NBL Round 7 (Regular Season): Rams lose to Bulls

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Round 7 most important game was a defeat of league's leader Rams (4-2). They were defeated by fourth ranked Bulls (5-2) 103-94 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Rams. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Bulls made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Bulls made 7 blocks. It was a great evening for American guard Tae Hardy (190-1998, college: UTEP) who led his team to a victory scoring 30 points and 6 assists. The former international guard Tobias Cameron (196-1999, college: ACU) helped adding 19 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Bulls' coach Sebastian Gleim used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side the former international forward Tohi Smith-Milner (205-1995, college: Polk State CC) responded with 23 points and 6 rebounds. Bulls keep a position of league leader, which they share with Saints. Defending champion Rams dropped to the third place with two games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams. They were replaced at the leadership position by Saints. Rams will play next round against Jets trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Bulls 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 Palmerston North. Sixth ranked Saints (5-2) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging their close opponent Jets (3-3) 93-92 on Sunday evening. It was an exceptional evening for the former international forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 17 rebounds and 9 assists. Nick Muszynski accounted for 18 points and 10 rebounds. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) came up with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for Jets in the defeat. Saints have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Bulls. Jets at the other side dropped to the seventh place with three games lost. They share the position with Nuggets and Tuatara. Saints will play against Nuggets (#8) in Dunedin in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Jets will play at home against Airs and hope to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Panthers (0-6) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their sixth consecutive match to tenth ranked Sharks (2-5) 96-79 on Sunday evening. Caleb Asberry fired a double-double by scoring 18 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists for the winners. Aaron Blessen produced 24 points for lost side. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Sharks maintains tenth place with 2-5 record. Newly promoted Panthers still closes the standings with six games lost. Sharks will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Panthers' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Auckland to the arena Tuatara.

In the last two games of round 7 Tuatara won against Nuggets on the opponent's court 97-94. Sharks were outscored by Saints in a home game 72-93.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 20 points and 12 rebounds by Keylan Boone of Sharks.



Nuggets - Tuatara 94-97

There was a minor upset in Dunedin where 6th ranked Nuggets (3-3) were edged by ninth ranked Tuatara (3-3) 97-94 on Sunday. Tuatara looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Australian guard William Hickey (194-1999) fired a triple-double by scoring 31 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the winners. The former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) chipped in 27 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. American guard Donald Carey (196-1999, college: Maryland) produced 29 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and Dominican forward Jose Perez (196-1998, college: Arizona St.) added 24 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Tuatara have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Jets and Nuggets. Tuatara will meet at home higher ranked Hawks (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Nuggets will play against the league's leader Saints having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: D.Carey 29+6reb+6ast, J.Perez 24+8reb+3ast, J.Janssen 14+4reb, J.Sebree 13+12reb+2ast, M.Bardsley 5+2reb+1ast, P.Freeman 3
Tuatara: W.Hickey 31+11reb+10ast, R.Loe 27+7reb+5ast, B.Tuach 16+5reb+2ast, T.Vodanovich 10+4reb+3ast, C.Pride 8+10reb+1ast, K.Ioane 2+2reb

Jets - Saints 92-93

Important game to mention about took place in Palmerston North. Sixth ranked Saints (5-2) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging their close opponent Jets (3-3) 93-92 on Sunday evening. Saints players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. It was an exceptional evening for the former international forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 17 rebounds and 9 assists. American center Nick Muszynski (211-1998, college: Belmont) accounted for 18 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) came up with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and American forward Miles Gibson (198-1998, college: Binghamton) added 21 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Jets in the defeat. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Saints have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Bulls. Jets at the other side dropped to the seventh place with three games lost. They share the position with Nuggets and Tuatara. Saints will play against Nuggets (#8) in Dunedin in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Jets will play at home against Airs and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Jets: C.Webster 22+6reb+6ast, M.Gibson 21+8reb+1ast, D.Russo-Nance 17+2reb+4ast, E.Williams Jr. 16+6reb+5ast, K.Goins 12+5reb+2ast, T.Matambanadzo 2+1reb
Saints: I.Le'afa 20+4reb+4ast, N.Muszynski 18+10reb+2ast, H.Harris 17+17reb+9ast, S.Bruce 17+3reb+8ast, N.Marshall 15+4reb+1ast, R.Dougall-Mita 6

Panthers - Sharks 79-96

Bottom-ranked Panthers (0-6) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their sixth consecutive match to tenth ranked Sharks (2-5) 96-79 on Sunday evening. Sharks had a 33-22 advantage in offensive rebounds. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. Sharks looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Panthers' players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Sharks made 9 blocks. American guard Caleb Asberry (191-2000, college: OK State) fired a double-double by scoring 18 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists for the winners. His fellow American import forward Keylan Boone (203-2000, college: UNLV, agency: Interperformances) chipped in a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. Indian forward Aaron Blessen (192-2002) produced 24 points and point guard Jaylen Gerrand (183-1996, college: Umpqua CC) added 22 points respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Sharks maintains tenth place with 2-5 record. Newly promoted Panthers still closes the standings with six games lost. Sharks will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Panthers' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Auckland to the arena Tuatara.
Top scorers:
Panthers: A.Blessen 24+3reb, J.Gerrand 22+2reb+2ast, T.Singh 17+2ast, Z.Te Puni 9+4reb+1ast, R.Laumatia 4+2reb, D.Matakatea 2+3reb
Sharks: K.Boone 24+12reb, J.Allick 21+12reb+1ast, C.Asberry 18+5reb+13ast, J.Helu 14+5reb+3ast, A.Burton 12+4reb+5ast, T.Cooper 4+2reb+2ast

Bulls - Rams 103-94

Round 7 most important game was a defeat of league's leader Rams (4-2). They were defeated by fourth ranked Bulls (5-2) 103-94 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Rams. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Bulls made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Bulls made 7 blocks. It was a great evening for American guard Tae Hardy (190-1998, college: UTEP) who led his team to a victory scoring 30 points and 6 assists. The former international guard Tobias Cameron (196-1999, college: ACU) helped adding 19 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Bulls' coach Sebastian Gleim used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side the former international forward Tohi Smith-Milner (205-1995, college: Polk State CC) responded with 23 points and 6 rebounds and American forward CJ Penha (202-2000, college: Boston Coll.) produced a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Bulls keep a position of league leader, which they share with Saints. Defending champion Rams dropped to the third place with two games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams. They were replaced at the leadership position by Saints. Rams will play next round against Jets trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Bulls will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game.
Top scorers:
Rams: T.Smith-Milner 23+6reb+1ast, T.Britt 19+2reb+4ast, C.Penha 18+10reb+1ast, W.Brown 15+10reb+1ast, K.Bowen 8+4reb+3ast, K.Isaac 7+1reb
Bulls: T.Hardy 30+4reb+6ast, F.Cameron 19+4reb+2ast, E.Rusbatch 19+1reb+3ast, T.Cameron 19+9reb+4ast, D.Okwera 6+9reb+2ast, M.Jones 5+1reb+1ast

Sharks - Saints 72-93

Rather predictable result in Southland where sixth ranked Saints (5-2) smashed 10th ranked Sharks (2-5) 93-72 on Thursday. Saints dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Sharks' 28. They outrebounded Sharks 52-33 including a 37-26 advantage in defensive rebounds. Saints looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American center Nick Muszynski (211-1998, college: Belmont) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Australian guard Shaun Bruce (192-1991) chipped in 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Five Saints players scored in double figures. American forward Keylan Boone (203-2000, college: UNLV, agency: Interperformances) produced a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds and the other American import guard Caleb Asberry (191-2000, college: OK State) added 12 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals respectively for lost side. 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 have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Bulls. Loser Sharks keep the tenth place with five games lost. Saints will meet Nuggets (#8) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Sharks will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Sharks: K.Boone 20+12reb+3ast, T.Cooper 19+5reb, C.Asberry 12+6reb+8ast, J.Helu 7+2reb+3ast, A.Burton 5+3ast, H.Collier 5+3reb
Saints: N.Muszynski 19+12reb, S.Bruce 17+7reb+5ast, S.Ili 13+5reb+10ast, I.Le'afa 13+6reb+4ast, N.Marshall 13+9reb, H.Harris 8+9reb+2ast