Jackies’ title defence almost over after Melbourne fadeout

The JackJumpers’ title defence is on the thinnest of ice, but coach Scott Roth says “there’s no use getting stressed or flipping out about it.” Get the reaction after Saturday’s loss in Melbourne.

Jordon Crawford of the JackJumpers drives at the basket under pressure during Saturday’s match between Melbourne United and Tasmania Jackjumpers. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

It was the collapse that has likely brought down the Tasmania JackJumpers.

A huge 16-point lead evaporated in a stunning turn of events on Saturday night as the JackJumpers went down 94-92 in a classic to Melbourne United at John Cain Arena.

While mathematically still a highly improbable finals chance after sixth-placed Adelaide’s loss to South East Melbourne on Sunday, JackJumpers coach Scott Roth all but conceded the title defence was over.

Instead of rallying the island for one final push for a top six finish, Roth’s focus turned to the fourth annual Teal Round game for charity.

The JackJumpers’ last regular season clash with Cairns Taipans at MyState Bank Arena on Saturday night will double as a fundraiser and awareness campaign for local charity S.H.E (Support, Hope, Education), which is on a mission to build a world class cancer wellness centre in Tasmania.

When asked if the JackJumpers team is starting to adapt better to life without injured stars Will Magnay and Sean Macdonald, Roth seemed resigned to the fact that it has come too late with a backbreaking sixth consecutive loss leaving their season on the thinnest sheet of ice.

“We only have one more game left, so it doesn’t really matter about what that’s transpiring into,” Roth said bluntly.

“I think the big thing for us is to actually practice, we haven’t practiced in about 10 days with the group at all.

“We’ll have three good practices this week and then we have just a huge game for the S.H.E Foundation, the Teal game, which I’m quite excited about to make sure that we take care of Jo Harris’s legacy with ovarian cancer.

Milton Doyle of the JackJumpers drives at the basket during the round 19 NBL match between Melbourne United and Tasmania Jackjumpers at John Cain Arena. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

“And I’m excited to get to that game.”

After five consecutive double-digit losses, Tasmania rallied for one last crack at keeping their season alive.

The JackJumpers smacked around the championship-contending United for the best part of three quarters, but it all went horribly wrong in the fourth quarter, which they lost 15-26.

The Jackies could only manage 31 second half points after piling on 61 in the first half.

“I think we just bled points throughout the game with our transition defence, it was not really good in general,” Roth said.

“And then, you know, they smashed us on the glass with 18 offensive rebounds.

“It was just kind of a classic United-JackJumper game just in general, just back and forth and a fistfight at one level, but our group did a nice job for the most part.

“It’s just little moments that you [need to] win and we didn’t win any of those little moments.”

JackJumpers forward Milton Doyle was a man on a mission with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, while veteran point guard Jordon Crawford entertained with 20 points.

Crawford had a chance to win the game late driving to the hoop, but turned it over.

“It’s not gut wrenching to me at all,” Roth said of the manner of the loss.

“For these guys, they’re disappointed, they want to win, they want to do better and the season has been kind of an up and down choppy season just in general.

“It’s just sports, I mean there’s nothing really you can do about it, there’s no use getting stressed or flipping out about it.”