NBL Round 9 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked Tauranga (5-3) and ninth ranked Sharks (4-5) was the most important one in the last round on Thursday night. Tauranga was defeated by Sharks in a tough game in Tauranga 78-84. Sharks had a 29-18 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a good game for American forward Josiah Allick (203-2001, college: Nebraska) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 27 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import forward Keylan Boone (203-2000, college: UNLV, agency: Interperformances) contributed with 26 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American point guard Chris Jones (178-1991, college: Louisville, agency: Haylett Sports) answered with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for Whai. Tauranga's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Sharks maintains ninth place with 4-5 record. Whai at the other side dropped to the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with Tuatara. Sharks will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Whai will play on the road against Jets (#6) in Palmerston North and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Bulls (6-3) against ninth ranked Sharks (4-5) on Saturday night. Host Bulls were crushed by Sharks in Pukekohe 114-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Bulls. American forward Josiah Allick (203-2001, college: Nebraska) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and Keylan Boone chipped in 31 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was American guard Tae Hardy (190-1998, college: UTEP) with 19 points and 8 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Sharks maintains ninth place with 4-5 record. Bulls at the other side dropped to the third position with three games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Bottom-ranked Panthers is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their eighth consecutive match to fifth ranked Hawks (5-4) 103-88 on Tuesday evening. Daniel Grida nailed 27 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for the winning side. Jaylen Gerrand came up with 23 points for Panthers in the defeat. Despite that victory Hawks went down to sixth position due to points difference, which they share with Jets. Newly promoted Panthers still closes the standings with eight games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last two games of round 9 Bulls smashed Nuggets on the road 107-84. Jets won against Hawks on its own court 103-91.



Panthers - Hawks 88-103

Bottom-ranked Panthers is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their eighth consecutive match to fifth ranked Hawks (5-4) 103-88 on Tuesday evening. Hawks forced 24 Panthers turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Australian swingman Daniel Grida (195-1998) nailed 27 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for the winning side and American forward Darnell Cowart (203-1998, college: Murray St.) accounted for 21 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Point guard Jaylen Gerrand (183-1996, college: Umpqua CC) came up with 23 points and the former international forward Leon Henry (200-1985, college: S.Idaho JC) added 12 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Panthers in the defeat. Four Hawks and five Panthers players scored in double figures. Despite that victory Hawks went down to sixth position due to points difference, which they share with Jets. Newly promoted Panthers still closes the standings with eight games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Hawks: D.Grida 27+7reb+5ast, D.Cowart 21+9reb+6ast, W.Swaka 18+4reb+2ast, J.Ball 18+3reb+3ast, L.Yates 8+8reb+1ast, C.Scott 6+1reb+1ast
Panthers: J.Gerrand 23+2reb+3ast, Z.Te Puni 13+5reb+1ast, L.Henry 12+12reb+3ast, T.Singh 12+4reb+6ast, D.Matakatea 11+9reb+6ast, A.Blessen 10+5reb+1ast

Nuggets - Bulls 84-107

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Bulls (6-3) crushed 10th ranked Nuggets (3-6) in Dunedin 107-84 on Wednesday. Bulls looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. American guard Tae Hardy (190-1998, college: UTEP) nailed a double-double by scoring 24 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists for the winning side and the former international swingman Ethan Rusbatch (196-1992, college: Lincoln Trail) accounted for 27 points and 5 rebounds. Four Bulls players scored in double figures. Dominican forward Jose Perez (196-1998, college: Arizona St.) came up with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and American guard Donald Carey (196-1999, college: Maryland) added 8 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Nuggets in the defeat. 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. Despite that victory Bulls went down to third position due to points difference. Nuggets lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with six games lost. Bulls will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nuggets will play against the league's leader Rams (#1) in Christchurch and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Bulls: E.Rusbatch 27+5reb+1ast, T.Hardy 24+6reb+10ast, T.Gloger 19+8reb+5ast, T.Cameron 13+2reb+2ast, M.Jones 12+6reb+3ast, D.Okwera 6+12reb+5ast
Nuggets: J.Perez 24+7reb+4ast, M.Stodart 12+3reb, J.Sebree 11+3reb, C.Martin 8+3reb, D.Carey 8+8reb+3ast, D.Knox 6+5reb+6ast

Whai - Sharks 78-84

The game between third ranked Tauranga (5-3) and ninth ranked Sharks (4-5) was the most important one in the last round on Thursday night. Tauranga was defeated by Sharks in a tough game in Tauranga 78-84. Sharks had a 29-18 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a good game for American forward Josiah Allick (203-2001, college: Nebraska) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 27 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import forward Keylan Boone (203-2000, college: UNLV, agency: Interperformances) contributed with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American point guard Chris Jones (178-1991, college: Louisville, agency: Haylett Sports) answered with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt (191-2000, college: S.Dakota) added 15 points in the effort for Whai. Four Whai players scored in double figures. Tauranga's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Sharks maintains ninth place with 4-5 record. Whai at the other side dropped to the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with Tuatara. Sharks will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Whai will play on the road against Jets (#6) in Palmerston North and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sharks: J.Allick 27+13reb+4ast, K.Boone 26+10reb+1ast, C.Asberry 11+5reb+6ast, J.Helu 8+2reb+4ast, T.Cooper 7+1reb, A.Burton 5+4reb+3ast
Whai: C.Jones 16+7reb+5ast, K.Perrott-Hunt 15+4reb+1ast, J.Bezzant 15+1reb, T.Tuhi Lewis 13, D.Brooke 6+2reb, S.Bairstow 6+2reb+4ast

Jets - Hawks 103-91

There was a minor upset when 5th ranked Hawks (5-4) lost to eighth ranked Jets (5-4) in Palmerston North 91-103 on Friday. Jets forced 20 Hawks turnovers. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) nailed 29 points and 8 assists for the winning side and American forward Miles Gibson (198-1998, college: Binghamton) accounted for 30 points and 5 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Australian swingman Daniel Grida (195-1998) came up with 24 points and 9 rebounds and the former international guard Jackson Ball (191-2008) added 20 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Hawks in the defeat. Four Hawks players scored in double figures. Jets moved-up to sixth place, which they share with defeated Hawks. Jets will meet at home higher ranked Whai (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Hawks will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Jets: M.Gibson 30+5reb+2ast, C.Webster 29+4reb+8ast, D.Russo-Nance 20+5reb+3ast, I.Miller-Jose 7+2reb, K.Goins 6+13reb+2ast, E.Williams Jr. 5+3reb
Hawks: D.Grida 24+9reb+1ast, J.Ball 20+8reb+3ast, C.Scott 13+1reb+1ast, D.Cowart 13+5reb+6ast, W.Swaka 12+4reb+2ast, L.Yates 7+8reb

Bulls - Sharks 71-114

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Bulls (6-3) against ninth ranked Sharks (4-5) on Saturday night. Host Bulls were crushed by Sharks in Pukekohe 114-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Bulls. Sharks made 19-of-23 charity shots (82.6 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Bulls 49-30 including a 40-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Sharks players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists. American forward Josiah Allick (203-2001, college: Nebraska) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and his fellow American import forward Keylan Boone (203-2000, college: UNLV, agency: Interperformances) chipped in 31 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American guard Tae Hardy (190-1998, college: UTEP) with 19 points and 8 assists and Australian forward David Okwera (208-2002) scored 13 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Sharks maintains ninth place with 4-5 record. Bulls at the other side dropped to the third position with three games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Sharks: K.Boone 31+9reb+4ast, J.Allick 26+12reb+6ast, C.Asberry 14+5reb+7ast, A.Burton 14+5reb+2ast, T.Cooper 11+6reb+3ast, J.Helu 9+1reb+6ast
Bulls: T.Hardy 19+1reb+8ast, D.Okwera 13+3reb+2ast, E.Rusbatch 11+3reb+3ast, T.Gloger 7+3reb, T.Cameron 7+2reb+2ast, P.Hughes 5+3reb