NBL Round 2 of Regular Season

There were only 2 rounds played so far and it's still very beginning of the Regular Season in NBL. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

First defeat of league's leader Airs against Tuatara 84-77 was the most important game of the last round. Tuatara made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 20 Airs turnovers. The former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) contributed with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. Australian power forward Samson Froling (212-2000, college: Creighton) replied with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 18 rebounds for Airs. Airs will play next round against Whai trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Tuatara will try to continue on its current victory against Rams in Christchurch.
Bulls defeated Rams in Pukekohe 93-83. American guard Luther Muhammad (190-1999, college: Arizona St.) scored 31 points and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Samuel Timmins chipped in 23 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) during the contest. Bulls' coach Sebastian Gleim used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. International guard Taylor Britt (187-1996, college: Southeast CC) responded with 24 points. Rams will play next round against strong Tuatara trying to get back on the winning streak. Bulls will try to continue on its current victory against Jets at Palmerston North.
Whai recorded a loss in Tauranga on Saturday night. Hosts were rolled over by Tuatara 92-72. Robert Loe notched a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the effort. Even 22 points and 6 rebounds by Vance Jackson did not help to save the game for Whai. Tuatara will meet Rams in the next round. Whai will play against Airs in New Plymouth and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 2: Jets beat Sharks on the road 83-70. Nuggets won against Jets on its own court 112-103. Saints managed to outperform Giants in Wellington 84-75. Hawks rolled over Sharks at home 107-80.
The most impressive performance of 2nd round was 35 points (!!!) by Keanu Rasmussen of Hawks.



Sharks - Jets 70-83

But Sharks were not able to use a home court advantage and were defeated by the opponent from Palmerston North 83-70 on Wednesday night. The former international center Tyrell Harrison (214-1999) notched a double-double by scoring 17 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks to lead the effort and American guard Mustapha Heron (196-1997, college: St.John's) supported him with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Even 20 points and 5 rebounds by American forward Marcale Lotts (201-1994, college: Canisius) did not help to save the game for Sharks. Forward Scott Telfer (196-1998) added 16 points and 5 rebounds for the hosts. Five Jets and four Sharks players scored in double figures. Sharks' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Jets will meet Bulls in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Sharks will play against Saints and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Jets: M.Heron 19+9reb+3ast, T.Harrison 17+13reb+2ast, S.Campbell 13+5reb+8ast, T.Baxter Jr. 12+3reb+1ast, J.Liam 10+5reb+2ast, L.Simon 6+2reb
Sharks: M.Lotts 20+5reb, T.Scott 16+5reb+1ast, L.Vick 14+6reb+2ast, M.Kapea 10+5reb+3ast, C.McRae 8+9reb+5ast, J.Turner 2

Tuatara - Airs 84-77

First defeat of league's leader Airs against Tuatara 84-77 was the most important game of the last round. Tuatara made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 20 Airs turnovers. The former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) contributed with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. Australian power forward Samson Froling (212-2000, college: Creighton) replied with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 18 rebounds and guard Carlin Davison (196-2003) added 19 points in the effort for Airs. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Airs will play next round against Whai trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Tuatara will try to continue on its current victory against Rams in Christchurch.
Top scorers:
Tuatara: C.Webster 25+6reb+8ast, R.Loe 22+14reb+5ast, C.Gliddon 21+3reb, R.Te Rangi 13+5reb, M.Chris 3+9reb+2ast, C.Tukaha 0
Airs: S.Froling 21+18reb+3ast, D.Carlin 19+3reb+1ast, D.Raukawa 13+2ast, E.Minnie 12+4reb+3ast, M.McCarron 9+4reb+4ast, T.Cameron 3+9reb

Nuggets - Jets 112-103

Very expected game when Jets lost to Nuggets in Dunedin 103-112 on Friday. Nuggets looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American Kimani Lawrence (202-1998, college: Arizona St.) notched 30 points and 8 rebounds to lead the effort and Australian swingman Ben Henshall (195-2004) supported him with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Even 28 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists by guard Campbell Scott (188-2004) did not help to save the game for Jets. American Troy Baxter Jr (206-1996, college: Morgan St.) added 24 points for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Nuggets will meet at home Saints in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Jets will play against Bulls in Pukekohe and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: K.Lawrence 30+8reb+3ast, H.Ben 28+7reb+6ast, T.Webster 20+4reb+6ast, D.Knox 14+1ast, B.Matthew 7+4reb+1ast, R.Coman 5+1reb
Jets: S.Campbell 28+8reb+4ast, T.Baxter Jr. 24+4reb+2ast, M.Heron 22+2reb+4ast, T.Harrison 13+12reb+2ast, L.Simon 8+7reb, C.Lachlan 5+1reb+2ast

Giants - Saints 75-84

Very predictable result when Saints won against Giants in Stoke 84-75 on Saturday. Saints dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Giants' 30 and made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. Saints forced 22 Giants turnovers. The former international forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) notched a double-double by scoring 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and the former international forward Tohi Smith-Milner (205-1995, college: Polk State CC) supported him with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Saints players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds by Australian swingman Daniel Grida (195-1998) did not help to save the game for Giants. The former international forward Daniel Fotu (203-1999, college: SMC) added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts. Saints will meet Sharks in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Giants will play against Tuatara and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Saints: H.Harris 22+10reb+5ast, T.Smith-Milner 20+12reb+4ast, I.Mauriohooho-Le'afa 18+6reb+2ast, B.Ayre 13+2reb+3ast, P.Troy 5+4reb, M.Benlevi 4+4reb+1ast
Giants: D.Grida 27+11reb+1ast, D.Fotu 20+10reb+1ast, I.Aston 11+6reb, T.Ingham 8+5reb+1ast, D.Nick 7+5reb+6ast, J.Hayden 2+2reb+1ast

Whai - Tuatara 72-92

Whai recorded a loss in Tauranga on Saturday night. Hosts were rolled over by Tuatara 92-72. Tuatara made 22-of-28 free shots (78.6 percent) during the game. The former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) notched a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the effort and the former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) supported him with 22 points and 4 assists. Even 22 points and 6 rebounds by American forward Vance Jackson (206-1997, college: ECU) did not help to save the game for Whai. His fellow American import guard Demarcus Holland (193-1994, college: Texas) added 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the hosts. Tuatara will meet Rams in the next round. Whai will play against Airs in New Plymouth and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Tuatara: R.Te Rangi 23+3reb+1ast, C.Webster 22+4reb+4ast, R.Loe 16+12reb+3ast, F.Reuben 10, C.Gliddon 9+6reb+3ast, C.Tukaha 5+1reb
Whai: V.Jackson 22+6reb+1ast, K.Perrott-Hunt 15+2reb+2ast, P.Carr 11+7reb, D.Holland 9+7reb+4ast, J.Bezzant 8+2reb+1ast, L.Te Tuhi 5

Bulls - Rams 93-83

Bulls defeated Rams in Pukekohe 93-83. Bulls made 16-of-20 charity shots (80.0 percent) during the game. American guard Luther Muhammad (190-1999, college: Arizona St.) scored 31 points and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-1997, college: Washington) chipped in 23 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) during the contest. Bulls' coach Sebastian Gleim used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. International guard Taylor Britt (187-1996, college: Southeast CC) responded with 24 points and Australian guard Kaia Isaac (185-2003) scored 19 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Rams will play next round against strong Tuatara trying to get back on the winning streak. Bulls will try to continue on its current victory against Jets at Palmerston North.
Top scorers:
Bulls: L.Muhammad 31+4reb+6ast, S.Timmins 23+11reb+3ast, I.Davidson 14+3reb, E.Rusbatch 10+5reb+3ast, B.Darrell 8+6reb+4ast, M.Halasiale 4+2reb
Rams: T.Britt 24+3reb+2ast, M.Walker 20+2reb+2ast, I.Kaia 19+6reb, I.Tamatoa 11+1reb+2ast, T.Fahrensohn 7+13reb+1ast, B.Walter 2+4reb

Hawks - Sharks 107-80

The game between closely ranked teams ended with Sharks' road loss to Hawks in Tamatea 80-107 on Sunday. Hawks dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Sharks' 42. Hawks looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Naturalized Australian guard Keanu Rasmussen (188-2003, college: CBU) notched 35 points (!!!) to lead the effort and American guard Isaiah Moore (185-2000, college: USA) supported him with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals. Five Hawks players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 26 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists by American Lagerald Vick (196-1997, college: Kansas) did not help to save the game for Sharks. Center Callum McRae (216-1999, college: Sacramento St.) added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Hawks will meet Jets in the next round. Sharks will play against Saints and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Hawks: K.Rasmussen 35+2reb+2ast, J.Roberts 19+15reb, I.Moore 17+7reb+10ast, L.Sutherland 16+3reb+2ast, J.Ngatai 11+6reb+6ast, B.Jackson 4+2reb+1ast
Sharks: L.Vick 26+11reb+6ast, C.McRae 14+10reb+2ast, M.Lotts 10+6reb+3ast, A.Wheeler 9+2ast, T.Scott 7+3reb+1ast, H.Benjamin 6+3reb