quarter but the Hawks lifted their intensity at the defensive end and rode the hot hands of Justinian Jessup and Tim Coenraad to a 49-41 halftime buffer.

The Hawks did not let up after the main break as they restricted Tasmania to 12 points in the third quarter on the way to handing the JackJumpers the biggest loss NBL22.

Ins & outs 

JackJumpers: Jarred Bairstow will be a game day decision after experiencing some soreness in his right ankle. Matt Kenyon and Sam McDaniel remained sidelined with respective calf injuries.

Taipans: TBC

Opponents on the Radar 

Former Wildcat Michael Frazier II top-scored for Illawarra with 27 points against United in their Round 11 game last Sunday in another strong showing, with Sam Froling adding 18 points and six rebounds.