tinkering with short-handed tables tonight and was surprised at the profitability until this hand. New to the table, didn't have a line on the guy, figured QJ was most likely holding from the betting.

So, is this just the way poker plays back at you sometimes, or did I screw this up?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

saw flop|saw showdown

Hero ($9.80)
Button ($1.30)
SB ($9.85)
BB ($11.50)
UTG ($5.30)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 8, 8.
UTG calls $0.10, Hero calls $0.10, Button calls $0.10, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.50) 8, J, Q (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($0.50) 4 (5 players)
SB bets $0.5, BB folds, UTG folds, Hero raises to $1, Button folds, SB raises to $1.5, Hero raises to $5, SB raises to $9.5, Hero raises to $13.7, SB calls $1.20.

River: ($24.90) 2 (2 players)

Final Pot: $24.90

Results in white below:
SB has Jh Jc (three of a kind, jacks).
Hero has 8s 8h (three of a kind, eights).
Outcome: SB wins $24.90.