NBL Round 16 (Regular Season): Rams defeat Giants in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Tenth-ranked Giants (3-10) gave a tough game to first ranked Rams (10-2) in Nelson on Saturday. The visitors from Christchurch managed to secure only two-point victory 89-87. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Giants. Rams looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward CJ Penha (202-2000, college: Boston Coll.) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds and Australian guard Sean Macdonald (188-2000) who added 18 points and 6 assists during the contest. At the losing side American point guard Alex Robinson (185-1995, college: TCU) responded with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Rams have an impressive six-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 10-2 record. Giants at the other side keep the tenth place with ten games lost. Rams are looking forward to face Hawks (#4) in Tamatea in the next round. Giants will have a break next round.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Saints (10-4) against ninth ranked Tauranga (6-7) on Friday night. Visiting Saints were defeated by Tauranga in a tough game in Tauranga 78-82. The winners were led by naturalized American swingman Mojave King (196-2002) who scored that evening 29 points and 6 rebounds and Kruz Perrott-Hunt supported him with 14 points and 4 assists. Even a double-double of 22 points, 18 rebounds and 5 blocks by American center Nick Muszynski (211-1998, college: Belmont) did not help to save the game for Saints. Whai moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Sharks and Tuatara. Saints at the other side keep the second position with four games lost. Whai will play against higher ranked Bulls (#6) in Pukekohe in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Saints will play at home against Nuggets (#11) and hope to get back on the winning track.
The game in Palmerston North was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Bulls (8-6) played at the court of sixth ranked Jets (9-5). Jets managed to secure a 5-point victory 92-87 on Sunday. Quinton Rose fired 26 points, 5 assists and 7 steals for the winners. Tae Hardy produced 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for lost side. Jets moved-up to third place. Bulls lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. Jets will meet at home Sharks (#8) in the next round where they are favorite. Bulls will play against Whai in Tauranga and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 16 Hawks won against Nuggets on the opponent's court 98-92. Tuatara unfortunately lost to Saints in a home game 83-90.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 25 points and 11 rebounds by Nick Marshall of Saints.



Whai - Saints 82-78

Very important is a road loss of second ranked Saints (10-4) against ninth ranked Tauranga (6-7) on Friday night. Visiting Saints were defeated by Tauranga in a tough game in Tauranga 78-82. Tauranga brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. The winners were led by naturalized American swingman Mojave King (196-2002) who scored that evening 29 points and 6 rebounds and the former international guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt (191-2000, college: S.Dakota) supported him with 14 points and 4 assists. Even a double-double of 22 points, 18 rebounds and 5 blocks by American center Nick Muszynski (211-1998, college: Belmont) did not help to save the game for Saints. International guard Izayah Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) added 17 points and 11 assists for lost side. Five Saints players scored in double figures. Whai moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Sharks and Tuatara. Saints at the other side keep the second position with four games lost. Whai will play against higher ranked Bulls (#6) in Pukekohe in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Saints will play at home against Nuggets (#11) and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Saints: N.Muszynski 22+18reb+2ast, I.Le'afa 17+3reb+11ast, N.Marshall 15+8reb+3ast, H.Harris 11+8reb+4ast, J.Ngatai 10+2reb+1ast, R.Dougall-Mita 3
Whai: M.King 29+6reb+3ast, K.Perrott-Hunt 14+2reb+4ast, J.Bezzant 12+1reb+1ast, S.Bairstow 8+5reb+3ast, A.Rissetto 6+6reb+2ast, C.Hopoi 5+4reb+1ast

Giants - Rams 87-89

Tenth-ranked Giants (3-10) gave a tough game to first ranked Rams (10-2) in Nelson on Saturday. The visitors from Christchurch managed to secure only two-point victory 89-87. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Giants. Rams looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward CJ Penha (202-2000, college: Boston Coll.) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds and Australian guard Sean Macdonald (188-2000) who added 18 points and 6 assists during the contest. At the losing side American point guard Alex Robinson (185-1995, college: TCU) responded with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals and center Callum McRae (216-1999, college: Sacramento St.) scored 14 points and 9 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Rams have an impressive six-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 10-2 record. Giants at the other side keep the tenth place with ten games lost. Rams are looking forward to face Hawks (#4) in Tamatea in the next round. Giants will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Giants: A.Robinson 22+5reb+5ast, C.McRae 14+9reb+3ast, J.Combs 12+2reb+5ast, A.Jones 10+4reb+5ast, L.Judd 9+2reb, L.Crate 8+2reb
Rams: S.Macdonald 18+1reb+6ast, C.Penha 16+14reb+1ast, W.Brown 15+2reb+1ast, T.Britt 12+4reb+5ast, T.Smith-Milner 12+3reb+1ast, K.Bowen 9+6reb+3ast

Nuggets - Hawks 92-98

Very expected game in Dunedin where 11th ranked Nuggets (3-11) were defeated by sixth ranked Hawks (9-6) 98-92 on Saturday. Australian swingman Daniel Grida (195-1998) fired 20 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Naturalized Australian power forward Luca Yates (208-2004, college: Barry) chipped in 19 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Five Hawks players scored in double figures. The former international Jonathan Janssen (205-1995, college: HPU) produced a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds and American forward Jaylen Sebree (201-1997, college: Tenn Tech) added 29 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Nuggets' coach Mike Kelly rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Hawks moved-up to fourth place. Nuggets lost ninth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 11 games lost. Hawks will meet league's leader Rams in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Nuggets will play against the league's second-placed Saints (#2) in Wellington and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: J.Janssen 33+11reb, J.Sebree 29+9reb+2ast, D.Carey 21+3reb+6ast, P.Freeman 5, J.Aitcheson 2+3reb+1ast, M.Bardsley 2+1reb+1ast
Hawks: J.Ball 20+2reb+3ast, D.Grida 20+9reb+3ast, L.Yates 19+9reb+4ast, C.Scott 18+1reb, W.Swaka 18+6reb, K.Kara 2+3reb+1ast

Jets - Bulls 92-87

The game in Palmerston North was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Bulls (8-6) played at the court of sixth ranked Jets (9-5). Jets managed to secure a 5-point victory 92-87 on Sunday. Jets forced 21 Bulls turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American guard Quinton Rose (203-1998, college: Temple) fired 26 points, 5 assists and 7 steals for the winners. The other American import forward Miles Gibson (198-1998, college: Binghamton) chipped in 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. American guard Tae Hardy (190-1998, college: UTEP) produced 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international swingman Ethan Rusbatch (196-1992, college: Lincoln Trail) added 17 points respectively for lost side. Four Jets and five Bulls players scored in double figures. Jets moved-up to third place. Bulls lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. Jets will meet at home Sharks (#8) in the next round where they are favorite. Bulls will play against Whai in Tauranga and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Bulls: T.Hardy 25+5reb+5ast, E.Rusbatch 17+3reb+3ast, D.Okwera 13+5reb+5ast, T.Gloger 12+6reb+2ast, T.Cameron 10+2reb, M.Jones 5+4reb+2ast
Jets: Q.Rose 26+4reb+5ast, M.Gibson 21+6reb+4ast, K.Goins 19+3reb+5ast, D.Russo-Nance 13+6reb+3ast, I.Miller-Jose 6+9reb+4ast, K.Te Huki 5+2reb

Tuatara - Saints 83-90

Very predictable result in Auckland where second ranked Saints (10-4) defeated 7th ranked Tuatara (6-7) 90-83 on Sunday. Australian swingman Nick Marshall (198-1999, college: Clarke) fired a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. International guard Izayah Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) chipped in 24 points and 8 assists. The former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and American swingman Buay Tuach (198-1995, college: LMU, agency: Haylett Sports) added 18 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Saints maintains second position with 10-4 record having just two point less than leader Rams. Loser Tuatara keeps the seventh place with seven games lost. They share the position with Sharks and Whai. Saints will meet at home Nuggets (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Tuatara will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Tuatara: B.Tuach 18+8reb+2ast, R.Loe 16+11reb+4ast, T.Vodanovich 15+4reb, L.Muhammad 13+4ast, C.Pride 10+8reb+2ast, Z.Riley 5+7reb+5ast
Saints: N.Marshall 25+11reb+2ast, I.Le'afa 24+3reb+8ast, N.Muszynski 16+6reb+2ast, J.Ngatai 11+7reb+3ast, H.Harris 10+8reb+3ast, S.Gold 4+3reb