JackJumpers fight it out to the death

The Tasmania JackJumpers fought valiantly with a 31-point last quarter to give themselves an outside shot at what would have been a miraculous comeback before the Adelaide 36ers confirmed the 97-86 win.

The JackJumpers were playing a fifth straight game in Tasmania and looking to snap a four-game losing slide, but it was never going to be easy in the absence of Will Magnay (knee), Anthony Drmic (back) and David Johnson (calf).

Tasmania did then find themselves 28 points down late in the third quarter and by 27 early in the fourth, but they showed their trademark JackJumpers grit to hold the 36ers without a field goal for over seven minutes.

They went on a 30-10 run in that time to close to within seven points as well, but couldn’t quite get closer to end up losing by 11 and to have lost all five games in-a-row either at MyState Bank Arena or at the Silverdome in Launceston.

In the end, the major difference in the game was Adelaide going 27/37 at the foul line to Tasmania's 8/13 with the JackJumpers called for 29 fouls in the game and the 36ers just 10 for the entire 40 minutes.

Tyger Campbell finished with 20 points and three assists for the JackJumpers with 4/6 three-point shooting while Majok Deng produced 17 points and eight rebounds with 3/5 long-range shooting, and Josh Bannan 16 points, 14 boards and two assists.

With the close checking of former JackJumper Matt Kenyon, Bryce Hamilton had 12 points, four rebounds and two assists still for Tasmania with Nick Marshall adding 12 points, six boards and four assists, and Nick Stoddart five points, two rebounds and two assists.

Archie Woodhill made his first appearance of the season too for two points, a rebound and a steal in almost eight minutes with Ben Ayre ending up with two points, four assists and two rebounds.

Zylan Cheatham produced a season-best performance for the 36ers with 27 points and 14 rebounds with DJ Vasiljevic adding 14 points, Flynn Cameron 11, Nick Rakocevic 11 and Isaac Humphries 10.

The JackJumpers did a good job sticking with the 36ers early in the contest including Archie Woodhill hitting the floor for the first time this season and immediately getting to the foul line, and knocking down both free throws.

It was just a one-point game until Adelaide closed the first quarter with the last 10 points including a couple of three-pointers to Zylan Cheatham on the way to the 26-15 advantage.

When Cheatham made a third three-pointer early in the second frame, Adelaide's lead got out to 16 points before Tasmania responded with the next five points from Bryce Hamilton and Tyger Campbell.

Once again the 36ers finished the quarter the better to go into the half-time break leading 52-38 with Cheatham the major difference with his 16 points and seven rebounds.

The 36ers then scored the opening four points of the second half too before again the JackJumpers steadied with the next five points combined from Hamilton and Campbell.

Adelaide would break the game open later in the third period, though, scoring 15 straight points with 11 of those courtesy of DJ Vasiljevic with the lead for the visitors getting out to 28 points.

Majok Deng did give Tasmania a glimmer of hope with a three-pointer just before three quarter-time but the JackJumpers weren’t done with yet and turned up their defensive intent in the fourth quarter.

Adelaide scored to start the final term, but then wouldn’t score a second field goal for over seven minutes with the full-court press employed from the JackJumpers working a treat.

Then up the other end, Tasmania scored eight straight points topped with a triple from Nick Stoddart, and then went on another 10-1 run with a couple of three balls to Deng to cut the deficit to 11.

Hamilton hit a triple soon after to cut the margin to eight, Nick Marshall then made it seven but that would be as close as they got with the Sixers ending up sealing the deal at the foul line with the 11-point victory.

The JackJumpers now don't play again until hitting the road next Friday night to take on the Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 86 (Campbell 20, Deng 17, Bannan 16)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 97 (Cheatham 27, Vasiljevic 14, Cotton 12)

BOX SCORE