NBL Round 6 (Regular Season): Sharks still not able to record any victory

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Bottom-ranked Sharks is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their seventh consecutive match to fourth ranked Rams (4-2) 87-65 on Saturday evening. It was a good game for Australian Lachlan Olbrich (208-2003, college: UC Riverside) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 20 rebounds. American forward KJ Buffen (203-2000, college: UAB) contributed with 24 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Rams' coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Center Callum McRae (216-1999, college: Sacramento St.) replied with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists for Sharks. Rams have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains fourth position with 4-2 record, which they share with Airs. Sharks at the other side still closes the standings with seven games lost. Rams is looking forward to face Nuggets (#6) in Dunedin in the next round. Sharks will play at home against Giants (#8) and hope to get finally their first victory.
The game in Stoke was also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Airs (4-2) played at the court of 7th ranked Giants (2-4). Airs did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 116-97. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Giants. Guard Carlin Davison (196-2003) scored 26 points and 8 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Samson Froling chipped in 21 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American guard Kobe Langley (185-2000, college: UNCG) with 24 points, 6 assists and 5 steals. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Airs moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Rams. Giants at the other side dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. Airs will play against league's second-placed Bulls in Pukekohe in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Giants will play on the road against Nuggets (#6) in Dunedin and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game between seventh ranked Hawks (3-3) and 9th ranked Whai (2-5) in Tamatea on Wednesday ended with biggest points difference. Hawks outscored guests from Tauranga 105-74. Josh Roberts notched a double-double by scoring 23 points and 19 rebounds to lead the effort. Coach 's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play 10 players saving starting five for next games. Even 23 points by Demarcus Holland did not help to save the game for Whai. Hawks maintains seventh position with 3-3 record. Whai lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the ninth place with five games lost. Hawks will meet league's leader Tuatara in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Whai will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 6 Tuatara smashed Jets on the road 98-79. Bulls won against Whai on its own court 85-74.



Jets - Tuatara 79-98

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Tuatara (6-2) crushed 10th ranked Jets (1-6) in Palmerston North 98-79 on Saturday. Tuatara looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) notched 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and the former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) supported him with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Tuatara's coach used an eleven-player rotation saving starting five for next games. Even 20 points and 8 rebounds by American guard Mustapha Heron (196-1997, college: St.John's) did not help to save the game for Jets. His fellow American import Troy Baxter Jr (206-1996, college: Morgan St.) added 21 points and 8 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Tuatara have a solid four-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader. Jets lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with six games lost. Tuatara will meet at home Hawks (#7) in the next round where they are favorite. Jets will play against Saints and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Tuatara: C.Webster 22+5reb+5ast, C.Gliddon 20+5reb+5ast, T.Vodanovich 19+4reb+2ast, R.Loe 18+9reb+4ast, R.Te Rangi 5+5reb+3ast, N.Barrow 4+3reb+3ast
Jets: T.Baxter Jr. 21+8reb, M.Heron 20+8reb+3ast, J.Liam 16+4reb+1ast, S.Campbell 16+9reb+4ast, L.Simon 6+7reb+5ast, G.Thomas 0

Sharks - Rams 65-87

Bottom-ranked Sharks is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their seventh consecutive match to fourth ranked Rams (4-2) 87-65 on Saturday evening. It was a good game for Australian Lachlan Olbrich (208-2003, college: UC Riverside) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 20 rebounds. American forward KJ Buffen (203-2000, college: UAB) contributed with 24 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Five Rams players scored in double figures. Rams' coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Center Callum McRae (216-1999, college: Sacramento St.) replied with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists and American guard Caleb Asberry (190-2000, college: OK State) added 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the effort for Sharks. Rams have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains fourth position with 4-2 record, which they share with Airs. Sharks at the other side still closes the standings with seven games lost. Rams is looking forward to face Nuggets (#6) in Dunedin in the next round. Sharks will play at home against Giants (#8) and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Rams: K.Buffen 24+8reb+1ast, L.Olbrich 19+20reb+3ast, B.Walter 14+7reb+1ast, T.Britt 14+2reb+8ast, M.Walker 10+2reb+2ast, I.Kaia 3+2reb+3ast
Sharks: A.Burton 19+3reb, C.McRae 16+15reb+4ast, C.Asberry 14+8reb+6ast, M.Lotts 7+2reb+3ast, H.Benjamin 5+4reb, L.Vick 4+6reb

Bulls - Whai 85-74

Very expected game when 9th ranked Whai (2-5) lost to third ranked Bulls (5-1) in Pukekohe 74-85 on Sunday. Bulls made 19-of-19 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. The former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-1997, college: Washington) notched a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) to lead the effort and American guard Luther Muhammad (190-1999, college: Arizona St.) supported him with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Even 19 points and 6 rebounds by American forward Phil Carr (206-1995, college: Morgan St.) did not help to save the game for Whai. His fellow American import forward Vance Jackson (206-1997, college: ECU) added 18 points and 7 rebounds. Five Bulls and four Whai players scored in double figures. Bulls moved-up to second place, which they share with Saints. Whai lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the ninth position with five games lost. Bulls will meet Airs (#4) in the next round. Whai will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Bulls: S.Timmins 23+11reb+1ast, L.Muhammad 22+6reb+2ast, I.Davidson 11+5reb+2ast, B.Darrell 10+4reb+3ast, J.Scott 10+1reb+5ast, D.Kelman-Poto 7+5reb+2ast
Whai: P.Carr 19+6reb, V.Jackson 18+7reb, K.Perrott-Hunt 17+2reb+3ast, D.Holland 11+3reb+5ast, L.Te Tuhi 4+3reb, J.Bezzant 3+3reb+4ast

Giants - Airs 97-116

The game in Stoke was also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Airs (4-2) played at the court of 7th ranked Giants (2-4). Airs did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 116-97. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Giants. Airs shot 63.1 percent from the field. They outrebounded Giants 38-24 including a 30-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Airs shot the lights out from three nailing 12 long-distance shots on high 57.1 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists. Guard Carlin Davison (196-2003) scored 26 points and 8 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Australian power forward Samson Froling (212-2000, college: Creighton) chipped in 21 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American guard Kobe Langley (185-2000, college: UNCG) with 24 points, 6 assists and 5 steals and Australian swingman Daniel Grida (195-1998) scored 22 points and 6 rebounds. Four Airs and five Giants players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Airs moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Rams. Giants at the other side dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. Airs will play against league's second-placed Bulls in Pukekohe in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Giants will play on the road against Nuggets (#6) in Dunedin and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Airs: D.Carlin 26+8reb+2ast, E.Minnie 22+3reb+1ast, S.Froling 21+7reb+3ast, D.Raukawa 12+2reb+2ast, M.McCarron 11+6reb+8ast, Q.Bailey 10+3reb+2ast
Giants: K.Langley 24+3reb+6ast, D.Fotu 23+5reb+2ast, D.Grida 22+6reb+3ast, M.Alexander 14+4ast, S.Dempster 10+2reb+3ast, T.Ingham 2

Hawks - Whai 105-74

The game between seventh ranked Hawks (3-3) and 9th ranked Whai (2-5) in Tamatea on Wednesday ended with biggest points difference. Hawks outscored guests from Tauranga 105-74. American forward Josh Roberts (205-1999, college: Manhattan) notched a double-double by scoring 23 points and 19 rebounds to lead the effort and naturalized Australian guard Keanu Rasmussen (188-2003, college: CBU) supported him with 27 points and 5 rebounds. Five Hawks players scored in double figures. Coach 's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play 10 players saving starting five for next games. Even 23 points by American guard Demarcus Holland (193-1994, college: Texas) did not help to save the game for Whai. His fellow American import forward Phil Carr (206-1995, college: Morgan St.) added 7 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Hawks maintains seventh position with 3-3 record. Whai lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the ninth place with five games lost. Hawks will meet league's leader Tuatara in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Whai will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Hawks: K.Rasmussen 27+5reb+1ast, J.Roberts 23+19reb, L.Sutherland 17+4reb+3ast, I.Moore 14+3reb+11ast, J.Ngatai 13+1reb+2ast, K.Kobe 5+1reb+2ast
Whai: D.Holland 23+3reb+1ast, V.Jackson 16+4reb+2ast, K.Perrott-Hunt 11+2reb+1ast, J.Bezzant 9+4reb+3ast, P.Carr 7+12reb+5ast, L.Te Tuhi 4+1reb+1ast