NBL Round 12 (Regular Season): Saints lose to Hawks

What a coincidence that all visitors won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Wellington between second ranked Saints (7-3) and seventh ranked Hawks (6-5) on Sunday night. Saints were defeated by Hawks at home 75-87. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Saints. Hawks made 24-of-27 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. It was a good game for naturalized Australian power forward Luca Yates (208-2004, college: Barry) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 20 rebounds and 6 assists. South Sudanese-Australian guard Wani Swaka (198-2001) contributed with 24 points and 7 rebounds (went 10 for 10 at the free throw line !!!) for the winners. Australian swingman Nick Marshall (198-1999, college: Clarke) replied with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 14 rebounds for Saints. Hawks moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Tuatara. Saints at the other side keep the second position with three games lost. They share it with Bulls. Hawks is looking forward to face Whai (#9) in Tauranga in the next round. Saints will play on the road against Airs (#5) in New Plymouth and are hoping to win this game.
Giants' fans can finally celebrate the first win of their team after eight consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in Dunedin, where they defeated Nuggets (3-8) 98-86. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and Callum McRae who added 18 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was Dominican forward Jose Perez (196-1998, college: Arizona St.) with a double-double by scoring 32 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Nuggets' coach Mike Kelly rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Giants maintains eleventh position with 1-8 record. It was Nuggets' sixth loss in a row. They keep the tenth place with eight games lost. Giants will play against higher ranked Jets (#4) in Palmerston North in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Nuggets will play on the road against Bulls (#3) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.




Saints - Hawks 75-87

The most important game in the last round took place in Wellington between second ranked Saints (7-3) and seventh ranked Hawks (6-5) on Sunday night. Saints were defeated by Hawks at home 75-87. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Saints. Hawks made 24-of-27 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. It was a good game for naturalized Australian power forward Luca Yates (208-2004, college: Barry) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 20 rebounds and 6 assists. South Sudanese-Australian guard Wani Swaka (198-2001) contributed with 24 points and 7 rebounds (went 10 for 10 at the free throw line !!!) for the winners. Australian swingman Nick Marshall (198-1999, college: Clarke) replied with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 14 rebounds and the former international guard Shea Ili (184-1992) added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Saints. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Hawks moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Tuatara. Saints at the other side keep the second position with three games lost. They share it with Bulls. Hawks is looking forward to face Whai (#9) in Tauranga in the next round. Saints will play on the road against Airs (#5) in New Plymouth and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Saints: N.Marshall 26+14reb+3ast, S.Ili 17+8reb+4ast, I.Le'afa 10+1reb+4ast, H.Harris 10+11reb+4ast, N.Muszynski 7+3reb, R.Dougall-Mita 5+2reb
Hawks: W.Swaka 24+7reb+1ast, C.Scott 16+4reb+2ast, L.Yates 14+20reb+6ast, J.Ball 13+1reb+5ast, J.Murphy 8+3reb+2ast, K.Kara 7+7reb+1ast

Nuggets - Giants 86-98

Giants' fans can finally celebrate the first win of their team after eight consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in Dunedin, where they defeated Nuggets (3-8) 98-86. Giants players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and center Callum McRae (216-1999, college: Sacramento St.) who added 18 points during the contest. Five Giants players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Dominican forward Jose Perez (196-1998, college: Arizona St.) with a double-double by scoring 32 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international Jonathan Janssen (205-1995, college: HPU) scored 16 points and 6 rebounds. Nuggets' coach Mike Kelly rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Giants maintains eleventh position with 1-8 record. It was Nuggets' sixth loss in a row. They keep the tenth place with eight games lost. Giants will play against higher ranked Jets (#4) in Palmerston North in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Nuggets will play on the road against Bulls (#3) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: J.Perez 32+11reb+4ast, J.Janssen 16+6reb, D.Carey 14+3reb+4ast, M.Stodart 8+4reb, J.Sebree 7+4reb+2ast, C.Martin 5+4reb+2ast
Giants: J.Combs 25+11reb+5ast, C.McRae 18+4reb+2ast, S.Dempster 16+5reb, D.Robinson 14+3reb+7ast, L.Judd 11+6reb+1ast, H.Jones 8+4reb+1ast