Rd22 GAME DAY PREVIEW: Tasmania JackJumpers v Illawarra Hawks

GAME DAY PREVIEW 

Tasmania JackJumpers v Illawarra Hawks

7.30pm AEDT, Wednesday 18th February

MyState Bank Arena

Watch live on ESPN via Disney +

Slick Branding – Game Day Partner

RECENT FORM 

Coach Scott Roth has vowed that his team will ‘give it a hell of a swing’ when they take on defending champions the Illawarra Hawks at home on Wednesday night.

It’s the perfect way to finish the regular season for the JackJumpers, who play in front of a home crowd for the final rostered game and with their spot in the post-season secured.

“To finish our last regular season at home, in front of that crowd that we love to death, and they keep showing-up for us, we’re going to give it a hell of a swing on Wednesday,” Roth said.

The JackJumpers are coming off an away loss against South East Melbourne, but have plenty of cause for finals optimism.

Majok Deng was on fire with 20 points in the first quarter on his way to a career-best 36 in his 280th NBL game, with nine rebounds and three assists on 11/14 field goal shooting with 4/6 from long-range and a perfect 10/10 at the foul line.

Front court partner Josh Bannan finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists with Anthony Drmic adding 11 points on 4/5 shooting, and Tyger Campbell 10 points, nine assists and three rebounds.

As for the Hawks, coach Justin Tatum said they’ve been on a championship high but are currently on the “hangover part of it”.

The Hawks, who ended a 24-year championship drought last season, needed to win their final three games by big margins and have other results fall their way in order to make the finals.

But they were outplayed at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday night as the Kings completed a 4-0 sweep of their season series.

The last time the JackJumpers and Hawks met was on January 24, and the Hawks clinched the win by 10 points.

INJURIES

Tasmania JackJumpers  OUT: Will Magnay (foot), Kobe Williamson (foot), Sean Macdonald (foot) Ben Ayre (groin)

Illawarra Hawks OUT:  Jonah Bolden (Achilles) Ben Griscti (back)

CONCOURSE INFORMATION 

Head to the MyState Bank Arena external concourse from 5.30pm to enjoy activities and give aways from the JackJumpers and our commercial partners.

Pre-game activities will include;

-              Face painter

-              Glitter tattoos

-              Green and Sparkles Temporary Hairspray

-              JackJumpers / Jewels temporary tattoos

-              Tasmania Jewels Crowns

-              Huon reversable bucket hats

-              SRT hoops trailer

-              Clappers – Tyrepower

-              JMC vehicle car display

-              DJ Hugo – JMC