NBL Round 6 (Regular Season): Nuggets are upset by Hawks

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Tamatea between second ranked Nuggets (4-2) and eleventh ranked Hawks (1-5) on Saturday night. Nuggets were defeated by Hawks in a tough game on the road 82-91. Hawks made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was Australian swingman Daniel Grida (197-1998) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds. The former international guard Keanu Rasmussen (188-2003, college: CBU) chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds. Hawks' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American swingman Buay Tuach (198-1995, college: LMU, agency: Haylett Sports) who recorded 19 points and 6 rebounds. Hawks maintains eleventh position with 1-5 record. Nuggets at the other side dropped to the fourth place with two games lost. They share the position with Saints. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Leader Rams delivered the fifth victory. This time they crushed 9th ranked Tauranga (2-4) 99-79. It was a good game for international forward Walter Brown (196-2003, college: UNLV) who led his team to a victory with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Taylor Britt contributed with 19 points and 8 assists for the winners. Rams' coach used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. The former international swingman Reuben Te Rangi (198-1994) replied with 31 points (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) for Whai. Rams maintains first position with 5-1 record, which they share with Tuatara. Whai lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth place with four games lost. They share the position with Giants. Rams will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Whai will play at home against Jets (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in New Plymouth was also quite interesting. Fourth ranked Sharks (5-2) played at the court of 6th ranked Airs (3-4). Sharks managed to secure a 8-point victory 82-74 on Thursday. Rylan Jones had a double-double by scoring 25 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals to lead the charge for the winners. The best for the losing side was Brandon Stroud with 21 points. Airs' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Sharks have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Airs lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with four games lost. Sharks will meet at home league's second-placed Tuatara in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Airs will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 6 Giants were crushed by Bulls in Pukekohe 97-73. Bottom-ranked Jets were smashed by Sharks at home 78-102.
The best stats of 6th round was 27 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists by Kaden Sand of Jets.



Airs - Sharks 74-82

The game in New Plymouth was also quite interesting. Fourth ranked Sharks (5-2) played at the court of 6th ranked Airs (3-4). Sharks managed to secure a 8-point victory 82-74 on Thursday. American point guard Rylan Jones (183-2000, college: Samford) had a double-double by scoring 25 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals to lead the charge for the winners and the former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-1997, college: Washington) chipped in 24 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American guard Brandon Stroud (198-2002, college: S.Florida) with 21 points and power forward James Moors (208-2000, college: Colorado St.) scored 9 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Airs' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Sharks have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Airs lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with four games lost. Sharks will meet at home league's second-placed Tuatara in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Airs will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Airs: B.Stroud 21+3reb+3ast, X.Green 14+6reb+2ast, J.Marcel 9+8reb+2ast, J.Moors 9+13reb+4ast, S.Taane 8+3reb+1ast, A.Cook 8+3reb
Sharks: J.Rylan 25+12reb+4ast, T.Samuel 24+9reb+3ast, B.Inger 15+7reb+2ast, T.Cooper 9+2reb+2ast, A.Caleb 5+3reb+2ast, B.Keylan 4+5reb+1ast

Bulls - Giants 97-73

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 8th ranked Giants' (2-4) road loss to seventh ranked Bulls (3-5) 73-97 on Friday. Bulls looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American guard Carter Whitt (190-2002, college: Belmont) had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the other American import guard Derrin Boyd (190-2000, college: Charleston, agency: One Motive Sports) chipped in 17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was the former international guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt (191-2000, college: S.Dakota) with 19 points and 5 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) and Finnish Eemi Luukkonen (203-2002) scored 13 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Bulls maintains seventh position with 3-5 record. Loser Giants keep the eighth place with four games lost. They share the position with Whai. Bulls will meet at home Jets (#10) in the next round. Giants will play against the league's second-placed Tuatara where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Giants: K.Perrott-Hunt 19+4reb+5ast, T.Smith-Milner 16+7reb+1ast, E.Luukkonen 13+9reb+4ast, L.Judd 10+5reb, M.Alexander 9+2reb+3ast, V.Rico 3+1reb
Bulls: C.Jace 20+8reb+2ast, W.Carter 18+4reb+12ast, K.Robinson 18+8reb, B.Derrin 17+7reb+6ast, E.Biggar 10+6reb, Z.Anderson 9+6reb+3ast

Whai - Rams 79-99

Leader Rams delivered the fifth victory. This time they crushed 9th ranked Tauranga (2-4) 99-79. Rams outrebounded Whai 33-22 including 21 on the defensive glass. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Whai's players. It was a good game for international forward Walter Brown (196-2003, college: UNLV) who led his team to a victory with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. International guard Taylor Britt (188-1996, college: Southeast CC) contributed with 19 points and 8 assists for the winners. Five Rams players scored in double figures. Rams' coach used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. The former international swingman Reuben Te Rangi (198-1994) replied with 31 points (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) and Australian guard Nicholas Stoddart (188-2000) added 22 points and 6 assists (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) in the effort for Whai. Rams maintains first position with 5-1 record, which they share with Tuatara. Whai lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth place with four games lost. They share the position with Giants. Rams will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Whai will play at home against Jets (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Whai: R.Te Rangi 31+3reb+2ast, N.Stoddart 22+3reb+6ast, T.Murray 7+2reb+3ast, J.Bezzant 6+5reb+1ast, T.Nicolas 6+5reb, H.Cole 3+2reb
Rams: M.Martin 19+4reb+4ast, C.Tamenang 19+4reb+4ast, B.Taylor 19+4reb+8ast, B.Walter 19+8reb+6ast, A.Jack 10+3reb+2ast, I.Cate 7+5reb+2ast

Hawks - Nuggets 91-82

The most important game in the last round took place in Tamatea between second ranked Nuggets (4-2) and eleventh ranked Hawks (1-5) on Saturday night. Nuggets were defeated by Hawks in a tough game on the road 82-91. Hawks made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was Australian swingman Daniel Grida (197-1998) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds. The former international guard Keanu Rasmussen (188-2003, college: CBU) chipped in a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds. Hawks' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American swingman Buay Tuach (198-1995, college: LMU, agency: Haylett Sports) who recorded 19 points and 6 rebounds and Haitian-Canadian guard Alain Louis (185-1998, college: Carleton) added 9 points and 9 assists respectively. Five Hawks and four Nuggets players scored in double figures. Hawks maintains eleventh position with 1-5 record. Nuggets at the other side dropped to the fourth place with two games lost. They share the position with Saints. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: B.Tuach 19+6reb+2ast, E.Rusbatch 18+2reb+1ast, H.Mikey 16+3reb+2ast, M.Isaac 11+7reb+3ast, A.Louis 9+4reb+9ast, Z.Mckenzie 8+4reb
Hawks: M.Jeremy 21+3reb+1ast, R.Keanu 17+10reb+2ast, G.Daniel 16+13reb+2ast, J.Ball 14+2reb+6ast, J.Chase 12+5reb+5ast, T.Fergusson 6+3reb

Jets - Sharks 78-102

No shocking result in a game in Palmerston North where fourth ranked Sharks (5-2) smashed 11th ranked Jets (2-6) 102-78 on Saturday. Sharks made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. They also forced 21 Jets turnovers. Sharks looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Jets' players. The game was dominated by American players. point guard Rylan Jones (183-2000, college: Samford) had a double-double by scoring 17 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals to lead the charge for the winners and guard Caleb Asberry (191-2000, college: OK State) chipped in 20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists during the contest. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. Coach 's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play all 12 players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was power forward Jamal Poplar (204-1996, college: Seward County) with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 18 rebounds and guard Kaden Sand (198-2001, college: Bushnell) produced a double-double by scoring 27 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Sharks have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Jets lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the tenth position with six games lost. Sharks will meet at home league's second-placed Tuatara in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Jets will play against Whai (#9) in Tauranga and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Jets: K.Sand 27+11reb+4ast, P.Jamal 26+18reb+1ast, E.Jr Kazlo 11+6reb+2ast, M.Christian 5+2reb+2ast, H.Alex 4+1reb+1ast, L.Dru-Leo 3+2reb
Sharks: A.Caleb 20+5reb+8ast, B.Inger 19+8reb+6ast, B.Keylan 18+3reb+2ast, J.Rylan 17+10reb+9ast, T.Samuel 13+5reb+2ast, Q.Webster 5