Match wrap: Sixers shut down by JackJumpers

The Tasmania JackJumpers produced the best defensive performance against the league-leading Adelaide 36ers this season on Friday to send a message to the NBL with the 80-72 road victory.

The 36ers were back home in front of another sold out Adelaide Entertainment Centre crowd on a five-game winning streak to be clear in top spot, but momentum has been building with the JackJumpers.

After six games in 14 days, they also had time to freshen up ahead of the trip to Adelaide and put the clamps on the 36ers to hold them to their lowest second quarter (11 points), first half (27) and overall score (72) of the season.

In the second quarter alone, not only did the JackJumpers hold the 36ers to 11 points, but they went into half-time on a 20-4 scoring run and held Adelaide to zero free-throw attempts the entire opening half.

The lead for the JackJumpers got out to 16 early in the third quarter as well and they were still up eight with 1:30 to play, but the 36ers kept on coming and Flynn Cameron led their charge to score eight straight points for his team.

That had them back within four in the last minute, but both Bryce Cotton and Zylan Cheatham missed chances to make it a one possession game with Tasmania holding them out for the statement eight-point win.

The JackJumpers remain solid in sixth place at 12-13 with the win with Hamilton outstanding not only with 16 points but some key defensive players including a late block on Troy Brown Jr.

Nick Marshall was tremendous defensively on Cotton and ended up with 13 points and six rebounds with David Johnson contributing 12 points, Tyger Campbell 11, Ben Ayre 10, Josh Bannan eight and Will Magnay eight despite fouling out.

It was a tough night for five-time MVP Cotton for Adelaide going 5/18 from the field for 15 points with five assists while Cameron continued his career-best form with another 25 points on 9/11 shooting.

For a team with such firepower, he didn’t get enough support though with Cheatham finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four assists the only other player to score in double figures.

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.

Both teams can now turn their attention to HoopsFest in Perth next week with the JackJumpers having another battle with Melbourne United on Saturday night before the 36ers face the South East Melbourne Phoenix in a battle of the top two teams on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

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

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

BOX SCORE