An inspired 22-6 closing run has virtually guaranteed the Tasmania JackJumpers a second finals berth in as many seasons of their existence, in a vital 102-94 NBL win over the Perth Wildcats at MyState Bank Arena.
After a bright start in Hobart on Sunday afternoon, the JackJumpers were progressively outplayed across the middle terms, falling behind by nine points before steamrolling the Wildcats down the stretch.
Tasmania's Milton Doyle (21 points) drained a huge three-pointer to just beat the shot-clock with a minute remaining, before Perth's Jesse Wagstaff was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on the next possession after Rashard Kelly (18) stripped Bryce Cotton of the ball, sealing his side's fate.
The result lifted the JackJumpers to 15-12 with a virtual lock on sixth place, which can only be unpicked if they suffer a landslide loss next Saturday to bottom-ranked Illawarra and seventh-placed Melbourne United (14-13) obliterate Adelaide next Sunday.
"There were moments where we bent but we didn't break," JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said.
"I kept telling the guys at some point we're going to have to dig in and play some defence.
"We made some big shots and big stops and the building became electric."
TaShawn Thomas (19 points, 10 rebounds) led the way for the Wildcats who, with a 14-12 record and games to come against the competition's two best teams - Cairns and Sydney - have left the door slightly ajar for United.
Behind the explosive attack of sixth man Jack McVeigh (18 points) and the elite rim protection of centre Will Magnay, the JackJumpers finished the opening term with a 19-3 burst to lead 32-21 at quartertime.
The home side led by as many as 13 early in the second term before Corey Webster gave Cotton some much-needed help to reduce the margin to 57-54 at halftime.
Perth carried that momentum into the third term, gradually seizing complete control and stretching their advantage to nine points before Doyle engineered Tasmania's withering final burst.
"We let them dictate the pace of that last three or four minutes," Wildcats coach John Rillie said.
"We had an eye on the scoreboard and the clock versus the pace that we were playing to get that lead.
"We bogged down a bit versus moving the ball and letting the opportunities come our way."
