NBL Round 12: Huskies lose to Saints in the game between Top 4 teams

The Regular Season in NBL just ended. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The game between Top Four teams took place in Auckland. 4th ranked host Huskies (11-7) were smashed by first ranked Saints (16-2) 85-61. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Huskies. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international swingman Dion Prewster (195-90, college: SF Austin, agency: BIG) who helped to win the game recording 23 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists and forward Taane Samuel (200-99) who added 20 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was American guard Justin Bibbs (196-96, college: Virginia Tech) with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Saints have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-2 record. Huskies at the other side keep the fourth place with seven games lost.
NBL top team - Saints (16-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed eighth ranked Bulls (5-13) in Pukekohe 125-65. The winners were led by American guard Kerwin Roach II (193-96, college: Texas) who scored that evening 29 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists and Leon Henry supported him with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Even a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds by forward Isaac Davidson (201-97, college: Sonoma St.) did not help to save the game for Bulls. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Saints have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-2 record. Bulls at the other side keep the eighth place with 13 games lost.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 12: Rams lost to Sharks on the opponent's court 87-100. Hawks outscored Jets in a home game 96-68. Rams managed to beat Nuggets on the road 101-84.

Sharks - Rams 100-87

Rather expected game in Southland where 6th ranked Rams (8-9) were defeated by third ranked Sharks (13-5) 100-87. Sharks shot the lights out from three nailing 15 long-distance shots on high 55.6 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Rams' players. The winners were led by Dominique Kelman-Poto (201-94, college: Adelphi) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 28 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and American forward Josh Cunningham (203-96, college: Dayton) supported him with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. Even 31 points and 5 rebounds by American guard Deshon Taylor (188-96, college: Fresno St.) did not help to save the game for Rams. His fellow American import forward EJ Singler (198-90, college: Oregon) added 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Sharks moved-up to second place, which they share with Hawks. Rams lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Rams: D.Taylor 31+5reb+3ast, E.Singler 16+5reb+4ast, J.Cook-Green 9+4reb+1ast, J.Salt 9+10reb+1ast, A.Talma 8+1reb+1ast, D.Albertsen 6+1reb
Sharks: D.Kelman-Poto 28+11reb+4ast, J.Cunningham 21+7reb+4ast, C.Belger 13+3reb+10ast, B.Inger 11+6reb+3ast, T.Gillooly 10+1reb, C.Tom 8+2reb+1ast

Hawks - Jets 96-68

Very predictable result in Tamatea where second ranked Hawks (13-5) smashed 9th ranked Jets (4-13) 96-68. Hawks made 16-of-19 charity shots (84.2 percent) during the game. Hawks outrebounded Jets 53-41 including 43 on the defensive glass. The winners were led by American guard Devondrick Walker (196-92, college: A&M-Commerce) who scored that evening 35 points (!!!) and 5 rebounds and Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-96) supported him with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Even a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds by American guard Daishon Knight (185-91, college: Illinois St.) did not help to save the game for Jets. Guard Jayden Bezzant (188-96, college: NW Nazarene) added 15 points. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hawks have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 13-5 record having just three points less than leader Saints, which they share with Sharks. Jets lost third consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with 13 games lost.
Top scorers:
Jets: D.Knight 20+12reb+3ast, J.Bezzant 15+4reb, N.McCullough 14+2reb, L.Finn 6+7reb, H.Matangirei 5+4reb, M.Isaac 3+7reb
Hawks: D.Walker 35+5reb+1ast, R.Vague 15+9reb+1ast, E.Rusbatch 14+2reb+1ast, J.Janssen 12+9reb+2ast, J.Hunt 8+9reb+1ast, W.Michael 7

Bulls - Saints 65-125

NBL top team - Saints (16-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed eighth ranked Bulls (5-13) in Pukekohe 125-65. Saints forced 23 Bulls turnovers. They shot the lights out from three nailing 29 long-distance shots on high 54.7 percentage. Saints players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Bulls' players. The winners were led by American guard Kerwin Roach II (193-96, college: Texas) who scored that evening 29 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists and the former international forward Leon Henry (200-85, college: S.Idaho JC, agency: BIG) supported him with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Four Saints players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds by forward Isaac Davidson (201-97, college: Sonoma St.) did not help to save the game for Bulls. Guard Jett Thompson (188-3) added 11 points and 6 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Saints have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-2 record. Bulls at the other side keep the eighth place with 13 games lost.
Top scorers:
Bulls: I.Davidson 15+10reb+1ast, T.Jett 11+6reb+3ast, M.Ayol 10+5reb+1ast, D.Brooke 8+4reb+1ast, I.Braydon 7+1reb, Z.Easthope 6+5reb
Saints: K.Roach II 29+5reb+7ast, L.Henry 24+7reb+2ast, T.Kenneth 17+2reb+1ast, T.Smith-Milner 15+5reb+4ast, T.Samuel 12+1ast, D.Rangimarie 9+2reb

Nuggets - Rams 84-101

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Dunedin where 5th ranked Nuggets (9-9) were defeated by sixth ranked Rams (8-9) 101-84. Rams dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Nuggets' 28. The winners were led by American guard Deshon Taylor (188-96, college: Fresno St.) who scored that evening 28 points and 5 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) and the former international forward Maxwell Darling (196-0, agency: Octagon Europe) supported him with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Even 8 points and 20 rebounds by the former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-97, college: Washington) did not help to save the game for Nuggets. The former international guard Luke Aston (201-90, college: BYU-Hawaii) added 23 points. Five Rams and four Nuggets players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Rams maintains sixth position with 8-9 record. Nuggets lost third consecutive game. Defending champion keep the fifth place with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: L.Aston 23+2reb, R.Rodger 22+2reb, I.Moss 13+2reb+3ast, G.McKay 10+3ast, S.Timmins 8+20reb+2ast, J.Aitcheson 3+2reb+3ast
Rams: D.Taylor 28+5reb+2ast, M.Darling 17+6reb, J.Salt 16+7reb, Q.Bailey 13+2reb+2ast, E.Singler 10+6reb+6ast, J.Cook-Green 5+4reb

Huskies - Saints 61-85

The game between Top Four teams took place in Auckland. 4th ranked host Huskies (11-7) were smashed by first ranked Saints (16-2) 85-61. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Huskies. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international swingman Dion Prewster (195-90, college: SF Austin, agency: BIG) who helped to win the game recording 23 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists and forward Taane Samuel (200-99) who added 20 points during the contest. Four Saints players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American guard Justin Bibbs (196-96, college: Virginia Tech) with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and international forward Thomas Vodanovich (201-94, college: JMU) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Saints have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-2 record. Huskies at the other side keep the fourth place with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
Huskies: J.Bibbs 18+9reb+4ast, T.Vodanovich 17+10reb+2ast, T.Fahrensohn 10+4reb, M.Chris 6, N.Barrow 3+4reb+2ast, B.Ruscoe-Taiaroa 3+2ast
Saints: D.Prewster 23+9reb+8ast, T.Samuel 20+4reb+2ast, T.Kenneth 11, K.Roach II 10+4reb+1ast, L.Henry 7+2reb, T.Smith-Milner 5+6reb+1ast



Tags : DION PREWSTER, WELLINGTON SAINTS, NEW ZEALAND BASKETBALL