JackJumpers break records in romp of Wildcats

More impressive hounding defence and then catching fire shooting has seen the Tasmania JackJumpers win a fourth straight game in record fashion beating the Perth Wildcats 103-72 in Hobart on Saturday night.

The JackJumpers went on to record their biggest ever win in the NBL and scored 100 points for the first time. It was on the back of knocking down 17/35 from three-point land with 12 players scoring and seven of them hitting at least one from the land of plenty.

The JackJumpers have got right back to their tenacious defence that makes them so hard to score against, they are outworking their opponents, and the Wildcats felt the full brunt of that on Saturday night at MyState Bank Arena.

Perth actually led by a point after one, but Tasmania went on a 34-13 run in the second quarter to blow the game wide open with Jarrad Weeks, Sean Macdonald, Jack McVeigh and Milton Doyle all helping them hit 10 of the first 18 three-point attempts.

The JackJumpers were shooting 58 per cent in the first half but also forced Perth into eight turnovers while Matt Kenyon not only shot well, but held Bryce Cotton to one first half field goal attempt.

It continued in a similar path in the second half and by the end of the night, Tasmania won by 31 on the back of shooting 57 per cent from the field and 48 from downtown.

Kenyon not only was instrumental in holding Cotton to 14 points on 4/6 shooting, but had a career-best scoring night with 14 points, three rebounds and two steals while hitting 4/6 from three-point land.

McVeigh put up 17 points, four rebounds and three assists while hitting 4/8 from deep while Milton Doyle added 15 points on 3/4 long-range shooting to go with 10 rebounds.

Rashard Kelly had another 16 points and eight rebounds while point guard Josh Magette ran the ship masterfully for 11 points and 10 assists. Sean Macdonald also hit three triples for nine points.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth wasn’t complaining about the 103 points or 17 three-pointers his team knocked down, but what they did defensively pleased him even more.

"I was actually more excited about the defence first. To keep a team like that in the 70s is just an incredible effort by our guys," Roth said.

"It's obviously nice to see the ball go through and maybe it was an unusual shooting night where you have that high a percentage and a lot of stuff was working for us, but I loved our intent defensively more than anything.

"We continue to defend the island and that's our No. 1 priority with our guys, it's talked about constantly that we make sure that Tasmanians are proud of this product we're putting on the floor. I can always tell you that these guys fight like hell."

Todd Blanchfield caught fire to start the game just like he did in Perth's only other road game so far in Cairns. He opened up with consecutive three-pointers but the JackJumpers responded in kind with three balls from Jack McVeigh and Milton Doyle as part of an 8-0 run.

Things remained tight leading right up to quarter-time with Sean Macdonald and Corey Webster trading late long-range bombers with the 'Cats lead 23-22 after one.

Sam McDaniel then scored early in the second quarter in his first appearance of NBL23 before the JackJumpers caught fire in remarkable fashion to blow the game wide open to send The Anthill into raptures.

Jarrad Weeks, Macdonald and McVeigh started the by knocking down triples and then a 9-0 run consisting of three-point knockdowns from Doyle (two) and McVeigh.

Another 6-0 then saw Tasmania up 20 and the home team still led 56-40 at the main break on the back of hitting 10/19 from downtown along with 14 points off the eight Wildcats turnovers.

Matt Kenyon blew things out further with back to back threes in the third quarter with the lead for Tasmania growing to 28, and still by 27 at three quarter-time before cruising to the record setting 31-point win.

It was the only game of Round 4 for the JackJumpers who aren't in action again until next Sunday away to the New Zealand Breakers.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 4

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 103 (McVeigh 17, Kelly 16, Doyle 15)

PERTH WILDCATS 72 (Cotton 14, Travers 12, Webster 9, Blanchfield 9)

BOX SCORE