The JackJumpers end five-game losing streak to finish NBL season with a bang against Cairns Taipans

The JackJumpers ended their NBL season on a high with a seven-point win over the Cairns Taipans in Hobart but a cloud hangs over one of their favourite sons. Here’s what we know.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Scott Roth, Head Coach of the Jackjumpers speaks to his team during a timeout during the round 20 NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Cairns Taipans at MyState Bank Arena, on February 08, 2025, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)

A second-half Jordon Crawford masterclass ensured Tasmania ended its season as the reigning NBL champion on a high when the JackJumpers stung the Cairns Taipans with a 90-83 win at MyState Bank Arena on Saturday night.

The win broke the JackJumpers’ five-game losing streak and punctuated the club’s first season of no play-off action.

The JackJumpers had to win their last home-and-away game by 65 points to tip six-placed Adelaide out of the play-offs _ they finished on the same wins but the 36ers went through on a better percentage.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth had to settle for his team being seventh and best of the rest.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Jordon Crawford of the Jackjumpers warms up ahead of the round 20 NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Cairns Taipans at MyState Bank Arena, on February 08, 2025, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)

Game MVP Crawford was teary when he spoke about his potential basketball future.

“Tasmania is home so if this is the last time, it has been great. I want this to be home but you never know,” Crawford said.

Cairns drew first blood and it soon turned into a Milton Doyle versus Taipans contest in the opening minutes when he sank 12 points for the home team to lead 16-14.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Milton Doyle of the Jackjumpers shoots the ball during the round 20 NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Cairns Taipans at MyState Bank Arena, on February 08, 2025, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)

Big Snake Sam Waardenburg struck big trouble early when he was sent off for an unsportsmanlike foul deep into the first.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Adam Forde, Head Coach of the Taipans speaks to his team during a timeout during the round 20 NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Cairns Taipans at MyState Bank Arena, on February 08, 2025, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)

Taipans coach Adam Forde had already used his coach’s challenge on what appeared to be a frivolous call against a shooting foul less than two minutes in, and while the Cairns bench steamed the JJs jumped to a 26-18 lead.

A Majok Deng slam dunk and foul extra point, and Crawford bucket and foul extra point, put the JJs up 34-20.

Forde then copped a tech foul for his antics on the sidelines as Tassie stretched its lead to 17.

Doyle also copped as unsportsmanlike foul when a shot-block included the face of Waardenburg as the Jackies went to the long break 49-41 with the Taipans yet to hit a three-pointer from 10 attempts.

The Taipans found their venom in the third when they cut the deficit to a few points in the opening minutes as Alex Higgins-Titsha (13 points) Tanner Groves (11 points) found the bucket.

Leading by five heading into the fourth, Tasmania did enough to keep the Taipans at arm’s length in the run home as Groves was fouled out for the eighth time this season.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Taran Armstrong of the Taipans dribble the ball during the round 20 NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Cairns Taipans at MyState Bank Arena, on February 08, 2025, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)

The Taipan’s Tasmanian captain Taran Armstrong (16 points, five rebounds) followed his match-winning triple-double heroics against Brisbane with an anti-climax performance in his home state.