The Tasmania JackJumpers delivered a thrilling and much-needed 87-84 victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix on December 29, 2025, breaking their home-court curse in front of an electrified crowd at Hobart’s MyState Bank Arena. For a team that had only managed two wins from their previous ten home games, this result felt like a breath of fresh air—and perhaps, just maybe, a turning point in a rollercoaster National Basketball League (NBL) season.
The JackJumpers’ home form had been a sore spot all year. The Apple Isle, once considered a fortress, had become a source of frustration, with heart-wrenching losses piling up. Just three days earlier, Tasmania had suffered a gutting one-point overtime defeat to the New Zealand Breakers in their Boxing Day clash. But on this Monday night, things finally clicked for Scott Roth’s squad, and the Jackies seized the moment.
“We played a really good first half of basketball, and got away from a few things, and found a way to get across the line,” coach Scott Roth said after the game. “We’ve obviously had too many of those (close losses) here at home, and our guys have stayed poised long enough to make enough plays down the stretch. Jok (Deng) was very steady throughout this entire game, and made some big shots, and obviously some critical foul shots for us, and he just did a nice job at both ends of the floor.”
Majok Deng was the man of the moment for Tasmania, turning in his best performance in weeks with 21 points, including two three-pointers, and seven rebounds. After scoring just nine points across his previous three games, Deng came out firing, racking up 13 points by halftime and setting the tone with his aggressive play. He was pivotal off the bench, helping the JackJumpers’ reserves outscore the Phoenix’s bench by a whopping 39-16—a welcome change for a team ranked ninth in the league in bench scoring.
It wasn’t just Deng who made headlines. Bryce Hamilton chipped in with 12 points in the first half, as Tasmania stormed out to a 23-15 lead after the opening quarter. By halftime, the home side had built a commanding 49-33 advantage, capitalizing on a sluggish start from the Phoenix, who were playing their first game in nine days. South East Melbourne simply couldn’t find their rhythm early, shooting under 30% from the field and making just two of eleven three-point attempts before the break. Nine turnovers didn’t help their cause either.
Phoenix sharpshooter Nathan Sobey did his best to keep his team afloat, pouring in 14 of his game-high 27 points before halftime and dishing out three assists. But it was an uphill battle all night for the visitors, who looked out of sync after their lengthy festive break. “It took us a while to get going for whatever reason, you can say Christmas hangover, whatever you want to say, it’s not an excuse because you’ve got to play the game,” Phoenix coach Josh King admitted post-game. “But they were clearly in way better rhythm, way better sync, playing way better collective basketball than we were in the first half. I thought we played the way we wanted to play for two quarters, which is clearly just not enough on the road playing against a team like them. So second half, much better, but you can’t play for one half.”
As the second half unfolded, the Phoenix began to find their legs. The deficit shrank to ten points by the end of the third quarter, and the visitors threatened to pull off a dramatic comeback. With David Johnson fouling out and the clock winding down, Sobey nailed his fifth three-pointer of the night, bringing the Phoenix within a single point—85-84—with just 21 seconds left. The tension in MyState Bank Arena was palpable. Could the JackJumpers hold on, or would another heartbreaking home loss be added to the list?
But fate, and perhaps a bit of composure, favored the Jackies this time. Sobey, the Phoenix’s talisman, fouled Deng, sending him to the line for two crucial free throws. Deng, steady as ever, sank both shots to restore a three-point cushion. With just 1.8 seconds left, South East Melbourne called a timeout and drew up a final play. The ball found its way to Ian Clark, the Phoenix’s high-profile new signing and NBL champion making his club debut. But Clark’s last-gasp attempt didn’t find the mark, and the JackJumpers faithful erupted in celebration.
Clark’s arrival had been one of the big stories leading into the night. The American guard, who previously won NBL titles with the Sydney Kings in 2021/22 and an NBA ring with the Golden State Warriors in 2016/17, was described as a “great coup for the club” by Phoenix General Manager Simon Mitchell. “Ian brings great Championship experience as well as plenty of scoring punch and creativity when we play in the half court. As a club, we have lofty ambitions which are shared by Ian, and we think his addition can assist us in realising them,” Mitchell said in the days before the game. Fellow NBL star Casey Prather called it “one of the biggest signings of the season so far.”
Clark, however, had a quiet first outing in Phoenix colors, finishing with seven points, four assists, and two rebounds in 15 minutes. It’s early days, and his aggressive mindset and pedigree suggest he’ll be a major factor as the season progresses. Sobey, despite his late heroics and game-high scoring, couldn’t quite drag the Phoenix over the line this time.
This victory was more than just a statistical bump for the JackJumpers. At 10-12, they now sit just ahead of the New Zealand Breakers (8-13) and are firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot. Monday’s win marked their third in eleven home games—a modest number, but one that could signal a resurgence if the team can build on this momentum. Their unpredictability remains both their curse and their charm. One week, they’re dropping a stinker; the next, they’re toppling one of the league’s contenders.
For the Phoenix, the loss snaps a three-game winning streak and is a reminder that even the most talented rosters need to bring their best for all four quarters, especially on the road. Their last loss, ironically, also came against the JackJumpers back on December 10 in Traralgon. With Clark now in the fold and a hungry squad around him, South East Melbourne will be eager to shake off the rust and get back to their winning ways.
The JackJumpers, meanwhile, can finally savor a home win that felt long overdue. With Deng’s breakout, Hamilton’s spark, and a bench that finally caught fire, Tasmania has given its fans hope that the best may be yet to come. As the NBL season barrels toward its decisive stretch, the question lingers: can the Jackies turn this rare home triumph into a springboard for something bigger?
