NBL Round 9: Hawks lose to Saints

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

Round 9 most important game was a defeat of league's leader Hawks (10-4). They were defeated by third ranked Saints (10-2) 119-112 on Sunday night. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Hawks. Saints made 26-of-33 free shots (78.8 percent) during the game. 24 personal fouls committed by Hawks helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The former international swingman Dion Prewster (195-90, college: SF Austin, agency: BIG) stepped up and scored 34 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners and forward Taane Samuel (200-99) chipped in 33 points (!!!) (on 12-of-14 shooting from the field). The best for the losing side was international swingman Ethan Rusbatch (196-92, college: Lincoln Trail) with 27 points. Saints keep a position of league leader. Hawks at the other side dropped to the second place with four games lost. They share the position with Sharks. They were replaced at the leadership position by Saints. Hawks will play next round against strong Sharks trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Saints will try to continue on its current victory against seventh ranked Giants in Stoke.
Leading Sharks (10-4) recorded its fourth loss in Southland. Hosts were edged by fifth ranked Huskies (8-6) 93-92. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Sharks. International forward Thomas Vodanovich (201-94, college: JMU) nailed a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds for the winning side and Justin Bibbs accounted for 27 points and 5 assists. American forward Josh Cunningham (203-96, college: Dayton) came up with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 10 rebounds for Sharks in the defeat. Sharks' coach Rob Beveridge rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Huskies have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Nuggets. Sharks at the other side dropped to the second position with four games lost. They share it with Hawks. Huskies will play against Jets (#8) in Palmerston North in the next round. Sharks will play at home against the league's second-placed Hawks (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Mountain Airs managed to get a second victory, breaking the series of eight consecutive losses on Friday night. This time they won against ninth-ranked Jets in New Plymouth 104-93. The best player for the winners was Tai Wynyard who had a double-double by scoring 31 points and 17 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Daishon Knight who recorded 24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Jets' coach Tim McTamney tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Mountain Airs maintains tenth place with 2-11 record. Jets lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with ten games lost. Mountain Airs will meet higher ranked Bulls (#9) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Jets will play against Huskies and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 9: Rams won against Bulls on the opponent's court 87-71. Hawks managed to outperform Bulls in a home game 95-90. Rams recorded a loss to Jets on the road 92-85. Nuggets were crushed by Huskies on its own court 70-93.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 21 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists by Samuel Timmins of Nuggets.

Bulls - Rams 71-87

Rather expected game in Pukekohe where 8th ranked Bulls (4-11) were defeated by fifth ranked Rams (7-7) 87-71 on Thursday. Rams forced 19 Bulls turnovers. The best player for the winners was American forward EJ Singler (198-90, college: Oregon) who had a double-double by scoring 18 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. His fellow American import guard Deshon Taylor (188-96, college: Fresno St.) chipped in 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Isaac Davidson (201-97, college: Sonoma St.) who recorded 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and Australian forward Manel Ayol (201, college: Hawaii) added 20 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Despite that victory Rams went down to sixth position due to points difference. Bulls lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth place with 11 games lost. Rams will meet at home higher ranked Sharks (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Bulls will play against Mountain Airs (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bulls: M.Ayol 20+7reb+2ast, I.Davidson 18+5reb+6ast, K.Galloway 17+8reb, N.Joseph 7+2reb+2ast, D.Brooke 5+6reb+2ast, Z.Easthope 4+4reb
Rams: D.Taylor 24+5reb+6ast, E.Singler 18+12reb+6ast, S.Smith 12+3reb, J.Salt 8+5reb, M.Darling 8+2reb+2ast, J.Cook-Green 5+3reb+1ast

Mountainairs - Jets 104-93

Bottom-ranked Mountain Airs managed to get a second victory, breaking the series of eight consecutive losses on Friday night. This time they won against ninth-ranked Jets in New Plymouth 104-93. Mountain Airs looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international power forward Tai Wynyard (208-98, college: Kentucky) who had a double-double by scoring 31 points and 17 rebounds. Naturalized American forward Marcel Jones (203-85, college: Oregon St.) chipped in a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Daishon Knight (185-91, college: Illinois St.) who recorded 24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and guard Jayden Bezzant (188-96, college: NW Nazarene) added 16 points, 5 assists and 4 steals respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Jets' coach Tim McTamney tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Mountain Airs maintains tenth place with 2-11 record. Jets lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with ten games lost. Mountain Airs will meet higher ranked Bulls (#9) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Jets will play against Huskies and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Jets: D.Knight 24+7reb+6ast, J.Bezzant 16+4reb+5ast, M.Kalib 14+6reb+1ast, D.Daniels 13+6reb, N.McCullough 13+3reb+1ast, A.McQueen 9+3reb
Mountainairs: T.Wynyard 31+17reb+1ast, M.Jones 23+11reb+6ast, H.Walker 15+2reb+3ast, T.Scott 11+2reb+2ast, D.Carlin 11+8reb+6ast, F.Baxter 7+3reb+1ast

Sharks - Huskies 92-93

Leading Sharks (10-4) recorded its fourth loss in Southland. Hosts were edged by fifth ranked Huskies (8-6) 93-92. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Sharks. International forward Thomas Vodanovich (201-94, college: JMU) nailed a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds for the winning side and American guard Justin Bibbs (196-96, college: Virginia Tech) accounted for 27 points and 5 assists. Four Huskies players scored in double figures. American forward Josh Cunningham (203-96, college: Dayton) came up with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 10 rebounds and guard Alonzo Burton (193-93) added 19 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Sharks in the defeat. Sharks' coach Rob Beveridge rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Huskies have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Nuggets. Sharks at the other side dropped to the second position with four games lost. They share it with Hawks. Huskies will play against Jets (#8) in Palmerston North in the next round. Sharks will play at home against the league's second-placed Hawks (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sharks: J.Cunningham 28+10reb+2ast, B.Inger 20+5reb, A.Burton 19+5reb+1ast, T.Gillooly 9+7reb+3ast, D.Kelman-Poto 7+11reb+3ast, C.Belger 3+4reb+5ast
Huskies: T.Vodanovich 33+13reb+2ast, J.Bibbs 27+3reb+5ast, N.Dontae 11+3reb+3ast, C.Johnson 11+8reb+5ast, B.Ruscoe-Taiaroa 9+4reb+1ast, R.Zach 2+1reb+1ast

Hawks - Bulls 95-90

Very predictable result in Tamatea where first ranked Hawks (10-4) defeated 8th ranked Bulls (4-11) 95-90 on Saturday. However just five-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Hawks forced 22 Bulls turnovers. Strangely Bulls outrebounded Hawks 43-29 including a 34-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Devondrick Walker (196-92, college: A&M-Commerce) who scored 21 points and 4 assists. International swingman Ethan Rusbatch (196-92, college: Lincoln Trail) chipped in 21 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Australian-American forward Kyrin Galloway (203-99, college: UNCG) who recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points and 13 rebounds and forward Isaac Davidson (201-97, college: Sonoma St.) added 21 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Five Hawks and four Bulls players scored in double figures. Hawks have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Despite that victory Hawks went down to second position due to points difference, which they share with Sharks. Bulls lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth place with 11 games lost. Hawks will meet Sharks (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Bulls will play against Mountain Airs (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bulls: I.Davidson 21+6reb+3ast, K.Galloway 20+13reb+2ast, T.Jett 12+2reb+4ast, A.Dunstan 10+6reb+1ast, D.Brooke 9+7reb+1ast, M.Ayol 7+7reb+1ast
Hawks: D.Walker 21+4reb+4ast, E.Rusbatch 21+2reb+3ast, J.Hunt 20+1reb+1ast, R.Vague 12+6reb+3ast, H.Harris 10+9reb+4ast, D.Raukawa 6+2reb+3ast

Jets - Rams 92-85

There was an upset in Palmerston North where higher ranked Rams (7-7) were defeated by ninth ranked Jets (4-10) 92-85 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was American guard Daishon Knight (185-91, college: Illinois St.) who had a triple-double by scoring 30 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Guard Nikau McCullough (190-97, college: St.Mary's, TX) chipped in 25 points. Four Jets players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward EJ Singler (198-90, college: Oregon) who recorded 26 points and 8 rebounds and the other American import guard Deshon Taylor (188-96, college: Fresno St.) added 23 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Rams' coach Mick Downer let to play ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Jets moved-up to eighth place. Loser Rams dropped to the sixth position with seven games lost. Jets will meet at home higher ranked Huskies (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Rams will play against Sharks and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Rams: E.Singler 26+8reb, D.Taylor 23+5reb+3ast, M.Darling 15+9reb+1ast, S.Smith 8+1reb, J.Salt 6+3reb, D.Albertsen 3+1reb
Jets: D.Knight 30+16reb+11ast, N.McCullough 25+2reb+2ast, D.Daniels 22+5reb+1ast, J.Bezzant 10+2ast, M.Kalib 3+3reb, L.Finn 2+3reb+1ast

Saints - Hawks 119-112

Round 9 most important game was a defeat of league's leader Hawks (10-4). They were defeated by third ranked Saints (10-2) 119-112 on Sunday night. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Hawks. Saints made 26-of-33 free shots (78.8 percent) during the game. 24 personal fouls committed by Hawks helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The former international swingman Dion Prewster (195-90, college: SF Austin, agency: BIG) stepped up and scored 34 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners and forward Taane Samuel (200-99) chipped in 33 points (!!!) (on 12-of-14 shooting from the field). The best for the losing side was international swingman Ethan Rusbatch (196-92, college: Lincoln Trail) with 27 points and international forward Hyrum Harris (198-96, college: Umpqua CC) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 10 steals. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Saints keep a position of league leader. Hawks at the other side dropped to the second place with four games lost. They share the position with Sharks. They were replaced at the leadership position by Saints. Hawks will play next round against strong Sharks trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Saints will try to continue on its current victory against seventh ranked Giants in Stoke.
Top scorers:
Hawks: E.Rusbatch 27+2reb+1ast, D.Walker 19+3reb+3ast, J.Kenny 18+1ast, D.Raukawa 16+1reb, H.Harris 16+8reb+5ast, J.Hunt 11+3reb+2ast
Saints: D.Prewster 34+8reb+9ast, T.Samuel 33+4reb+1ast, T.Smith-Milner 21+10reb+4ast, K.Roach II 16+5reb+2ast, T.Kenneth 10+4reb+2ast, L.Henry 5+4reb

Nuggets - Huskies 70-93

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams in Dunedin where fifth ranked Huskies (8-6) outscored 4th placed Nuggets (8-6) 93-70 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was international forward Thomas Vodanovich (201-94, college: JMU) who had a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds. American power forward Chris Johnson (210-85, college: LSU) chipped in a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-97, college: Washington) who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists and American guard Isaiah Moss (196-96, college: Kansas) added 19 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Huskies have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with defeated Nuggets. Huskies will meet Jets (#8) in the next round. Nuggets will play against the league's second-placed Hawks (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: S.Timmins 21+16reb+7ast, I.Moss 19+7reb+3ast, L.Aston 13+2reb, R.Rodger 10+3reb+2ast, J.Aitcheson 4+1reb, M.Akiva 2+3reb
Huskies: T.Vodanovich 24+12reb+3ast, C.Johnson 23+11reb+4ast, J.Bibbs 16+6reb+4ast, R.Zach 11+2reb+1ast, N.Dontae 6+4reb+4ast, T.Fahrensohn 5+1reb



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