Breakers star Parker Jackson-Cartwright avoids ejection despite apparent ref push during NBL loss to JackJumpers

Breakers star Parker Jackson-Cartwright appeared to shove one of the referees during a tussle but somehow avoided ejection in a fiery finish to his side’s match against the JackJumpers.

Breakers star Parker Jackson-Cartwright appears to shove a referee

New Zealand Breakers guard Jackson Parker-Cartwright has been referred to the Game Review Panel after making contact with an official during a melee with Reuben Te Rangi in Wednesday’s 97-82 loss to Tasmania.

The league, on Thursday, announced Jackson-Cartwright and the JackJumpers’ Te Rangi could face sanctions if proven guilty by the GRP.

The pint-sized point guard was furious when Te Rangi pushed him to the floor which saw Jackson-Cartwright retaliate in the final four minutes.

He appeared to shove one of the referees before he got to Te Rangi but avoided an ejection as the teams traded free throws, with the replay centre content with how it was handled on court.

Reuben Te Rangi pushed Parker Jackson-Cartwright as the melee began. Picture: Getty Images

Parker Jackson-Cartwright wasn’t happy with the treatment. Picture: Getty Images

Parker Jackson-Cartwright appeared to push a referee during the melee. Picture: Getty Images

Parker Jackson-Cartwright avoided an ejection during a fiery finish to the match. Picture: Getty Images

Parker Jackson-Cartwright received a Technical Foul, while Reuben Te Rangi received an Unsportsmanlike Foul after this fiery incident.

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CRAWFORD HEATS UP

There were no reindeer in sight but it was raining threes for Jordon Crawford as the star import delivered the JackJumpers a crucial Christmas night win to heap more misery on the Breakers.

The hosts have now won seven in a row despite being without the injured Will Magnay, with Crawford standing tall on Wednesday with a game-high 26 points to go with four assists as the JackJumpers raced away late.

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Crawford drilled six triples including a big play in the first half that was sparked by a Sean Macdonald block when the Breakers had a three on one advantage.

The defending NBL champions are heating up at the right time of the season despite only having one free throw attempt in the first half when the visitors had racked up 12, although the towering Tacko Fall failed to take advantage with his two misses earning the home fans free cheeseburgers in the first quarter.

Jordon Crawford helped deliver the Jackjumpers a crucial win. Picture: Getty Images

FIRING BLANKS

The Breakers were about as accurate as the Stormtroopers, with the visitors slumping to their eighth loss in a row on the back of a very poor shooting night.

It’s been a rough few weeks for the Breakers who actually looked really good in patches and shot out to a handy lead in the second quarter on the back of a 9-0 run.

Fall caused problems inside with 11 points and nine rebounds, while the crafty Jackson-Cartwright led the way with 23 points.

But they did themselves no favours with the Breakers just 16/28 at the stripe to go with a lowly 17 per cent from deep on a night they had more rebounds, steals and blocks than their opponents.

Originally published as Breakers star Parker Jackson-Cartwright avoids ejection despite apparent ref push during NBL loss to JackJumpers