Parker 'Jackson-Clutch' right man for Breakers

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New Zealand Breakers Parker Jackson-Cartwright got to the bucket twice, the first to force overtime and the second to win it, as the road team went into Hobart and snatched a 81-80 win against the Tasmania JackJumpers in Round 14 of NBL26 on Friday, December 26, 2025.

JackJumpers' Nick Marshall airballed a three from the right corner with a second left in OT to tie it up. Tasmania's Will Magnay grabbed the board and laid it in at the buzzer to make it 81-80.

The race for sixth is now a whole lot tighter as the JackJumpers fell to 9-12 and the Breakers closed in at 8-13. The JackJumpers have a 0 points differential while the Breakers are -9.

"We have a lot of respect for them," Jackson-Cartwright said.

"Everyone in this league does. They’re champions, high level, very well coached. Wherever you play them, home or away, you’re going to get their best shot.

"We’ve had some good battles with them over my stint here. It’s always fun playing against them. They play hard, and we matched their physicality tonight."

For the Breakers, Sam Mennenga delivered a dominant interior performance with 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting, while Jackson-Cartwright orchestrated the offense with 17 points and 10 assists, including those big-time plays late in regulation and overtime. New Zealand won the shooting battle (41.9% FG) and did just enough at the line and on the boards to escape Hobart with the win.

"First of all, big congratulations to the guys," Breakers head coach Petteri Koponen said.

"We talk a lot about playing with character, with energy, and that’s exactly what that game was tonight. I’m really proud of how they showed up and bounced back after a few difficult games.

"That has to be the standard every time we step on the court. When you put the shirt on, you have to be ready to fight and compete. Offensively today it wasn’t always pretty. We couldn’t make some shots, we couldn’t get to the free-throw line, but we kept fighting. We didn’t fold in difficult moments.

"Everybody who went on the court played with energy. The guys fought together, and that’s what I’m really proud of. This is the way to go. Sometimes games go your way, sometimes not, but this is the identity of how we want to look every time and how we want to stay together.

"These guys made big plays down the stretch. Sam made big plays. Sometimes in basketball you’re a little bit luckier, and today we were.

The JackJumpers controlled tempo early and were +2 at halftime, but the game remained tight throughout with 24 lead changes and neither side able to build separation. Tasmania struggled to convert late, shooting 36.3% from the field and 28.9% from three, while New Zealand’s efficiency inside ultimately proved decisive.

Bryce Hamilton carried the scoring load for Tasmania with 23 points (6-of-13 from three) in nearly 40 minutes, while Nick Marshall was outstanding on the glass with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Captain Will Magnay added 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks, anchoring the defence.

Tasmania had chances to close both regulation and overtime but couldn’t land the decisive shot, as the Breakers edged ahead 10–9 in OT to steal the result.

Key Details

• Round: 14
• Result: New Zealand Breakers 81 def. Tasmania JackJumpers 80 (OT)
• When: Thursday, 26th December 2025
• Where: MyState Bank Arena, Tasmania
• Attendance: 4,340
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers) starred with 20 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes.
• Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania JackJumpers) scored 23 points and had four rebounds and one assist in 39 minutes.

What Happened

The contest developed into a seesaw battle from the opening tip, with 24 lead changes throughout regulation and overtime. The Breakers established an early advantage in the first quarter, building a 25-18 lead behind efficient shooting. However, the JackJumpers responded emphatically in the second period, limiting New Zealand to just 12 points while scoring 18 of their own to level the contest at 37-37 at halftime.

The third quarter belonged to Tasmania as they outscored the visitors 19-14 to take a 56-51 advantage into the final period. The JackJumpers appeared poised to close out the victory on their home court, but the Breakers had other ideas. New Zealand exploded for 20 fourth-quarter points to force overtime, with the teams deadlocked at 71-71 after regulation.

In the extra period, both sides traded baskets in dramatic fashion before the Breakers managed to secure the crucial final possession. Sam Mennenga's dominant interior presence proved decisive, as the big man shot an outstanding 10-from-14 from the field to finish with a game-high 20 points and seven boards. His efficiency in the paint was complemented by Parker Jackson-Cartwright's stellar playmaking display, as the captain recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists.

For Tasmania, Bryce Hamilton shouldered the offensive load with 23 points on 8-from-23 shooting, including an impressive 6-from-13 from beyond the arc. Nick Marshall provided solid support with 15 points and 10 rebounds for his own double-double, shooting an efficient 5-from-10 from the field. The JackJumpers' ability to crash the offensive glass kept them competitive, securing 18 offensive rebounds compared to New Zealand's 16.

The contrasting shooting performances told the story of this thriller. While Tasmania connected on 11 triples to New Zealand's four, the Breakers' superior field goal percentage of 42% compared to the JackJumpers' 36% proved crucial.