NBL Round 13 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game in New Plymouth was quite interesting. Third ranked Saints (8-3) played at the court of 6th ranked Airs (6-4). Saints defeated Airs 84-72 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Airs. They outrebounded Airs 47-33 including a 36-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Saints made 8 blocks. The former international forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and international guard Izayah Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) chipped in 22 points and 5 assists. At the losing side power forward Jack Andrew (208-2001) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds. Saints moved-up to second place, which they share with Bulls. Airs at the other side keep the sixth position with four games lost. Saints is looking forward to face Jets (#4) in Palmerston North in the next round. Airs will play on the road against Whai in Tauranga and are hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
The game in Southland supposed to be also worth to mention about. Third ranked Rams (8-2) played at the court of 8th ranked Sharks (5-6). Rams smashed Sharks 128-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Sharks. International forward Walter Brown (194-2003) nailed 25 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and Kaia Isaac accounted for 24 points and 5 rebounds. American guard Caleb Asberry (191-2000, college: OK State) came up with 25 points for Sharks in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Rams have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader. Sharks at the other side keep the eighth place with six games lost. They share the position with Whai. Rams will play against Tuatara (#7) in Auckland in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Sharks will play at home against Panthers and hope to get back on the winning track.
A very close game took place in Tamatea between Hawks and Tauranga. Seventh ranked Hawks (7-5) got a very close home victory over 9th ranked Tauranga (5-6). Hawks managed to escape with a 1-point win 88-87 on Thursday evening. Jackson Ball fired 33 points (!!!) (made all of his eleven free throws !!!) for the winners. Carter Hopoi produced 24 points and 5 rebounds for lost side. Hawks moved-up to fifth place. Whai lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with six games lost. They share it with Sharks. Hawks will meet at home Giants (#11) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Whai will play against Airs and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 13: Nuggets lost to Tuatara on the opponent's court 73-83. Bulls managed to outperform Nuggets in a home game 95-87. Giants recorded a loss to Jets on the road 112-104.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 33 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 4 assists by Jeremy Combs of Giants.



Tuatara - Nuggets 83-73

Rather expected game in Auckland where 10th ranked Nuggets (3-9) were defeated by seventh ranked Tuatara (6-5) 83-73 on Wednesday. Tuatara outrebounded Nuggets 50-38 including 36 on the defensive glass. Australian guard William Hickey (194-1999) fired 25 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. American guard Charles Pride (193-1999, college: St.Bonaventure) chipped in a double-double by scoring 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. American guard Donald Carey (196-1999, college: Maryland) produced 24 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists and the former international Jonathan Janssen (205-1995, college: HPU) added 14 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Tuatara maintains seventh place with 6-5 record. Nuggets lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with nine games lost. Tuatara will meet league's leader Rams in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Nuggets will play against Panthers (#12) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Tuatara: W.Hickey 25+9reb+5ast, C.Pride 24+11reb+4ast, B.Tuach 22+6reb+3ast, N.Barrow 10+7reb, T.Vodanovich 2+9reb+2ast, N.Rasmussen 0
Nuggets: D.Carey 24+6reb+8ast, J.Sebree 17+4reb+2ast, J.Janssen 14+15reb+5ast, J.Perez 11+7reb+3ast, J.Aitcheson 4+2reb, D.Knox 3

Hawks - Whai 88-87

A very close game took place in Tamatea between Hawks and Tauranga. Seventh ranked Hawks (7-5) got a very close home victory over 9th ranked Tauranga (5-6). Hawks managed to escape with a 1-point win 88-87 on Thursday evening. Hawks made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. Hawks outrebounded Whai 45-29 including a 36-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. The former international guard Jackson Ball (191-2008) fired 33 points (!!!) (made all of his eleven free throws !!!) for the winners. Naturalized Australian power forward Luca Yates (208-2004, college: Barry) chipped in a double-double by scoring 10 points, 17 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international forward Carter Hopoi (207-2006) produced 24 points and 5 rebounds and the former international guard Jayden Bezzant (188-1996, college: NW Nazarene) added 21 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Five Whai players scored in double figures. Hawks moved-up to fifth place. Whai lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with six games lost. They share it with Sharks. Hawks will meet at home Giants (#11) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Whai will play against Airs and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Hawks: J.Ball 33+3reb+1ast, D.Grida 20+9reb+1ast, L.Yates 10+17reb+4ast, C.Scott 8+3reb+2ast, K.Kara 6+10reb+2ast, W.Swaka 6+3reb
Whai: C.Hopoi 24+5reb, J.Bezzant 21+3reb+4ast, C.Jones 17+2reb+2ast, S.Bairstow 10+6reb+7ast, K.Perrott-Hunt 10+2reb+3ast, J.Thompson 3+2reb

Bulls - Nuggets 95-87

Very predictable result in Pukekohe where third ranked Bulls (8-3) defeated 10th ranked Nuggets (3-9) 95-87 on Friday. Bulls shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 54.2 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American guard Tae Hardy (190-1998, college: UTEP) fired a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 10 assists for the winners. Naturalized American forward Marcel Jones (203-1985, college: Oregon St.) chipped in 17 points and 9 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). American guard Donald Carey (196-1999, college: Maryland) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals and Dominican forward Jose Perez (196-1998, college: Arizona St.) added 20 points and 6 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five Nuggets players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Bulls moved-up to second place, which they share with Saints. Nuggets lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with nine games lost. Bulls will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nuggets will play against Panthers (#12) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bulls: T.Hardy 35+7reb+10ast, T.Gloger 21+5reb, M.Jones 17+9reb+3ast, T.Cameron 9+3reb+2ast, E.Rusbatch 6+4reb+3ast, K.Nwafor 4
Nuggets: J.Perez 20+6reb+2ast, J.Sebree 16+6reb+4ast, D.Carey 15+5reb+10ast, J.Janssen 14+5reb, M.Bardsley 10+2reb, C.Smiler 7+3reb+1ast

Airs - Saints 72-84

The game in New Plymouth was quite interesting. Third ranked Saints (8-3) played at the court of 6th ranked Airs (6-4). Saints defeated Airs 84-72 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Airs. They outrebounded Airs 47-33 including a 36-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Saints made 8 blocks. The former international forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and international guard Izayah Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) chipped in 22 points and 5 assists. At the losing side power forward Jack Andrew (208-2001) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds and Australian guard Owen Foxwell (188-2003) scored 16 points and 4 assists. Five Saints and four Airs players scored in double figures. Saints moved-up to second place, which they share with Bulls. Airs at the other side keep the sixth position with four games lost. Saints is looking forward to face Jets (#4) in Palmerston North in the next round. Airs will play on the road against Whai in Tauranga and are hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
Top scorers:
Saints: I.Le'afa 22+2reb+5ast, S.Ili 20+4reb+3ast, H.Harris 14+16reb+6ast, N.Muszynski 14+9reb+1ast, N.Marshall 10+12reb+1ast, A.Pilcher 4+3reb+1ast
Airs: J.Andrew 23+14reb+3ast, O.Foxwell 16+4reb+4ast, C.Davison 14+4reb+5ast, H.Froling 10+4reb+2ast, S.Telfer 5+1reb+2ast, Q.Bailey 2

Sharks - Rams 79-128

The game in Southland supposed to be also worth to mention about. Third ranked Rams (8-2) played at the court of 8th ranked Sharks (5-6). Rams smashed Sharks 128-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Sharks. Rams made 19-of-22 charity shots (86.4 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Sharks 50-30 including a 39-26 advantage in defensive rebounds. Rams players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Sharks' players. International forward Walter Brown (194-2003) nailed 25 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and the former international guard Kaia Isaac (185-2003) accounted for 24 points and 5 rebounds. American guard Caleb Asberry (191-2000, college: OK State) came up with 25 points and the other American import forward Keylan Boone (203-2000, college: UNLV, agency: Interperformances) added 16 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Sharks in the defeat. Five Rams and four Sharks players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Rams have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader. Sharks at the other side keep the eighth place with six games lost. They share the position with Whai. Rams will play against Tuatara (#7) in Auckland in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Sharks will play at home against Panthers and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Rams: C.Penha 25+6reb, W.Brown 25+7reb+1ast, K.Isaac 24+5reb+3ast, S.Macdonald 21+4reb+3ast, T.Isaac 13+2reb+9ast, M.Darling 7+7reb+3ast
Sharks: C.Asberry 25+4reb+3ast, J.Allick 16+7reb+2ast, K.Boone 16+12reb+1ast, T.Cooper 12+3reb+2ast, A.Burton 5+1ast, J.Helu 3+3reb+3ast

Jets - Giants 112-104

Not a big story in a game in Palmerston North where 11th ranked Giants (1-9) were defeated by fourth ranked Jets (8-4) 112-104 on Sunday. Jets made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Forward Isaac Miller-Jose (203-1998, college: Manitoba) fired a double-double by scoring 25 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) chipped in 24 points and 8 assists. American power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) produced 33 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import guard Donald Robinson (192-1989, college: WVU Tech) added 23 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists respectively for lost side. Five Jets and four Giants players scored in double figures. Jets have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain fourth place with 8-4 record. Loser Giants keep the eleventh position with nine games lost. Jets will meet league's second-placed Saints in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Giants will play against Hawks (#5) in Tamatea and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Jets: I.Miller-Jose 25+13reb+1ast, C.Webster 24+3reb+8ast, M.Gibson 23+5reb+1ast, D.Russo-Nance 12+5reb+5ast, K.Goins 11+12reb+4ast, T.Thata-Paese 9+2ast
Giants: J.Combs 33+7reb+4ast, D.Robinson 23+6reb+7ast, L.Judd 19+4reb+2ast, C.McRae 10+12reb+2ast, H.Jones 9+6reb+2ast, A.Inwood 7+2reb+2ast