NBL Round 17 (Regular Season): Bulls defeat Rams

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Rams (17-3) in Christchurch on Thursday night. Hosts were edged by fifth ranked Bulls (13-7) 93-91. It ended at the same time the 16-game winning streak of Rams. American guard Luther Muhammad (191-1999, college: Arizona St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import forward Lee Skinner (198-1992, college: Wofford) contributed with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Australian Lachlan Olbrich (208-2003, college: UC Riverside) answered with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds for Rams. Bulls have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain fifth place with 13-7 record. Defending champion Rams still keep top position with three games lost.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Tuatara (16-4) against ninth ranked Hawks (8-12) on Wednesday night. Visiting Tuatara was defeated by Hawks in a tough game in Tamatea 102-108. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Tuatara. American point guard Isaiah Moore (185-2000, college: USA) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 38 points (!!!) and 10 assists (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) for the winners and Keanu Rasmussen chipped in 26 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) responded with a double-double by scoring 27 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hawks moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Whai. Tuatara at the other side keeps the second position with four games lost.
Eleventh-ranked Jets (1-19) were very close to win a game against ninth ranked Tauranga (8-12) on Tuesday. Tauranga managed to secure only one-point victory 84-83. However their fans expected easier game. Phil Carr nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side. Mustapha Heron came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds for Jets in the defeat. Whai moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Hawks. Jets lost eighteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 19 lost games.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 17: Sharks beat Jets on the road 117-100. Nuggets lost to Bulls on its own court 83-99. Sharks unfortunately lost to Saints in Wellington 78-88. Airs managed to beat Giants at home 106-90.
The most impressive performance of 17th round was 26 points and 6 rebounds by Daniel Fotu of Giants.



Whai - Jets 84-83

Eleventh-ranked Jets (1-19) were very close to win a game against ninth ranked Tauranga (8-12) on Tuesday. Tauranga managed to secure only one-point victory 84-83. However their fans expected easier game. American forward Phil Carr (206-1995, college: Morgan St.) nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side and his fellow American import guard Demarcus Holland (192-1994, college: Texas) accounted for 24 points and 6 rebounds. Holland is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American guard Mustapha Heron (196-1997, college: St.John's) came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds and forward Liam Judd (196-2001) added 19 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Jets in the defeat. Five Jets players scored in double figures. Whai moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Hawks. Jets lost eighteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 19 lost games.
Top scorers:
Whai: K.Perrott-Hunt 25+5reb+3ast, D.Holland 24+6reb+3ast, P.Carr 22+15reb+2ast, J.Bezzant 6+1ast, D.Brooke 4+6reb+2ast, T.Tuhi Lewis 3+1ast
Jets: M.Heron 21+11reb+2ast, L.Judd 19+5reb+2ast, L.Richards 16+6reb, Q.Lane 10+5reb+3ast, C.Scott 10+3reb+4ast, S.Lafaele 4+1reb+1ast

Hawks - Tuatara 108-102

Very important is a road loss of second ranked Tuatara (16-4) against ninth ranked Hawks (8-12) on Wednesday night. Visiting Tuatara was defeated by Hawks in a tough game in Tamatea 102-108. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Tuatara. American point guard Isaiah Moore (185-2000, college: USA) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 38 points (!!!) and 10 assists (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) for the winners and naturalized Australian guard Keanu Rasmussen (188-2003, college: CBU) chipped in 26 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) responded with a double-double by scoring 27 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists and Australian swingman Cameron Gliddon (197-1989, college: CUI) scored 25 points and 6 rebounds (perfect behind the arc making all five shots). Five Hawks and four Tuatara players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hawks moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Whai. Tuatara at the other side keeps the second position with four games lost.
Top scorers:
Hawks: I.Moore 38+10ast, K.Rasmussen 26+7reb+6ast, J.Ngatai 14+9reb+1ast, J.Roberts 13+11reb+1ast, J.Murphy 10+5reb+1ast, K.Kara 5+1reb+1ast
Tuatara: R.Loe 27+12reb+5ast, C.Gliddon 25+6reb+2ast, C.Dalton 17+5reb+1ast, B.Iuli 10+3reb+1ast, C.Webster 8+2reb+6ast, T.Cooper 6+1reb+1ast

Rams - Bulls 91-93

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Rams (17-3) in Christchurch on Thursday night. Hosts were edged by fifth ranked Bulls (13-7) 93-91. It ended at the same time the 16-game winning streak of Rams. American guard Luther Muhammad (191-1999, college: Arizona St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import forward Lee Skinner (198-1992, college: Wofford) contributed with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Australian Lachlan Olbrich (208-2003, college: UC Riverside) answered with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds and Australian guard Kaia Isaac (185-2003) added 17 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Rams. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Bulls have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain fifth place with 13-7 record. Defending champion Rams still keep top position with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Bulls: L.Muhammad 27+5reb+7ast, E.Rusbatch 23+4reb, L.Skinner 16+11reb+2ast, S.Timmins 11+8reb+2ast, J.Scott 7+5ast, I.Davidson 5+1reb
Rams: L.Olbrich 19+12reb+2ast, W.Brown 18+3reb+3ast, M.Walker 18+4reb+2ast, K.Isaac 17+6reb+2ast, T.Britt 7+8reb+5ast, M.Darling 6+4reb+2ast

Jets - Sharks 100-117

The game between closely ranked teams ended with tenth ranked Sharks' (4-15) road victory over bottom-ranked Jets (1-19) in Palmerston North 117-100 on Friday. Sharks dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Jets' 52 and made 27-of-34 free shots (79.4 percent) during the game. Sharks looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. American guard Caleb Asberry (190-2000, college: OK State) nailed a double-double by scoring 37 points (!!!), 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals for the winning side and center Callum McRae (216-1999, college: Sacramento St.) accounted for 28 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists (on 11-of-14 shooting from the field). Sharks' coach Guy Molloy used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Quashawn Lane (188, college: New Haven) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and the other American import guard Mustapha Heron (196-1997, college: St.John's) added 26 points respectively for Jets in the defeat. Four Sharks and five Jets players scored in double figures. Sharks maintains tenth place with 4-15 record. Jets lost eighteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 19 lost games.
Top scorers:
Sharks: C.Asberry 37+6reb+10ast, C.McRae 28+14reb+5ast, A.Burton 19+2reb+2ast, C.Robb 16+3reb+7ast, B.Inger 9+5reb, M.Kapea 3
Jets: M.Heron 26+1reb+1ast, C.Scott 19+2ast, Q.Lane 18+8reb+11ast, L.Richards 14+6reb+2ast, L.Judd 10+4reb+1ast, S.Lafaele 8+4reb

Nuggets - Bulls 83-99

Very expected game when 9th ranked Nuggets (7-13) lost to fifth ranked Bulls (13-7) in Dunedin 83-99 on Saturday. Bulls outrebounded Nuggets 43-31 including 32 on the defensive glass. Bulls looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-1997, college: Washington) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side and the former international forward Isaac Davidson (201-1997, college: Sonoma St.) accounted for 23 points and 4 steals. American guard Zaccheus Darko-Kelly (198-1997, college: Providence, MT) came up with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Darcy Knox (186-1995) added 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for Nuggets in the defeat. Five Bulls and four Nuggets players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Bulls have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain fifth place with 13-7 record. Loser Nuggets keep the ninth position with 13 games lost.
Top scorers:
Bulls: I.Davidson 23+3reb+3ast, S.Timmins 20+10reb+4ast, E.Rusbatch 12+2reb+2ast, L.Muhammad 11+5reb+3ast, D.Kelman-Poto 10+8reb+2ast, L.Skinner 10+8reb+4ast
Nuggets: Z.Darko-Kelly 20+5reb+4ast, K.Lawrence 18+3reb+4ast, D.Knox 15+6reb+5ast, R.Coman 13+2reb+4ast, J.Andrew 6+4reb, C.Smiler 4+1ast

Saints - Sharks 88-78

Very predictable result when fourth ranked Saints (13-6) won against 10th ranked Sharks (4-15) in Wellington 88-78 on Sunday. Saints made 22-of-27 free shots (81.5 percent) during the game. International guard Izayah Mauriohooho-Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) nailed 18 points and 8 assists for the winning side and the former international forward Hyrum Harris (201-1996, college: Umpqua CC) accounted for 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Saints players scored in double figures. Center Callum McRae (216-1999, college: Sacramento St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds and American guard Caleb Asberry (190-2000, college: OK State) added 25 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Sharks in the defeat. Sharks' coach Guy Molloy rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Saints moved-up to third place, which they share with Airs. Loser Sharks keep the tenth position with 15 games lost.
Top scorers:
Saints: T.Henderson Jr. 23+3reb+1ast, I.Mauriohooho-Le'afa 18+3reb+8ast, T.Smith-Milner 15+4reb+2ast, H.Harris 14+9reb+4ast, T.Samuel 7+4reb+1ast, K.Evans Jr. 7+2reb+3ast
Sharks: C.Asberry 25+5reb+3ast, C.McRae 19+14reb+3ast, C.Robb 17+6reb+4ast, A.Burton 7+5reb+1ast, B.Inger 5+6reb+5ast, S.Telfer 5+1ast

Airs - Giants 106-90

Not a big story in a game when 6th ranked Giants (8-11) lost to third ranked Airs (13-6) in New Plymouth 90-106 on Sunday. Airs looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Carlin Davison (197-2003) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists for the winning side and Australian guard Mitchell McCarron (189-1992, college: MSU Denver) accounted for 16 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. The former international forward Daniel Fotu (203-1999, college: SMC) came up with 26 points and 6 rebounds and the former international guard Alexander McNaught (185-2002) added 17 points and 5 assists respectively for Giants in the defeat. Five Airs and four Giants players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Airs maintains third place with 13-6 record having five points less than leader Rams, which they share with Saints. Loser Giants keep the sixth position with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Airs: F.Cameron 22+1reb+3ast, C.Davison 20+10reb+9ast, D.Raukawa 19+1reb+1ast, M.McCarron 16+5reb+8ast, Q.Bailey 12+3reb, E.Minnie 11+10reb+2ast
Giants: D.Fotu 26+6reb+3ast, A.McNaught 17+3reb+5ast, D.Grida 17+6reb+1ast, N.Davidson 10+2reb+4ast, S.Dempster 6+6reb+1ast, A.Inwood 6+4reb+1ast