NBL Round 1 (Regular Season): Nuggets defeat Sharks

The Regular Season in NBL just started. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Sharks in Southland on Friday night. Hosts were rolled over by Nuggets 95-68. Nuggets forced 20 Sharks turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American swingman Buay Tuach (198-1995, college: LMU, agency: Haylett Sports) who helped to win the game recording 28 points and 4 steals (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). His fellow American import center Mikey Henn (202-1997, college: Penn State) contributed with 13 points and 5 assists for the winners. The former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-1997, college: Washington) answered with a double-double by scoring 30 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) for Sharks. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Nuggets is looking forward to face Giants in Nelson in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Sharks will play on the road against Tuatara in Auckland and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game for Whai which played in Tamatea against Hawks. Whai won 101-95. The former international swingman Reuben Te Rangi (198-1994) stepped up and scored 35 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds for the winners and Taine Murray chipped in 30 points. At the losing side Australian swingman Daniel Grida (197-1998) responded with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Whai will play against Airs in New Plymouth in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Hawks will play at home against Jets to get more than just one victory in their record.
An interesting game was also tough home loss of Giants in a game in Nelson versus undefeated Rams 86-85. Giants were very close to get their first win. But it seems they have to wait a little bit longer. Taylor Britt nailed 23 points and 9 assists for the winning side. Kruz Perrott-Hunt came up with 25 points and 6 rebounds for Giants in the defeat. Giants' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Rams will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Giants will play against Nuggets in Dunedin and hope to win that game.

Other games in round 1 were not that significant. Airs beat Jets on the road 91-85. Tuatara destroyed Bulls on its own court 115-95. Jets lost to Saints in Wellington 81-117.
The most impressive performance of 1st round was 20 points and 9 rebounds by Jack Andrew of Rams.



Jets - Airs 85-91

No shocking result in a game when Airs beat Jets in Palmerston North 91-85 on Thursday. Airs looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American players dominated the game. Forward Xavier Green (198-1996, college: Maryland, agency: One Motive Sports) nailed a double-double by scoring 30 points and 12 rebounds for the winning side and guard Aaron Cook (188-1997, college: Georgia) accounted for 13 points and 9 assists. Four Airs players scored in double figures. Guard Kaden Sand (198-2001, college: Bushnell) came up with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists and power forward Jamal Poplar (204-1996, college: Seward County) added 20 points and 9 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) respectively for Jets in the defeat. Jets' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Airs will meet Whai in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Jets will play against Hawks in Tamatea and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Jets: P.Jamal 20+9reb, D.Russo-Nance 18+2reb+1ast, K.Sand 15+9reb+7ast, B.Mullens 8+3reb+2ast, H.William 7+3reb+2ast, M.Christian 6+4reb
Airs: G.Xavier 30+12reb+1ast, C.Aaron 13+2reb+9ast, M.Jones 12+3reb+2ast, R.Tuuta 12+1reb+1ast, T.Samuel 10+2reb+4ast, Q.Bailey 8+3reb+3ast

Sharks - Nuggets 68-95

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Sharks in Southland on Friday night. Hosts were rolled over by Nuggets 95-68. Nuggets forced 20 Sharks turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American swingman Buay Tuach (198-1995, college: LMU, agency: Haylett Sports) who helped to win the game recording 28 points and 4 steals (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). His fellow American import center Mikey Henn (202-1997, college: Penn State) contributed with 13 points and 5 assists for the winners. Henn is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Nuggets players scored in double figures. The former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-1997, college: Washington) answered with a double-double by scoring 30 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) and American point guard Rylan Jones (183-2000, college: Samford) added 20 points in the effort for Sharks. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Nuggets is looking forward to face Giants in Nelson in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Sharks will play on the road against Tuatara in Auckland and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sharks: S.Timmins 30+11reb+5ast, R.Jones 20+4reb+2ast, W.Tautoko 6+7reb, C.TuKaha 5+3reb+3ast, S.Riley 2+5reb, B.Dane 2+3reb
Nuggets: T.Buay 28+2reb+1ast, M.Henn 13+4reb+5ast, R.Ethan 12+4reb+2ast, I.Miller-Jose 10+8reb+2ast, L.Alain 9+2reb+8ast, C.Smiler 7+2reb+3ast

Hawks - Whai 95-101

Another exciting game for Whai which played in Tamatea against Hawks. Whai won 101-95. It was a great shooting night for Tauranga especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 55.0 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. The former international swingman Reuben Te Rangi (198-1994) stepped up and scored 35 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds for the winners and the former international guard Taine Murray (196-2002, college: Virginia) chipped in 30 points. At the losing side Australian swingman Daniel Grida (197-1998) responded with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international guard Keanu Rasmussen (188-2003, college: CBU) scored 22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Whai will play against Airs in New Plymouth in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Hawks will play at home against Jets to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Hawks: D.Grida 24+13reb+4ast, K.Rasmussen 22+9reb+5ast, A.Kyle 21+1reb+8ast, B.III Clifton 12+1reb+2ast, E.Ezrah 6+1reb+1ast, M.Jacob 4+4reb+1ast
Whai: T.Reuben 35+7reb+2ast, M.Taine 30+3reb+2ast, B.Jayden 10+4reb+7ast, X.Marsters 10+5reb+11ast, N.Tata 6+8reb, G.Hoeata 5+5reb+1ast

Tuatara - Bulls 115-95

Tuatara used a home court advantage and smashed the opponent from Pukekohe 115-95 on Saturday night. Tuatara looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. The former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) nailed 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and American power forward Chris Johnson (210-1985, college: LSU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) accounted for 15 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists. Five Tuatara players scored in double figures. American guard Jace Carter (198-2003, college: Texas A&M) came up with a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!) and 12 rebounds and the other American import guard Derrin Boyd (190-2000, college: Charleston, agency: One Motive Sports) added 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for Bulls in the defeat. Bulls' coach rotated ten players seeing no chance for a win. Tuatara will meet at home Sharks in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Bulls will play against Sharks and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Bulls: J.Carter 35+12reb+1ast, D.Boyd 22+5reb+6ast, G.Jaylen 12+1reb+3ast, C.Whitt 8+5reb+9ast, M.Freeman 6+2reb, P.Taiapau 5+1reb
Tuatara: L.Robert 24+7reb+5ast, D.Wilkie 18+2reb, B.Sean 16+6reb+2ast, J.Chris 15+16reb+5ast, V.Thomas 13+2reb+2ast, Z.Riley 13+5reb+6ast

Saints - Jets 117-81

Rather predictable result when Saints rolled over Jets in Wellington 117-81 on Sunday. Saints outrebounded Jets 48-34 including 33 on the defensive glass. Saints looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. American players dominated the game. Guard Elijah Pepper (193-2001, college: UC Davis) nailed 28 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and swingman Donte Ingram (198-1996, college: Loyola, IL) accounted for 21 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Power forward Jamal Poplar (204-1996, college: Seward County) came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds and guard Kaden Sand (198-2001, college: Bushnell) added 19 points respectively for Jets in the defeat. Five Saints and four Jets players scored in double figures. 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 will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Jets will play against Hawks in Tamatea and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Jets: K.Sand 19+4reb+1ast, Z.Hamza 16+4reb+2ast, P.Jamal 15+11reb, D.Russo-Nance 13+2reb+6ast, M.Christian 5+3reb+3ast, E.Jr Kazlo 4+3reb+3ast
Saints: P.Elijah 28+7reb+8ast, I.Donte 21+9reb+5ast, J.Hunt 20+6reb+1ast, D.Carlin 19+7reb+9ast, A.Aliir 11+7reb+2ast, H.Munir 6+2reb

Giants - Rams 85-86

An interesting game was also tough home loss of Giants in a game in Nelson versus undefeated Rams 86-85. Giants were very close to get their first win. But it seems they have to wait a little bit longer. International guard Taylor Britt (188-1996, college: Southeast CC) nailed 23 points and 9 assists for the winning side and international forward Walter Brown (196-2003, college: UNLV) accounted for 17 points and 12 rebounds. The former international guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt (191-2000, college: S.Dakota) came up with 25 points and 6 rebounds and the former international forward Tohi Smith-Milner (205-1995, college: Polk State CC) added 17 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Giants in the defeat. Five Rams and four Giants players scored in double figures. Giants' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Rams will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Giants will play against Nuggets in Dunedin and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Giants: K.Perrott-Hunt 25+6reb+3ast, L.Judd 17+3reb, T.Smith-Milner 17+9reb+2ast, D.Samuel 12+10reb+2ast, M.Alexander 6+4reb+6ast, N.Joshua 5+2reb+3ast
Rams: B.Taylor 23+3reb+9ast, J.Andrew 20+9reb, B.Walter 17+12reb+1ast, C.Tamenang 12+6reb+7ast, W.Todd 11+6reb, I.Cate 3+1reb+1ast