NBL Round 24 (Regular Season): Rams are defeated by Airs

There will be only one (last) round of the Regular Season in NBL. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Christchurch between second ranked Rams (14-5) and fifth ranked Airs (11-8) on Sunday night. Rams were defeated by Airs in a tough game at home 89-98. Airs shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 58.1 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Australian-German forward Craig Moller (203-1994) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists and Australian guard Deng Dut (193, college: DBU) who added 25 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was Australian guard Sean Macdonald (188-2000) with 27 points and 6 assists. Airs moved-up to fourth place. Rams lost third consecutive game. Defending champion keep the second position with five games lost. Airs are looking forward to face Nuggets (#11) in Dunedin in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Rams will play at home against Bulls (#6) and are hoping to win this game.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Wellington. First ranked host Saints (16-4) defeated second-best Rams (14-5) 90-84. The winners were led by international guard Izayah Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) who scored that evening 32 points and 5 steals and Nick Marshall supported him with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Even a double-double of 24 points and 11 assists by Australian guard Sean Macdonald (188-2000) did not help to save the game for Rams. Saints have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-4 record. Rams lost third consecutive game. Defending champion keep the second place with five games lost. Saints will play against league's leader Panthers in Auckland in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Rams will play at home against Bulls and hope to get back on the winning track.
Jets (#5) were upset in Tauranga by eighth ranked Whai 103-93. The best player for the winners was Sean Murphy who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Quinton Rose who recorded 40 points (!!!) and 9 steals (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Jets' coach Tony Webster rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Whai maintains eighth position with 10-11 record. Jets lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with ten games lost. Whai will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Jets will play against Nuggets (#11) and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 24 Whai lost to Sharks on the opponent's court 88-98. Giants unfortunately lost to Sharks in a home game 87-91.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 30 points and 7 rebounds by Andrew Jones of Giants.



Rams - Airs 89-98

The most important game in the last round took place in Christchurch between second ranked Rams (14-5) and fifth ranked Airs (11-8) on Sunday night. Rams were defeated by Airs in a tough game at home 89-98. Airs shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 58.1 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Australian-German forward Craig Moller (203-1994) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists and Australian guard Deng Dut (193, college: DBU) who added 25 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was Australian guard Sean Macdonald (188-2000) with 27 points and 6 assists and Australian forward Kyle Bowen (203-2000, college: SMC) scored 12 points and 7 rebounds. Four Rams players scored in double figures. Airs moved-up to fourth place. Rams lost third consecutive game. Defending champion keep the second position with five games lost. Airs are looking forward to face Nuggets (#11) in Dunedin in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Rams will play at home against Bulls (#6) and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Rams: S.Macdonald 27+2reb+6ast, W.Brown 15+3reb+3ast, M.Darling 13+6reb+1ast, K.Bowen 12+7reb+3ast, T.Smith-Milner 9+8reb+2ast, C.Penha 7+1reb+1ast
Airs: C.Moller 27+11reb+7ast, D.Dut 25+1reb+4ast, C.Davison 14+6reb+8ast, A.Fletcher 8+2reb+2ast, J.Gerrand 8+1reb+3ast, D.Kelman-Poto 8+4reb+1ast

Sharks - Whai 98-88

Very expected game in Southland where 8th ranked Tauranga (10-11) was defeated by third ranked Sharks (12-8) 98-88 on Sunday. Sharks outrebounded Whai 39-22 including a 32-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Sharks shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 59.1 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Keylan Boone (203-2000, college: UNLV) who scored 29 points and 6 rebounds. The other American import forward Josiah Allick (203-2001, college: Nebraska) chipped in a double-double by scoring 20 points and 13 rebounds. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. Sharks' coach Jonathan Yim used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was naturalized American swingman Mojave King (196-2002) who recorded 43 points (!!!) and 6 rebounds and the former international guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt (191-2000, college: S.Dakota) added 17 points respectively. Sharks have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 12-8 record having four points less than leader Panthers. Whai at the other side keeps the eighth place with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Whai: M.King 43+6reb+3ast, K.Perrott-Hunt 17+2reb+3ast, S.Bairstow 10+3reb+6ast, A.Rissetto 8+3reb+1ast, S.Murphy 5+3reb+2ast, J.Bezzant 3+3reb+2ast
Sharks: K.Boone 29+6reb, J.Allick 20+13reb+1ast, S.Timmins 19+6reb+8ast, T.Cooper 11+2reb+3ast, C.Asberry 11+3reb+13ast, B.Inger 4+4reb+1ast

Saints - Rams 90-84

The game between Top Four teams took place in Wellington. First ranked host Saints (16-4) defeated second-best Rams (14-5) 90-84. The winners were led by international guard Izayah Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) who scored that evening 32 points and 5 steals and Australian swingman Nick Marshall (198-1999, college: Clarke) supported him with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Even a double-double of 24 points and 11 assists by Australian guard Sean Macdonald (188-2000) did not help to save the game for Rams. The former international forward Tohi Smith-Milner (205-1995, college: Polk State CC) added 13 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Saints and five Rams players scored in double figures. Saints have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-4 record. Rams lost third consecutive game. Defending champion keep the second place with five games lost. Saints will play against league's leader Panthers in Auckland in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Rams will play at home against Bulls and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Rams: S.Macdonald 24+3reb+11ast, W.Brown 14+9reb+1ast, K.Isaac 13+3reb+2ast, T.Smith-Milner 13+11reb+4ast, C.Penha 10+2reb, K.Bowen 5+2reb+3ast
Saints: I.Le'afa 32+4reb+3ast, H.Harris 15+12reb+3ast, N.Marshall 15+10reb+5ast, J.Ngatai 11+2reb+3ast, N.Muszynski 8+6reb+3ast, S.Gold 6+4reb

Whai - Jets 103-93

Jets (#5) were upset in Tauranga by eighth ranked Whai 103-93. Tauranga made 21-of-27 free shots (77.8 percent) during the game. Tauranga had a 38-24 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The best player for the winners was forward Sean Murphy (198-2002, college: LCU) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds. Naturalized American swingman Mojave King (196-2002) chipped in 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Five Tauranga players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Quinton Rose (203-1998, college: Temple) who recorded 40 points (!!!) and 9 steals (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) and his fellow American import forward Miles Gibson (198-1998, college: Binghamton) added 25 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists respectively. Jets' coach Tony Webster rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Whai maintains eighth position with 10-11 record. Jets lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with ten games lost. Whai will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Jets will play against Nuggets (#11) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Jets: Q.Rose 40+4reb+3ast, M.Gibson 25+9reb+6ast, T.Thata-Paese 8+1reb+2ast, I.Miller-Jose 7+3reb+2ast, K.Goins 7+9reb+3ast, D.Russo-Nance 3+1reb+1ast
Whai: M.King 23+7reb+5ast, S.Murphy 21+12reb+2ast, S.Bairstow 20+6reb+8ast, K.Perrott-Hunt 18+4reb+7ast, A.Rissetto 14+8reb+2ast, J.Bezzant 5+3reb+3ast

Giants - Sharks 87-91

Very predictable result in Nelson where third ranked Sharks (12-8) defeated 10th ranked Giants (8-11) 91-87 on Thursday. Sharks outrebounded Giants 43-28 including a 32-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was forward Josiah Allick (203-2001, college: Nebraska) who had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Caleb Asberry (191-2000, college: OK State) chipped in 14 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Andrew Jones (193-1997, college: Texas) who recorded 30 points and 7 rebounds and power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) added 26 points and 5 steals respectively. Sharks have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 12-8 record having four points less than leader Panthers. Giants at the other side keep the tenth place with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Giants: A.Jones 30+7reb+2ast, J.Combs 26+3reb+3ast, A.Robinson 23+2reb+6ast, C.McRae 4+7reb+4ast, J.Matthews 2+2reb, A.McNaught 2+1reb+2ast
Sharks: K.Boone 25+3reb, J.Allick 19+14reb+1ast, T.Cooper 15+1reb+3ast, C.Asberry 14+8reb+8ast, S.Timmins 10+8reb+1ast, W.Leger 4+3reb+1ast