GOOD luck to the next expansion team that enters the National Basketball League (NBL), because the Tasmania JackJumpers have set some sort of bar. In the 2021/22 season, the JackJumpers have taken some serious scalps, but they might have saved their best win for Thursday night, as they headed West to take on the always tough Perth Wildcats on the road. With the postseason approaching, the Wildcats are looming as one of the title favourites, so it is safe to say they were expected to get the better of Tassie. However, Scott Roth continues to mount his case for Coach of the Year, and guided his side to a marvellous triumph against all odds.

Coming into this clash, Tasmania had exceeded all expectations, proving a tough opponent on a weekly basis thanks to their blistering shooting and ruthless effort on the defensive end. Despite these traits, not many people gave them a chance as even the best sides regularly fall to Perth on their home court, and given Tasmania’s inexperience, it seemed like a long shot. However, the JackJumpers managed to produce one of the upsets of the year and knock off the Wildcats, leaving fans in RAC Arena stunned and silent as their side fell by two points in dramatic fashion.

The JackJumpers got out to the perfect start, claiming a seven point lead at the first break, but Perth fought back (as expected) in the second to give themselves a two point advantage at half time. Tasmania rallied in the third period of action as Josh Adams got rolling after a scoreless first half, and managed to turn its deficit into a two point lead heading into the last. There were some big buckets from both teams in the fourth, as the lead changed hands a number of times, but none were more crucial than Adams’ three over Bryce Cotton to give his side the lead with just seconds on the clock. The Wildcats couldn’t answer and Tassie recorded its first win out West.

For the victors, the heroics of Adams caught the headlines (and rightfully so), but there were a number of contributors in the win. Jack McVeigh led his side with 19 points as he continues to prove why he was one of the most valuable recuits of the offseason. Skipper Clint Steindl was also great, providing a scoring spark off the bench with 15. For the Wildcats, Cotton fought bravely to finish with 23 points, but didn’t get enough help to secure a win.

The other match to take place on Thursday saw Anthony Drmic‘s last second three prove match-winning as the New Zealand Breakers took down the Brisbane Bullets in dramatic fashion, while Friday’s action had the SEM Phoenix prove too classy for the Cairns Taipans.