Tasmania are likely to be without star point guard Josh Magette for the NBL playoffs after he suffered a suspected broken cheek bone in their fourth-place sealing 87-63 win over Illawarra to finish their season.
The JackJumpers (16-12) needed a victory to stay clear of South East Melbourne Phoenix in fifth heading into their final regular season game, and did so with suffocating defence on Saturday.
They held Illawarra to just 47 points through three quarters and took a 21-point lead heading into the final term before cruising to a 24-point margin against the Hawks.
Should the Breakers beat Brisbane in Saturday's later game, the JackJumpers will face Cairns in a third-versus-fourth matchup.
But they are likely to be without Magette in their second trip to the NBL postseason after a third-quarter blow to the face on defence.
The American guard took copped a hit defending a fast-break and did not return to the game with significant swelling.
Magette averaged 10 points per game, 4.4 assists and three rebounds this season and is the primary ball handler for Scott Roth's side.
"Magette's in some serious pain and it's gonna be probably not a good outcome for him," Roth said.
"We're just hoping to rally around him and support him the best we can.
"It's quite an expensive night for us just in general. But the reality is, it's sports and you just do what you have to do and these guys just continue to get the next guy in, the next man up."
Magette's departure was the only blemish in a dominant performance, the JackJumpers holding Illawarra to 12 third-quarter points - just three more than in their last outing against New Zealand.
The Hawks were playing for pride and to send retiring Tim Coenraad and Kevin White out with a win, but fell for their 25th loss of the season and finished with their worst record in franchise history.
It was Coenraad's 374th and final game for Illawarra after making his debut in September 2009.
He tallied eight points and 2-4 from three-point range, ending his career a legend in Wollongong and third on the club's all-time games played list.
Coenraad's side started the contest struggling from the field as Tasmania opened up an 11-point margin midway through the term on an 11-0 run.
The visitors would take a 10-point lead at quarter-time, hitting three of their seven three-point attempts and eight players scoring a basket.
Makes from behind the arc would dry up for both teams in the second quarter, stopped by constant fouling with Tasmania committing nine and Illawarra 10 by the main break.
Just as the Hawks would garner some momentum, the JackJumpers would respond quickly with transition buckets as their lead grew to as high as 15 before the main break.
The JackJumpers distributed the ball unselfishly for 10 assists at the break compared to Illawarra's one as Jack McVeigh (11 points by halftime) led the way for a 46-35 scoreline at the main break.
JackJumpers guard Milton Doyle led all-comers with 20 points, finishing with a double-double after grabbing 10 assists.
