Tassie clamp down on Sixers in Adelaide

The Tasmania JackJumpers took charge closing the first half on a 20-4 run and put in a standout defensive performance all evening on the way to the 80-72 road win against the league-leading Adelaide 36ers.

The JackJumpers arrived at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Friday night having beaten Melbourne United back on Saturday night at home to wrap a stretch of playing six games in the space of 14 days.

The challenge was a significant one against the top-of-the-table 36ers, but the JackJumpers were up to the task taking control in the second quarter where they closed the half on a 20-4 run.

They ended up holding the Sixers to a season-low 11 points in that second quarter on 5/17 shooting and to just 27 points in the entire first half without a free-throw attempt.

That set up the eventual eight-point victory where Tasmania never surrendered the lead in the second half and led by as much as 16 points, and ended up winning by eight when Josh Bannan sealed the deal with four clutch free throws.

It was an efficient offensive showing as well from Tasmania with them shooting 52 per cent from the field as a team while making 7/19 from behind the three-point line and 13/18 at the foul line.

Five JackJumpers players ended up scoring in double figures and another two with at least eight points, and it was Bryce Hamilton showing the way with 16 points and three rebounds along with a crucial late block.

Nick Marshall was tasked with the job of defending five-time MVP Bryce Cotton for a lot of the game and did that tremendously on his way to also having 13 points and six rebounds on 6/8 shooting.

David Johnson also had 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, Tyger Campbell 11 points on 5/6 shooting, Ben Ayre 10 points and two assists with 2/4 three-point shooting, Bannan eight points, nine rebounds and three assists, and Will Magnay eight points, three boards, three blocks and two assists.

It was a tremendous all-round defensive performance from the JackJumpers holding the 36ers to their lowest score of the season with the 72 points on 40 per cent field goal shooting, 7/26 from three-point range and just the 15 free-throw attempts.

That included limiting Cotton to 15 points on 5/18 shooting while DJ Vasiljevic scored just six points on six shots, and Troy Brown Jr had only two points on 1/10 shooting.

Flynn Cameron top-scored for Adelaide with 25 points with Zylan Cheatham adding 12 along with 12 rebounds and four assists.

With triples to Bryce Cotton and DJ Vasiljevic, the 36ers were able to go on a 14-4 run during the middle parts of the first quarter to open up an eight-point lead, but the JackJumpers hit the last five points before quarter-time from Bryce Hamilton and Ben Ayre to cut the deficit to three.

Then after Adelaide were back up six early in the second quarter, Tasmania took charge beginning with a three-pointer from Nick Marshall.

Ayre soon knocked down another one and leading into half-time it was a domination by the JackJumpers at both ends as they outscored the 36ers 20 points to four to take a 40-27 advantage into the main break.

Tasmania kept that momentum going to start the second half too with a Hamilton three-pointer stretching their lead to 16.

Then despite the best efforts of Cotton with nine points and a couple of threes the rest of the third frame, Tasmania were still up 60-51 by three quarter-time thanks to a buzzer-beating triple from Hamilton.

Things still got interesting late and Flynn Cameron was able to bring the 36ers back within four in the final minute and with the JackJumpers missing Will Magnay who had fouled out.

But Tasmania's defence stood firm and then Josh Bannan made four clutch free throws to secure the eight-point win.

The JackJumpers have now played their last game until heading to Perth for HoopsFest next week which will see them lock horns once again with Melbourne United on Saturday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 80 (Hamilton 16, Marshall 13, Johnson 12)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 72 (Cameron 25, Cotton 15, Cheatham 12)

BOX SCORE