Rd 9 Report | Seven-man JackJumpers fight hard

The Tasmania JackJumpers started their road double short on bodies, but not on fight and spirit, and that saw them control much of the first half before the Perth Wildcats got on a roll to end up winning 98-92.

The JackJumpers arrived at RAC Arena on Thursday night having won their last couple of games to be just percentage off top spot but were without Nick Marshall who joined Majok Deng, Bryce Hamilton, David Johnson and Ben Gold injured.

Ben Ayre did return and the JackJumpers led by as much as nine points early in the second quarter before they were also leading 48-43 by half-time.

But the Wildcats were trying to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat and ended up doing so winning by six points but not without an almighty effort from all seven players who hit the floor for Tasmania.

Those seven men for the JackJumpers gave everything including Kody Stattmann who was into the starting group in the absence of Marshall. He finished with 11 points and six rebounds.

Dakota Mathias played all 40 minutes and provided 17 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals with 5/9 three-point shooting.

Taran Armstrong also had 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds while Nick Stoddart chimed in with five points in 17 minutes, and Ben Ayre made his first appearance of the season to play 10 minutes for two points and two assists.

Then there was big man pair Will Magnay (19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists) and Josh Bannan (18 points, 12 rebounds, five assists) who did a power of work playing 71 of a possible 80 minutes.

The JackJumpers might not have played in six days, but their injury woes hadn’t subsided even though it didn’t slow them still as they ended up leading 21-19 by quarter-time.

Josh Bannan already had eight points and five rebounds with Taran Armstrong adding six points and two assists.

The JackJumpers pushed out to a 12-point lead early in the second frame and the visitors were still leading 48-43 by half-time with their five offensive rebounds to three, and forcing the 'Cats into seven turnovers and just four themselves, crucial.

Bannan and Will Magnay had done well combining for 21 points and 11 rebounds for Tasmania while Armstrong was up to nine points and four assists.

The Wildcats did work on top in the third quarter and it was big man Angus Brandt providing the energy. He might have still only had six points and three rebounds to three quarter-time, but was a +17 in his time out there.

Magnay and Bannan were still working tirelessly and had a combined 27 points and 19 rebounds by the end of three quarters, even with the home team leading 69-64.

That lead for the home team got out to 10 also early in the fourth period and 14 with five minutes to play, and the Wildcats answered the challenges the rest of the way for the six-point home win.

The JackJumpers remain on the road to head to Brisbane to play the Bullets on Sunday afternoon to close Round 9.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2026/27 | ROUND 9

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 92 lost to Perth Wildcats 98

RAC Arena (Perth), Thursday November 12

Taran Armstrong | 20 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds
Will Magnay | 19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists
Josh Bannan | 18 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists
Dakota Mathias | 17 points, 5/9 3PT Ben Ayre | 2 points, 2 assists
Kody Stattmann | 11 points, 6 rebounds
Nick Stoddart | 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Ben Ayre | 2 points, 2 assists