JackJumpers Battle Hard, Look Ahead to Perth After Tough Loss to Kings

The Tasmania JackJumpers faced a tough afternoon against the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena, where Sydney’s strong shooting carried them to an 88-60 victory. Despite some promising early moments, the JackJumpers couldn’t sustain momentum, especially on the offensive end.

The Kings started with a 15-5 run, sinking early threes to establish control. Tasmania stayed close, ending the first quarter down 27-19. Head Coach Scott Roth noted, "We had some open shots early in the game, and when those don’t fall, it’s hard to build that momentum.”

In the second quarter, the JackJumpers rallied with key buckets from Craig Sword and Majok Deng, narrowing the Kings' lead to one point late in the half. However, Kouat Noi delivered from deep with three quick triples in the final minutes, giving Sydney a 41-33 lead at halftime. “When the shots aren’t going in, it’s tough on both ends, but this group’s tight and keeps fighting," Roth commented.

The third quarter saw Sydney extend their advantage, with Noi hitting a highlight dunk that energized the Kings. Tasmania continued to grind but couldn’t close the gap, finishing the quarter down by 16. Roth acknowledged the challenges: “We’re not playing well enough offensively to win right now, but the team keeps showing up and working hard together.”

In the fourth quarter, the Kings maintained their momentum. While the JackJumpers’ defense worked tirelessly, Tasmania’s 31% shooting from the field made it difficult to mount a comeback. Jordon Crawford led with 12 points, with Craig Sword adding nine on efficient shooting from deep.

Looking ahead, the JackJumpers will regroup as they head to Perth to face the Wildcats on Thursday night. “It’s not a fun time at the moment, but tomorrow we’ll be back looking for solutions,” said Roth. “This team’s resilient and committed, and we’re focused on moving forward together.”

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

SYDNEY KINGS 88 (Noi 26, Oliver 12, Toohey 11)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 60 (Crawford 12, Doyle 11, Sword 9)

BOX SCORE