Adams Helps Keep JackJumpers Alive Despite Loe's Heroics

Rob Loe delivered his best NBL performance just hours after the New Zealand Breakers lost Yanni Wetzell, but the Tasmania JackJumpers pulled out the 88-86 win to keep their finals aspirations alive.

The Breakers parted ways with standout centre Wetzell earlier in the day on Friday to allow him to join Spanish EuroLeague team Baskonia, but veteran backup Loe stepped up huge and almost delivered a match-winning performance in his absence.

In fact even after Tasmania looked to have done enough to be leading late by five, it was New Zealand's two veterans Loe and Tom Abercrombie that sent another real scare into the JackJumpers.

Josh Adams came up big late with a couple of big moves to the rack for the five-point lead, but then Abercrombie drained a three. Loe then delivered another big block up one end and Abercrombie had the chance at a game winning three, but it just rimmed out.

The JackJumpers had to fight all the way for the win and were down six midway through that final quarter, but they got the victory they needed to continue to be in the hunt for that fourth spot held by the Wildcats.

Tasmania now improves to 15-11 in their inaugural season to be hot on the heels of the struggling Perth who are 15-10.

Josh Adams came up huge for the JackJumpers with 23 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals with Jack McVeigh adding 16 points and six rebounds, MiKyle McIntosh 12 points and six boards, Matt Kenyon nine points and six rebounds, and Josh Magette seven points, eight assists and six rebounds.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was beaming with pride over his team's fighting qualities post-match.

"It's not so much a sigh of relief, I'm just so proud of the guys and the culture the guys have built, and the grit and grind they show. They are fearless and keep fighting and fighting, and sometimes it goes our way and sometimes it doesn’t," Roth said. 

"Tonight is a great credit to them to eke out a game that was very difficult. We knew this was going to be a difficult game for us and I'm just proud of the way these guys continue to perform. It's been incredible and the last X amount of weeks has been unbelievable. I'm proud of them"

It was a career-best night in the NBL for Rob Loe who produced 27 points, seven rebounds, three huge blocks and two assists for the Breakers on a phenomenal 11/14 shooting from the field and 2/4 from beyond the arc.

Peyton Siva also delivered 13 points, five assists and four steals, Rasmus Bach 12 points, Will McDowell-White nine points, five rebounds and four assists, and Chasson Randle eight points and two assists.

Breakers coach Dan Shamir couldn't fault the effort of his team especially minus Wetzell and Next Star Ousmane Dieng.

"It was a good game so despite the loss, we fought, passed, shared the ball and created a lot of good things," Shamir said.

"Tasmania is a very physical team and we matched it and obviously the game was decided over a play or two at the end, one guy makes a shot and the other guy doesn’t. But in the big picture we had 26 assists and after starting a little slow, we made it back and it was a good basketball game."

After two early free-throws for New Zealand to Tom Abercrombie, Tasmania got rolling with a triple from Jack McVeigh and and-one to Matt Kenyon. Then after a Rob Loe bucket, the JackJumpers hit the next eight points to suddenly lead 14-4.

New Zealand steadied out of a timeout including five straight points to Peyton Siva. He soon hit his second triple of the first term while Loe took his chance with six points and two blocks for the Breakers, but still after one the JackJumpers led 28-22.

Tasmania's lead grew to double-figures early in the second quarter, but New Zealand weren’t going away. Will McDowell-White hit a three to start a 7-0 run, and shortly after six consecutive points from Loe saw the Breakers snatch the lead.

It was only brief with four more Josh Adams points including a breakaway dunk helping Tasmania lead 45-44 at the half, but the game was in the balance.

Loe's huge night continued for New Zealand to start the second half and five quick points from the big man had his team back in front. He and Siva then combined for a 6-0 run to keep them on top, and triples from Hugo Besson and Chasson Randle saw them still lead by four.

Tasmania captain Clint Steindl hit a triple to make it a two-point game at three quarter-time before former teammates Loe and Jarrad Weeks traded three balls to open the fourth term.

The Breakers weren’t giving it up and it was Randle who put them back up six and the JackJumpers had to respond. They did firstly with a McVeigh three ball and then four points from Adams. They were back up three with a triple from Josh Magette with 3:30 on the clock.

A couple of huge plays from Adams at the rim ended up sealing the crucial win to keep the JackJumpers alive but it wasn’t without a scare with Abercrombie hitting one three late for New Zealand, and just missing another on the buzzer.

This is the only game this round for the Breakers with their season ending next Sunday against the Adelaide 36ers. The JackJumpers back up on Sunday in Melbourne against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 20

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 86 (Loe 27, Siva 13, Bach 12)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 88 (Adams 23, McVeigh 16, McIntosh 12) 

BOX SCORE