Rd 15: Tasmania JackJumpers v Illawarra Hawks

Game Details

Rd 15- Tasmania JackJumpers v Illawarra Hawks

1.00pm AEDT – Sunday 13 March

MyState Bank Arena. SOLD OUT – capacity crowd 4736 expected

Watch LIVE on 10Peach, Fox Sports More & ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel

Context

Both teams are well and truly in hunt for finals and every game counts for the JackJumpers with a challenging run home in the final 5 rounds of their inaugural season. It’s the first of two consecutive home games against Illawarra in Tasmania.

If the JackJumpers can win both and they could find themselves above Illawarra on the table which could both keep themselves in the race and make Hawks chances a whole lot more difficult.  

Last time they met

Rd12: Tasmania JackJumpers 96 def Illawarra Hawks 86, Feb 20 @ WIN Entertainment Centre

A game to remember for the JackJumpers. The best offensive performance in the franchise’s short history saw the JackJumpers shoot a League record-equalling 22 three-pointers at WIN Entertainment Centre in Round 12.

Sam McDaniel led the charge off the bench for the JackJumpers shooting a career-high 20 points shooting at almost 89% from the field, and 100% from the three-point line.

Josh Adams found his groove early, particularly from the arc, as he finished with 28 points including 8 threes plus 4 defensive rebounds.

The Hawks could do little to stop the JackJumpers pouring in 22 threes.  

Head Coach Brian Goorjian said “Everything we did tonight, they just penalised us with the three-ball. It felt like we were playing the Phoenix Suns out there, it was very, very hard to deal with”.

Recent form

Illawarra Hawks currently sit 4^th on the NBL ladder with 11 wins and 7 losses.

Tasmania JackJumpers currently sit 6^th on the NBL ladder with 9 wins and 9 losses.

JackJumpers come off back to back wins over the Breakers and Taipans. The road trip back from Cairns and short turn around will prove challenging for the home side, but they’ll look to take the positives from the big win over the Taipans and draw on the energy of the sold out home crowd at MyState Bank Arena.

Friday night had the JackJumpers down 15-19 at quarter time in Cairns but a commanding second term where they shot 6-from-9 threes broke the game open and helped produce five scorers in double-figures. The team also scored a fourth quarter team best of 28-points.  

Illawarra have had a week to revel in their win over South East Melbourne last Sunday. The 6 point win was their third straight victory. Sunday’s game is the first of three in six days for the Hawks as they head back to Wollongong to host the Phoenix on Thursday and then face the JackJumpers again Saturday in Launceston. Next week the Hawks could hypothetically be anywhere between third or sixth on the ladder. 

Ins & outs

JackJumpers remain unchanged from the side that travelled to Cairns. Will Magnay is still sidelined with knee soreness.

Fun facts

JackJumpers’ 22 three’s was the most any team had ever made against Brian Goorjian in his 792 games as NBL coach. 

Josh Adams 28-pts last game against the Hawks is the most by a Tasmanian player this season. 

The JackJumpers are 7 wins and 1 loss with Matt Kenyon in the starting five.