The Tasmania JackJumpers have advanced into the semifinals for NBL24 after delivering a 16-point win over the Illawarra Hawks at MyState Bank Arena.
The game got off to a rocky start, with key players from both sides succumbing to injuries in the opening minutes. For Tasmania, Marcus Lee exited the match with a shoulder injury after getting entangled with Sam Froling under the basket. While not a star player, Lee’s absence disrupted the JackJumpers’ rotation and forced his teammates to step up.
Riding high on a four-game winning streak, the JackJumpers showed exceptional form, finishing the opening quarter with a 12-point lead.
Behind the exceptional play of star centre Will Magnay, Tasmania extended the lead to 18 points but by the game’s halfway point, the Hawks had reduced the gap to a seven-point deficit.
The game remained close in the third quarter but in the final period, the JackJumper’s offence was unstoppable, delivering a 22-13 scoring run, securing the team a place in the semi-finals.
All-NBL First Team recipient, Gary Clark led the way for the Hawks with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a near-solo effort.
The JackJumpers will face off against the Perth Wildcats in the semi-finals, with that series set to kick off on Friday night, while the Hawks get a second chance to advance when they take on the New Zealand Breakers on Monday night in an elimination game.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
