Breakers work overtime for crucial NBL victory

Murray Wenzel | December 26, 2025

Parker Jackson-Cartwright has piloted New Zealand Breakers to a crucial overtime win against mid-table NBL rivals Tasmania JackJumpers to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Breakers’ 81-80 win in Hobart on Friday came after they’d led by 10 points in the first quarter, but stared down defeat as both teams made calamitous errors with scores level in the final stages of regulation time.

But Breakers guard Jackson-Cartwright (17 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, four steals) stayed calm and forward Sam Mennenga (20 points, seven rebounds) had six quick points to begin the extra period in a victory that ensured they didn’t fall three wins behind the sixth-placed JackJumpers.

His lightning-fast raid to the rim was the match-sealing play, after he had levelled scores late in regulation time with a brilliant lay-up that hit high on the glass.

“We talk about playing with character and energy … I’m proud how they showed up and bounced back after a few difficult games, and that has to be the standard,” Breakers coach Petteri Koponen said.

The visitors made just four-of-25 three-point attempts and had only six free-throw attempts.

“But we kept fighting … sometimes they go your way, sometimes they don’t,” the coach said.

New Zealand had lost three straight games, including to bottom-two sides Cairns and Brisbane, while the JackJumpers were fresh off a resounding defeat of Melbourne United on Tuesday.

The result improved the Breakers to 8-13, while the JackJumpers hold on to sixth place and a play-in berth at 9-12, despite losing all three match-ups with New Zealand this season.

Jackson-Cartwright was aggrieved not to earn a foul when he was steered  out of bounds with scores level and 20 seconds left on the clock.

But the hosts fumbled their attempt too, Bryce Hamilton (23 points, six-of-13 triples) losing control and lobbing a feeble attempt from the ground over the backboard with nearly two seconds left on the clock.

Izaiah Brockington, who made one-of-10 field goals for the night, missed the match-winner, and it was left to Mennenga and Jackson-Cartwright to call the shots in the extra period.

The visitors scored the game’s first seven points and led by as many as 10, before 100-game milestone man Nick Marshall led the response for the JackJumpers.

He had all of his 15 points at halftime and the hosts led late in the first half and by as many as six points early in the final term.

The hosts had the final possession and two attempts to nail the match-tying triple, only for it to rim out and leave Will Magnay (10 points, eight rebounds) to tip in a two-pointer that left them one point short. 

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth couldn’t put a finger on why his side had struggled against the Breakers this season.

“It was a hell of a game; a battle, back and forth,” he said. 

“Some crazy turnovers – unforced, self-inflicted wounds – and we fell in love with the three-point line and didn’t attack the rim enough.

“We did the opposite of what we did against United.”