Hamilton's string music tunes up Phoenix on road

• JackJumpers overturn nine-point deficit to claim tough 89–81 road win.
• Will Magnay responds to coaching challenge with 12 points and seven rebounds.
• Scott Roth praises defensive intent as Tassie stabilises foundations.
• Phoenix coach Josh King laments foul trouble, discipline and missed opportunities.

JackJumpers and Boomers big man Will Magnay wouldn't be drawn into the notion Tasmania's eight-point Round 12 road win against third-placed South East Melbourne Phoenix would kick-start the back half of Tasmania's NBL26 season.

Tasmania overcame a nine-point first quarter deficit, gutting out a tough 89-81 win in Gippsland on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

"There’s still lots we can get better at," Magnay said.

"We’ll look at the video, keep attacking offensively, fix things defensively, and keep growing. We won’t look too far ahead — just get back to work."

Magnay finished with 12 points and seven boards in 29 minutes as part of a JackJumpers line that six players in double figures: Bryce Hamilton (18); Nick Marshall (12); Josh Bannan (12); Majok Deng (12); and Ben Ayre (10)

."I’ve been challenged by the coaching staff about my effort and energy this season," Magnay said.

"I’ve made a mental challenge to myself to be aggressive. Credit to the team — they keep looking for me. I can’t do it without getting the ball.

"It’s a team effort and a work-rate thing — and something I’m still working on."

The JackJumpers have endured a tough run of losses but Roth said a continued focus on the defensive side of the ball would put his 2024 NBL champion's in a position to win against any team in the league.

"I am happy about the fact that we ticked some boxes and continued to try to stabilise our defense the best we possibly can," Roth said.

"That’s going to lead us to better places. We just haven’t been consistent enough, or long enough in games, to give ourselves chances.

"This game got in the mud — which is where we love to play — and we did a much better job across the board with our intent to execute our defensive foundations. \

"The guys were pretty relentless.

"We had some opportunities at the rim and couldn’t score, and the game got tight again, but they kept grinding away. A lot of positives to take away."

South East Melbourne head coach Josh King admitted the Phoenix lost focus on themselves.

"You could say we let outside influences affect the way we played. We have to be better with foul discipline," King said.

"We got into foul trouble early and let that dictate how we played. We have to be better in that area, and we, will be — that's something we'll talk about tomorrow for sure.

"We can't let things we can’t control — calls, good or bad — frustrate us. We have to finish possessions better and have better foul discipline.

"In the second quarter they did a really good job — they started switching and hedging.

"I have to go back and watch it, but it seemed like that made us play in the mud a little bit. I thought for the most part in the second half we got quite a few good looks — they just didn't fall. That's basketball.

"We shot 37% from the floor, 9-for-38 from three. It's tough to win games like that. Again, in the second quarter their switching and hedging hurt us, but in the second half we generated a lot of good looks that just didn’t fall."

Both sides were elite with the ball, combining for just 15 turnovers and the foul count wasn't lopsided. The Phoenix had 28 and the JackJumpers 24.

"It is nice to get rewarded when you're going to the basket, getting good catches, attacking," Roth said.

"We were diligent about getting the ball inside and slowing the game down a little. We have guys who can score around the rim, and if we’re not getting the ball to Magnay, Deng, and Bannan to create action for us, then shame on us.

"We had much better intent about getting them the ball interiorly."

King added: "I thought they did a good job handling our pressure. We didn’t turn them over nearly as much as we’d like to.

"It’s hard to say without watching the film, but in patches it was good. Early in the fourth quarter we gambled for some steals, didn’t get them, and that put us in rotations.

I know I had a skip pass one time, and they got an open shot. Just things we have to be better at — things we talked about in the scout — and we have to clean up for sure."

Key Details

• Result: Tasmania JackJumpers 89 def. South East Melbourne Phoenix 81
• When: Tuesday, 10th December 2025
• Where: Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium
• Attendance: 1,953
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania JackJumpers) starred with 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes.
• Wes Iwundu (South East Melbourne Phoenix) scored 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The Phoenix exploded from the gates with a dominant first quarter, outscoring Tasmania 36-27 behind efficient shooting and aggressive offensive execution. Nathan Sobey and Hunter Maldonado established early rhythm, while John Brown III controlled the paint with his physical presence. The JackJumpers struggled to find their offensive flow, shooting poorly from beyond the arc as Phoenix built a nine-point advantage.

Tasmania responded emphatically in the second quarter, completely flipping the script with a 25-12 scoring advantage to level the contest at 48-52 by halftime. Bryce Hamilton began asserting his influence, while Will Magnay and Josh Bannan provided crucial interior scoring. The JackJumpers' defensive intensity increased significantly, forcing Phoenix into difficult shots and limiting their transition opportunities that had been so effective in the opening frame.

The third quarter became a grinding defensive battle with both teams managing just 18 points apiece. Phoenix maintained slight control but couldn't extend their lead as Tasmania's bench rotation, led by Majok Deng's energy, kept them within striking distance. The JackJumpers' superior rebounding began paying dividends, with Bannan cleaning the glass effectively to create second-chance opportunities.

Hamilton stepped up in crucial moments during the fourth quarter, combining with Ben Ayre's steady playmaking to guide Tasmania home. The JackJumpers outscored Phoenix 19-15 in the final period, with Hamilton's efficient shooting from the field proving decisive. Phoenix struggled with their three-point shooting throughout, connecting on just nine of 38 attempts at 23.7%, while their 37.0% field goal percentage proved insufficient against Tasmania's balanced offensive attack.

The JackJumpers' superior rebounding margin proved pivotal, out-rebounding Phoenix 53-44 with Bannan's 12 boards leading the way. Tasmania shot 41.1% from the field compared to Phoenix's 37.0%, while both teams struggled from deep. The free-throw line became crucial, with Tasmania converting 25 of 34 attempts compared to Phoenix's 18 of 26. Despite Phoenix's early dominance, their inability to maintain offensive efficiency allowed Tasmania to secure a vital road victory that keeps their playoff hopes alive.