Jackies address fadeout demons in crucial road win

It looked like they would squander a double digit lead for the third straight game. But the Jackies stared adversity in the face to prevail in Brisbane and revive a sluggish start to their title defence.

Gorjok Gak of the Jackjumpers slam dunks during Saturday’s win over Brisbane. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has praised his team’s tenacity to avoid yet another second half collapse when it stared them in the face in Saturday’s crucial road win over Brisbane.

Entering the contest at 2-5 and on a three-game losing streak, the JackJumpers led by as many as 19 points in the first half before the Bullets surged with a 30-17 third quarter, and built a five point lead in the final term.

But the visitors overran Brisbane with a 27-9 run to win 87-79 and ensure they keep in striking distance of the top six.

Last weekend the Jackies led Sydney by 16 points in the first half at Launceston on Friday before falling 80-71. They faded again at Adelaide on Sunday, where they led by 11 late in the first half of a 77-73.

Roth challenged his team at half-time to be ruthless, and do everything possible to avoid wilting again.

Even this early in the season, they couldn’t afford to give up another big lead and their stuttering offense finally sparked to life down the stretch.

It was just the third time the Jackies had scored 80 points this year, winning all three.

Asked how his team stayed mentally strong as another opponent threatened to run over the top of them, Roth said: “Our work ethic is important. At half time we said we’ve been in this spot now two times in a row, what’s going to be our response the next 20 minutes.

“We made enough stops and enough plays, they didn’t drop their heads and fought through some things. It’s not pretty, but it’s effective.”

The Jackjumpers celebrate victory. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Starters Jordon Crawford (16 points, six assists), Milton Doyle 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists), Majok Deng (16 points, six rebounds) and Will Magnay (13 points, nine rebounds) all made vital contributions.

Defensive specialist Craig Sword also showed glimpses on the offensive end, contributing eight points off the bench and finish with a plus-19 on the plus-minus scale.

“It’s nice to get over 80 points, which is a relief,” Roth said.

“Our defence has remained solid for five or six games and we continue to harp on our defence, but we found a way.

“Credit to these guys, they’ve worked very hard for the last seven to ten days to solve some of our issues and simplify some things. We had contributions across the board.

“Hopefully we’re creating some opportunities through our defence to get some points in the first eight seconds of the clock, hopefully that’s contributing to getting more than 80 points.

“I don’t know the last time we went to the (free throw) line 27 times, we’ve been harping on driving the ball into the paint and being relentless in that area.

“We have room to grow, which is nice.”

Tasmania hosts South-East Melbourne at Launceston on Friday night, before a road trip to Sydney on Sunday.