NBL Round 15: Giants lose to Airs

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Round 15 most important game was a defeat of league's leader Giants (12-6). They were crushed by second ranked Airs (12-6) 98-67 on Thursday night. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Airs dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Giants' 36. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Airs made 7 blocks. It was a great evening for American forward Javonte Douglas (203-1992, college: Montevallo) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Naturalized American forward Marcel Jones (203-1985, college: Oregon St.) helped adding 26 points and 8 rebounds. Airs' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American power forward Trey Mourning (206-1996, college: Georgetown, agency: Interperformances) with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds. Airs have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with defeated Giants.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Huskies (10-8) against fourth ranked Saints (10-8) on Saturday night. Host Huskies were defeated by Saints in Auckland 98-80. It was an exceptional evening for Australian forward Xavier Cooks (203-1995, college: Winthrop) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. Reggie Upshaw Jr accounted for 22 points and 7 rebounds. American power forward Chris Johnson (210-1985, college: LSU) came up with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 15 rebounds for Huskies in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Saints have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to third place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Huskies.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 15: Bulls lost to Sharks on the opponent's court 77-81. Hawks managed to outperform Rams in a home game 95-87. Bulls recorded a loss to Nuggets on the road 99-104.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 21 points and 19 rebounds by Samuel Timmins of Nuggets.

Airs - Giants 98-67

Round 15 most important game was a defeat of league's leader Giants (12-6). They were crushed by second ranked Airs (12-6) 98-67 on Thursday night. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Airs dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Giants' 36. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Airs made 7 blocks. It was a great evening for American forward Javonte Douglas (203-1992, college: Montevallo) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Naturalized American forward Marcel Jones (203-1985, college: Oregon St.) helped adding 26 points and 8 rebounds. Four Airs players scored in double figures. Airs' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American power forward Trey Mourning (206-1996, college: Georgetown, agency: Interperformances) with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import point guard Jarrod West (182-1999, college: Louisville) scored 17 points and 8 assists. Airs have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with defeated Giants.
Top scorers:
Airs: A.Hilliard 26+6reb+3ast, M.Jones 26+8reb+1ast, J.Douglas 21+14reb+8ast, S.Willett 11+3reb+6ast, T.Scott 6+3reb, D.Carlin 3+5reb+4ast
Giants: T.Mourning 22+10reb+1ast, J.West 17+4reb+8ast, S.Thompson 14+4reb+1ast, M.Alexander 4+4reb, T.Marsh 4+1reb, N.Trathen 3+2reb

Sharks - Bulls 81-77

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Southland where 8th ranked Bulls (7-11) were defeated by ninth ranked Sharks (6-12) 81-77. It was an exceptional evening for the former international forward Brayden Inger (203-1999) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds. American guard Daishon Knight (185-1991, college: Illinois St., agency: BIG) accounted for 16 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. Sharks' coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The former international forward Isaac Davidson (201-1997, college: Sonoma St.) came up with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international forward Leon Henry (200-1985, college: S.Idaho JC, agency: BIG) added 8 points and 13 rebounds respectively for Bulls in the defeat. Sharks maintains ninth place with 6-12 record. Bulls lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Sharks: B.Inger 18+13reb+2ast, D.Knight 16+5reb+6ast, R.Gill 10+7reb+2ast, K.Mojave 10+6reb+1ast, D.Leusogi-Ape 10+4reb+3ast, J.Gerrand 9+2reb+3ast
Bulls: I.Davidson 25+6reb+5ast, D.Brooke 11+6reb+2ast, K.Robinson 9+2reb, K.Keil 8+1reb+1ast, L.Henry 8+13reb+3ast, M.Christian 7+2reb+1ast

Hawks - Rams 95-87

The game between closely ranked teams ended with sixth ranked Hawks' (10-8) home victory over 7th ranked Rams (8-10) 95-87. Hawks brought some defensive toughness making 9 blocks. It was an exceptional evening for the former international forward Hyrum Harris (198-1996, college: Umpqua CC) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. International forward Jordan Hunt (205-1997, college: S.Oregon) accounted for 18 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side. American Matthew Moyer (203-1997, college: GWU) came up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds and Australian-South Sudanese guard Sunday Dech (195-1994, college: Barry) added 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Rams in the defeat. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Rams' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Hawks moved-up to third place, which they share with 3 other teams. Rams at the other side keep the seventh position with ten games lost.
Top scorers:
Hawks: H.Harris 25+11reb+4ast, E.Rusbatch 19+6reb+1ast, J.Hunt 18+9reb, J.Kenny 12+4reb+4ast, T.Agee 11+7reb+3ast, J.Salt 6+11reb
Rams: M.Moyer 25+11reb, S.Dech 15+9reb+4ast, L.Austin Jr. 12+5reb+2ast, T.Britt 11+5reb+3ast, M.Karena 10+6reb+1ast, B.Walter 7+3reb+3ast

Tuatara - Saints 80-98

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Huskies (10-8) against fourth ranked Saints (10-8) on Saturday night. Host Huskies were defeated by Saints in Auckland 98-80. It was an exceptional evening for Australian forward Xavier Cooks (203-1995, college: Winthrop) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. American forward Reggie Upshaw Jr (203-1995, college: MTSU) accounted for 22 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. American power forward Chris Johnson (210-1985, college: LSU) came up with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 15 rebounds and the other American import guard Siler Schneider (191-1995, college: UC Davis, agency: One Motive Sports) added 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists respectively for Huskies in the defeat. Five Saints and four Huskies players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Saints have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to third place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Huskies.
Top scorers:
Saints: R.Upshaw Jr. 22+7reb+1ast, X.Cooks 19+13reb+5ast, J.Ngatai 17+7reb+1ast, M.Smith 17+2reb+8ast, T.Vodanovich 11+2reb, T.Kenneth 5+1reb
Tuatara: C.Johnson 24+15reb+2ast, S.Schneider 16+6reb+7ast, R.Loe 14+9reb+3ast, K.Penney 12+5reb+2ast, I.Braydon 6+2reb+1ast, T.Fahrensohn 6+5reb+1ast

Nuggets - Bulls 104-99

Not a big story in a game in Dunedin where 8th ranked Bulls (7-11) were defeated by fifth ranked Nuggets (10-8) 104-99. Nuggets outrebounded Bulls 61-47 including a 25-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) who led the winners with a triple-double by scoring 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-1997, college: Washington) accounted for 21 points and 19 rebounds for the winning side. The former international guard Jayden Bezzant (188-1996, college: NW Nazarene) came up with 31 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international forward Leon Henry (200-1985, college: S.Idaho JC, agency: BIG) added 14 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Bulls in the defeat. Four Nuggets and five Bulls players scored in double figures. Nuggets moved-up to third place, which they share with 3 other teams. Bulls lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the eighth position with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: T.Boyd III 30+10reb+10ast, S.Timmins 21+19reb+1ast, N.McCullough 18+3reb+6ast, A.Jack 11+12reb+1ast, B.Matthew 8+3reb+2ast, T.Withers 7+3reb
Bulls: J.Bezzant 31+5reb+4ast, K.Robinson 15+5reb, L.Henry 14+11reb+3ast, A.Rissetto 12+5reb+3ast, I.Davidson 11+4reb+3ast, D.Brooke 7+8reb+1ast



Tags : JAVONTE DOUGLAS, TARANAKI AIRS, NEW ZEALAND BASKETBALL