The Tasmania JackJumpers are ending 2024 on an absolute tear. The defending NBL champions notched their eighth consecutive victory on Sunday, taking down the Brisbane Bullets 95-86 in front of an electric home crowd. With this win, the JackJumpers improve to an impressive 11-8 record as they gain steam heading into 2025.
From tip-off, Tasmania asserted their dominance, maintaining a lead that ballooned to as much as 15 points. The Bullets, already shorthanded without the scoring punch of an injured James Batemon, struggled to find any offensive rhythm against the surging Jackies.
JackJumpers Control the Glass and Tempo
A telling stat in this contest was Tasmania’s ability to create extra possessions for themselves. The home team dominated the offensive boards, snagging 17 rebounds that led directly to 16 second chance points.
We knew going in that controlling the glass was going to be key. Our guys did a tremendous job of attacking the boards and giving us those extra opportunities.
– Tasmania JackJumpers Head Coach Scott Roth
In addition to their rebounding prowess, the JackJumpers took care of the ball, committing only 9 turnovers for the game. This allowed them to dictate the pace and tempo, especially in the second half where they held the Bullets at bay.
Doyle and Crawford Lead the Charge
Offensively, it was the Milton Doyle show once again. The star guard poured in a game-high 23 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. His backcourt mate Jordon Crawford orchestrated the attack brilliantly, dishing out 8 dimes to supplement his 13 points.
- Anthony Drmic – 19 pts, 5 reb
- Majok Deng – 16 pts, 4 reb
- Tasmania – 54 pts in the paint
Bullets Sputter Without Batemon
For Brisbane, the absence of James Batemon was sorely felt. The Bullets shot a paltry 43% from the field and were unable to find consistent scoring outside of Keandre Cook (20 pts) and Casey Prather (18 pts, 7 reb). Big man Tyrell Harrison battled hard on the inside with 15 points and 12 boards, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Jackies’ balanced attack.
Champs Rounding Into Form
With this victory, Tasmania has now won 8 straight and 9 of their last 10. After a bit of an up-and-down start to their title defense, the JackJumpers seem to be finding their swagger at just the right time.
We’re starting to play our best ball of the season. It’s all coming together – the effort, the execution, the energy. This group is relentless and they’re hungry to go out and prove that last year was no fluke.
– Coach Scott Roth
As the calendar flips to 2025, the rest of the NBL has officially been put on notice. The Tasmania JackJumpers aren’t going anywhere and they look poised to jump right back into the thick of the championship chase. Bring on the New Year and the road to back-to-back titles!
