NBL Round 10 (Regular Season): Saints keep a leadership position

Host teams show no mercy winning all games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Saints as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Saints smashed bottom-ranked Giants in Wellington 105-65. Saints dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Giants' 30. Saints looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Australian swingman Nick Marshall (198-1999, college: Clarke) had a double-double by scoring 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the former international forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side Australian forward Callum Dalton (206-2000) responded with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 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. Saints (7-2) have an impressive five-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Giants at the other side still closes the standings with seven games lost. Giants will play next round against Sharks trying to get back on the winning streak. Saints will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game.
Important game to mention about took place in New Plymouth. Eighth ranked Airs (5-3) saved a 1-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Tuatara (5-4) 111-110 in the fight for the fifth place. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Tuatara. Australian guard Owen Foxwell (188-2003) notched 31 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the effort and Carlin Davison supported him with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. Airs' coach Sam Mackinnon allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even a double-double of 36 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 7 assists by Australian guard William Hickey (194-1999) did not help to save the game for Tuatara. Airs moved-up to fifth place. Tuatara at the other side dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Hawks and Whai. Airs will play against Whai (#8) in Tauranga in the next round. Tuatara will play at home against the league's second-placed Rams and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Palmerston North supposed to be also quite interesting. 5th ranked Tauranga (5-4) played at the court of sixth ranked Jets (6-4). Jets smashed Tauranga 107-85 on Thursday. Corey Webster fired 24 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. Kruz Perrott-Hunt produced 18 points and 5 rebounds for lost side. 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. Jets have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Loser Tauranga dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Hawks and Tuatara. Jets will meet at home bottom-ranked Panthers (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Whai will play against Airs (#5) in New Plymouth and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 10 Nuggets lost to Rams on the opponent's court 107-108.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 22 points and 7 rebounds by Isaac Miller-Jose of Jets.



Rams - Nuggets 108-107

Very expected game in Christchurch where 10th ranked Nuggets (3-6) were edged by third ranked Rams (6-2) 108-107 on Sunday. However just one-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Rams dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Nuggets' 44. Rams looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. The former international forward Tohi Smith-Milner (205-1995, college: Polk State CC) fired a double-double by scoring 28 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Australian forward Kyle Bowen (203-2000, college: SMC) chipped in 19 points and 9 rebounds. American guard Donald Carey (196-1999, college: Maryland) produced 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and the former international Jonathan Janssen (205-1995, college: HPU) added 23 points and 7 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Nuggets' coach Mike Kelly rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion moved-up to second place. Nuggets lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with six games lost. Rams will meet Tuatara (#6) in the next round. Nuggets will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Rams: T.Smith-Milner 28+10reb+4ast, K.Bowen 19+9reb, S.Macdonald 16+2reb+3ast, W.Brown 15+7reb+5ast, T.Britt 7+1reb+9ast, C.Penha 7+3reb+2ast
Nuggets: D.Carey 28+6reb+6ast, J.Sebree 24+5reb+1ast, J.Janssen 23+7reb+2ast, J.Perez 16+7reb+5ast, D.Knox 6, M.Bardsley 6+5reb+2ast

Saints - Giants 105-65

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Saints as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Saints smashed bottom-ranked Giants in Wellington 105-65. Saints dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Giants' 30. Saints looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Australian swingman Nick Marshall (198-1999, college: Clarke) had a double-double by scoring 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the former international forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds during the contest. Five Saints players scored in double figures. At the losing side Australian forward Callum Dalton (206-2000) responded with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists and American point guard Alex Robinson (185-1995, college: TCU) produced a double-double by scoring 14 points, 11 rebounds and 5 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. Saints (7-2) have an impressive five-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Giants at the other side still closes the standings with seven games lost. Giants will play next round against Sharks trying to get back on the winning streak. Saints will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game.
Top scorers:
Saints: N.Marshall 28+12reb+1ast, N.Muszynski 18+5reb+1ast, H.Harris 15+12reb+3ast, I.Le'afa 13+3reb+7ast, R.Dougall-Mita 11+3reb+1ast, S.Ili 11+5reb+5ast
Giants: A.Robinson 14+11reb+5ast, C.Dalton 14+9reb+7ast, L.Crate 12+3reb, L.Judd 7+2reb, H.Jones 5+2reb+1ast, A.Inwood 4+2ast

Airs - Tuatara 111-110

Important game to mention about took place in New Plymouth. Eighth ranked Airs (5-3) saved a 1-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Tuatara (5-4) 111-110 in the fight for the fifth place. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Tuatara. Airs dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Tuatara's 38. They outrebounded Tuatara 48-34 including 34 on the defensive glass. Australian guard Owen Foxwell (188-2003) notched 31 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the effort and Carlin Davison (197-2003) supported him with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. Airs' coach Sam Mackinnon allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even a double-double of 36 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 7 assists by Australian guard William Hickey (194-1999) did not help to save the game for Tuatara. American swingman Buay Tuach (198-1995, college: LMU, agency: Haylett Sports) added 21 points for lost side. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Airs moved-up to fifth place. Tuatara at the other side dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Hawks and Whai. Airs will play against Whai (#8) in Tauranga in the next round. Tuatara will play at home against the league's second-placed Rams and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Airs: O.Foxwell 31+8reb+7ast, A.Fletcher 23+6reb, H.Froling 17+11reb+2ast, C.Davison 17+6reb+8ast, J.Andrew 15+9reb, D.Kelman-Poto 4+4reb+1ast
Tuatara: W.Hickey 36+10reb+7ast, B.Tuach 21+2reb+2ast, R.Loe 13+7reb+3ast, D.Wilkie 11, T.Vodanovich 11+5reb+2ast, C.Pride 10+4reb+1ast

Jets - Whai 107-85

The game in Palmerston North supposed to be also quite interesting. 5th ranked Tauranga (5-4) played at the court of sixth ranked Jets (6-4). Jets smashed Tauranga 107-85 on Thursday. Jets dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Tauranga's 38. Jets looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) fired 24 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. American forward Miles Gibson (198-1998, college: Binghamton) chipped in 30 points. The former international guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt (191-2000, college: S.Dakota) produced 18 points and 5 rebounds and American point guard Chris Jones (178-1991, college: Louisville, agency: Haylett Sports) added 8 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists respectively for lost side. Five Jets and four Whai 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. Jets have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Loser Tauranga dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Hawks and Tuatara. Jets will meet at home bottom-ranked Panthers (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Whai will play against Airs (#5) in New Plymouth and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Jets: M.Gibson 30+3reb, C.Webster 24+6reb+8ast, I.Miller-Jose 22+7reb+3ast, D.Russo-Nance 13+3reb+7ast, K.Goins 10+9reb+1ast, E.Williams Jr. 4+3reb+1ast
Whai: K.Perrott-Hunt 18+5reb+1ast, J.Bezzant 16+3reb+3ast, D.Brooke 15+6reb, S.Bairstow 15+4reb, C.Jones 8+5reb+10ast, T.Zanna 6+8reb