Match Report: Wildcats vs JackJumpers Rnd7 NBL26

Tasmania made a fast start in Hobart, setting the tone with a three from Bryce Hamilton to open the scoring. The JackJumpers moved the ball confidently and found clean looks both inside and from the perimeter, with Will Magnay and Majok Deng helping build an early double-digit lead.

Perth struggled to find rhythm at either end, falling behind 15 to 5 midway through the first quarter as Tasmania hit nine of their first thirteen shots.

David Okwera provided a spark with a strong defensive block and energy on the boards. Ben Henshall hit a long three to steady the Wildcats, while Elijah Pepper and Okwera added late baskets to keep them in touch. Even so, Tasmania controlled the opening period and led 28 to 16 at the first break after a clinical shooting display.

Perth regrouped in the second quarter. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. started the fightback with an alley-oop finish from Henshall before Kristian Doolittle drew contact twice and converted all four free throws. Doolittle then knocked down a pull-up three to complete a 7–0 run, forcing a JackJumpers timeout as the margin closed to a single possession. The Wildcats lifted defensively, contesting rebounds and limiting Tasmania’s clean looks to slow the tempo.

Lual-Acuil Jr. added a hook shot in the paint to make it a one-point game. Tasmania finally broke a four-minute scoring drought through Josh Bannan, but Perth’s momentum continued through Henshall, who drilled another three from the top of the arc. Jesse Wagstaff was steady at the line, sinking both attempts to keep the pressure on.

Hamilton and Tyger Campbell briefly steadied Tasmania, with Campbell completing a three-point play, yet the Wildcats continued to build belief. Okwera stayed active inside with an offensive rebound and put-back, while Dontae Russo-Nance made an impact with a steal, rebound, and assist on consecutive plays. In the closing seconds, Pepper hit a long three to trim the margin to four at halftime.

After trailing by as much as seventeen in the first quarter, the Wildcats fought their way back through defensive energy and improved ball movement to stay within striking distance.

The Wildcats came out of halftime with intent, led again by David Okwera, who set the tone with a steal, fast-break finish and a converted free throw to complete the three-point play. His energy sparked Perth as Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. followed with a strong drive to the basket to bring the margin to one. Tasmania answered through Nick Marshall, but the Wildcats kept pace, with both sides trading baskets to level the scores at 46 apiece.

Okwera stayed aggressive inside, pulling down an offensive rebound and scoring through contact to tie the game again at 53. From there, Elijah Pepper took over. After an offensive board, he drilled a three to give Perth their first lead of the night, then followed up with another from the corner to extend the advantage to six. The Wildcats, who had trailed by as much as seventeen earlier in the contest, had now completed a 23-point turnaround.

Tasmania responded out of a timeout through Bryce Hamilton, who hit a jumper and a deep three to steady the home side, but Pepper’s hot hand continued. He buried his fifth straight triple, improving to five-for-five from beyond the arc, a flawless display that energised the Wildcats bench and Red Army fans watching back home.

With Will Magnay sidelined in the change rooms, Lual-Acuil Jr. went back to work inside, scoring twice and adding another three-point play to push the margin back to six. The JackJumpers found a late corner three and added free throws to narrow the gap, but Lual-Acuil Jr. closed the period with a hook shot to keep Perth in front.

The Wildcats carried their momentum into the final term as Jaron Rillie opened with a three to extend the lead to seven. With Will Magnay ruled out through injury, Tasmania lost a key interior presence, and Perth quickly took advantage. David Okwera continued his breakout performance, reaching an equal career-high thirteen points while also contributing on the defensive end and pushing the pace in transition.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. asserted himself inside, pulling down an offensive rebound and finishing through contact to give Perth an eleven-point buffer. The JackJumpers responded through Josh Bannan, scoring out of a timeout and then backing it up with consecutive baskets to trim the margin. A diving effort from Ben Henshall at half court reflected the Wildcats’ energy, but Tasmania’s quick run forced Perth to call time with the score at 79–72.

The visitors regrouped, again finding Lual-Acuil Jr. in the open court for a powerful dunk before he added two free throws to take his tally to twenty-three points. The JackJumpers refused to fade, with Bryce Hamilton scoring back-to-back baskets to cut the deficit to four. Lual-Acuil Jr. responded with a huge defensive block on T.J. Starks, halting Tasmania’s surge as the game entered the final minutes.

Bannan hit a late three to give Tasmania hope, but Kristian Doolittle responded with a composed mid-range jumper to steady the Wildcats. Doolittle then iced the result, scoring on consecutive plays before draining a final three to close the game. Perth outscored Tasmania 23–16 in the final term to secure a come-from-behind 95–84 win after trailing by seventeen in the opening quarter.

The victory lifts the Wildcats to five wins and four losses for the season. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. finishing with 23 points, six rebounds and three assists, while David Okwera added 13 points and was consistent defensive presence. Elijah Pepper finished with 5-of-6 shooting from deep in another efficient showing.

The Perth Wildcats will stay on the road, they'll play South East Melbourne Phoenix in Melbourne on Sunday.

JLA said post game the group’s confidence continues to build:

“We’ll get to Melbourne, regroup and prepare. We have a great coaching staff and they’ll have a strong scout for us. Hopefully we can keep this run going.”

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