JackJumpers revel in homecoming

It had been a long month for the Tasmania JackJumpers before a second home game at MyState Bank Arena for NBL26 and they made the most of it with the 86-70 Ignite Cup victory against the Sydney Kings.

The JackJumpers started the season at home to Melbourne United before playing the last four matches on the road for wins against the Perth Wildcats, Illawarra Hawks and Brisbane Bullets, and narrow loss to the Adelaide 36ers.

Tasmania came out on fire on Wednesday night with the first eight points of the game before a 29-19 lead by quarter-time, 50-32 advantage at half-time and then the eventual 16-point victory to improve to a 4-2 record on the season.

There was plenty to like in the performance from the JackJumpers as they ended up having 10 extra shot attempts on the back of 13 offensive rebounds to six and just the six turnovers as a team including zero to point guard Tyger Campbell.

Campbell also knocked down 5/9 from three-point range on his way to 21 points with five assists while Josh Bannan was imposing on his way to 18 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.

Ben Ayre provided 13 points and three rebounds with 3/6 shooting from downtown with Bryce Hamilton finishing with nine points, five rebounds and two assists, and Magnay nine points and five rebounds before being ejected.

Nick Marshall embraced his first chance to start with six points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals with Anthony Drmic adding five points and four boards, and TJ Starks five points and two assists.

Tasmania did a strong job holding Sydney to 43 per cent shooting overall and going 5/21 from three along with 5/12 at the foul line with Kendric Davis struggling with just 10 points on 4/17 shooting.

Jaylin Galloway finished with 13 points for the Kings, Xavier Cooks 12, Tim Soares 12 and Matthew Dellavedova 11.

The JackJumpers shot out of the blocks with new starter Nick Marshall scoring the first five points of the game before Tyger Campbell hit a three ball for the 8-0 lead, which became 11-3 when he hit a second three ball.

Tasmania then opened up a 13-3 advantage and were up 21-9 with another bucket to Marshall and a three-point play to captain Will Magnay.

Matthew Dellavedova managed his first three-point make with the Kings but still by quarter-time it was Tasmania in control leading 29-19 on the back shooting 6/12 from downtown.

A couple of Ben Ayre three balls to start the second period kept Tasmania up by double figures and then the JackJumpers closed the half scoring the last 11 points including Campbell nailing a fourth from deep to give the home team the 50-32 advantage by the break.

The JackJumpers pushed that lead out to 19 early in the third quarter when Campbell hit a fifth three-pointer and even with Magnay ejected late in the period for a tech foul after the earlier unsportsmanlike, Tasmania were still up by with 10 minutes to play.

Sydney did show signs of life with the first eight points of the last quarter but they could never get it back to single figures with Tasmania cruising to the 16-point win.

The JackJumpers don't have much time to enjoy the victory with them straight back on the road to play the New Zealand Breakers on Friday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – IGNITE CUP BY DISNEY+

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 86 (Campbell 21, Bannan 18, Ayre 13)

SYDNEY KINGS 70 (Galloway 13, Cooks 12, Soares 12)

BOX SCORE