Round 4 Game Preview - Illawarra Hawks vs Tasmania JackJumpers

Round 4 – Illawarra Hawks vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Saturday 12 October, 5.30pm AEDT tip-off
WIN Entertainment Centre
Watch LIVE on ESPN via Kayo

State of Play

The Tasmania JackJumpers will take on the Illawarra Hawks this Saturday at the WIN Entertainment Centre. The Hawks currently sit atop the NBL ladder with a strong 3-1 record, showcasing an impressive start to their season. The JackJumpers, at 2-2, are looking to climb higher in the standings and establish themselves as a top contender.

Tasmania has shown resilience, battling back from deficits and relying on key players like Milton Doyle to secure wins. Their recent overtime victory against Perth highlighted their defensive toughness and ability to perform under pressure. Will Magnay’s presence will be vital as he looks to stifle Illawarra’s big men, including Sam Froling and Darius Days.

Illawarra has positioned themselves as early championship contenders, with Trey Kell III leading the way. Kell’s scoring has been instrumental, making him an MVP contender. The Hawks will be looking to atone for their loss to the Adelaide 36ers last Saturday, unable to retain their early lead in the fourth quarter and going down by 2 points in a hard-fought game. They’ll be eager to get back on track at home.

Last Time They Met

Seeding Qualifier – Wednesday, 28 February – MyState Bank Arena
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 92 (Magnay 25, McVeigh 26)
ILLAWARRA HAWKS 76 (Clark 21, Harvey 18, Froling 17)

A Will Magnay-inspired Tasmania JackJumpers flexed their muscle to surge past the Illawarra Hawks 92-76, progressing to the next stage of the NBL finals. Magnay notched a career-high 25 points, along with 10 rebounds and four blocks, in a physical encounter at a sold-out MyState Bank Arena. Tasmania opened up an 18-point lead midway through the second term, with Jack McVeigh adding 26 points. Despite Illawarra's efforts, led by Gary Clark’s 21 points, the JackJumpers’ defense held strong, sealing the victory with a dominant fourth quarter.

SRT Logistics Coaches’ Take

Assistant Coach Jack Fleming remarked, "We’re looking forward to taking on Illawarra, who's in hot form at the moment. Tyler Harvey and Trey Kell are playing really good basketball. We had a gritty win on the weekend against Perth, so we're looking forward to the challenge in a tough gym to play in. It’s all about maintaining our defensive intensity and executing our game plan."

Ins & Outs

• Tasmania JackJumpers: Sean Macdonald remains out as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
• Illawarra Hawks: N/A