Match Report: Wildcats vs JackJumpers Rnd13 NBL26
Perth set the tone from the opening possession. David Duke Jr knocked down a three on the Wildcats’ first trip and followed it with a defensive stop, signalling intent early. The Wildcats were sharp defensively from the outset, applying ball pressure and forcing Tasmania into contested looks as they controlled the early tempo.
Tasmania responded through Josh Bannan, who connected from deep, but Perth remained patient. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr established himself inside with a pair of early finishes, while Dylan Windler added a perimeter three to keep the Wildcats in front.
Despite Perth leading for much of the quarter, Tasmania stayed close through offensive rebounding and timely shot-making. Lual-Acuil Jr scored on the buzzer to give Perth a narrow 19–18 lead at quarter time.
The second quarter belonged to Kristian Doolittle. After Tasmania briefly took momentum through back-to-back threes from Tyger Campbell, Doolittle immediately responded, knocking down a three of his own before adding a smooth turnaround jumper to level the contest. From there, he controlled the period, scoring efficiently from multiple spots on the floor and becoming the first player in the game to reach double figures.
Perth’s depth complemented Doolittle’s surge. Sunday Dech hit a timely three, David Okwera lifted energy with a two-handed dunk, and Lat Mayen converted off an offensive rebound. Still, it was Doolittle who anchored the Wildcats and provided stability whenever Tasmania threatened to build momentum. A late corner three from Duke Jr helped Perth take a 44–42 lead into halftime.
Perth elevated after the break. Defensive pressure increased, with Duke Jr and Elijah Pepper forcing turnovers and converting in transition. Lual-Acuil Jr and Doolittle controlled the interior, scoring efficiently while limiting Tasmania’s second-chance opportunities.
Tasmania stayed in touch through Bryce Hamilton, who hit contested threes, and Bannan’s continued activity around the rim. Each time the margin threatened to close, Perth responded. A key sequence midway through the third saw Okwera knock down a three off a Doolittle assist, followed shortly by a deep triple from Duke Jr that extended the lead.
Pepper capped the quarter with a steal and a tough turnaround jumper in the final seconds, underlining Perth’s control of the period. The Wildcats won the quarter and carried a 71–64 advantage into the final break.
In the final term, the Wildcats delivered their most complete closing quarter in recent weeks, again led by Doolittle. Dech opened the term with a timely three to push the lead into double figures, while Doolittle continued to punish switches and mismatches, stretching the margin further with a deep three and a powerful dunk that forced a Tasmania timeout.
Hamilton continued to fire for the JackJumpers, but Perth answered each surge with composure. Doolittle, Duke Jr and Pepper controlled possessions, while Lual-Acuil Jr anchored the defence through the closing minutes.
Kristian Doolittle delivered a dominant all-round performance, finishing with 30 points on 12/18 shooting, including 3/5 from deep, while adding six rebounds, three assists and two steals in just over 35 minutes on the floor.
The Wildcats secured a 94–85 victory, a statement road win to open their five-game away stretch. They will return to Perth for the week, before making the trip to Adelaide to play the 36ers on Sunday, 28 December.
