Phoenix prevail in Launceston shootout

The Tasmania JackJumpers found a way to score in Launceston but fell agonisingly short with the South East Melbourne Phoenix prevailing 103-102 despite the 36 points from Bryce Hamilton.

The JackJumpers lost their seventh from nine games at The Silverdome on Saturday scoring just 69 points in the loss to the Cairns Taipans but they already had 61 to their name by half-time on Thursday.

The up-tempo style did appear to suit the Phoenix the better and in the end it was the visitors who made it five consecutive wins with Malique Lewis and Nathan Sobey combining for 51 points on 10/15 three-point shooting.

Hamilton was brilliant for the JackJumpers with 36 points with eight rebounds and five assists on 16/23 shooting from the field, and 4/7 from downtown.

But after dragging his side back from a five-point deficit in the final minute, he was unable to find space for the potential match-winning shot.

After forcing a Sobey turnover from the in-bound pass, Hamilton took the ball up the court but was forced to switch to an open Ben Ayre, whose three-point effort rimmed out right in front of the Phoenix bench.

In a dramatic conclusion, Phoenix coach Josh King's attempt to console his former player - still with time on the clock after the ball had bounced out - was swiped away by a filthy Ayre.

The hosts had possession but were unable to concoct a miracle play with less than one second on the clock.

Hamilton's was no one-man act, with Sobey (28 points, four assists, three steals, six turnovers) shooting 5/8 three-pointers and making a tough three-point play late in the fourth for the winners.

His teammate and Trinidadian Next Star Lewis shot 9/11 for his 23 points to go with four rebounds and four assists while knocking down 5/7 from deep.

Owen Foxwell (15 points, five steals, four rebounds, four assists) came up with huge plays too while John Brown III was a beast spending a lot of the game again in the five spot before ending up with 10 points, 14 rebounds (eight offensive), four steals and two assists.

While the Phoenix did give up the 61 first-half points, it did feel as though the tempo was suiting them which proved the case before the scares in the final minute with new import Wes Iwundu also having 11 points and being +15 in his 20 minutes.

The JackJumpers found their offensive groove with the 61 points in the first half on 73 per cent field goal shooting and ending up with the 102 points on 53 per cent shooting despite the third straight defeat.

Majok Deng also had 17 points, six rebounds and three steals for Tasmania with Josh Bannan adding 15 points, 10 boards, two assists and two steals.

Both teams back up to play again on Saturday with the JackJumpers back to MyState Bank Arena against the Brisbane Bullets while the Phoenix take on Melbourne United in a tantalising Throwdown at John Cain Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 102 (Hamilton 36, Deng 17, Bannan 15)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 103 (Sobey 28, Lewis 23, Foxwell 15)

BOX SCORE ‍