SOUTHLAND Sharks and Canterbury Rams came away the winners in last night’s New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) contests, holding off Manawatu Jets and Hawkes Bay Hawks respectively to post victories. In what were relatively even contests, the Rams came from behind at the final break to overcome the Hawks, while the Sharks took control early and maintained that advantage in the second half to win by 12 points.

In the Rams-Hawks game, it was Canterbury that burst out of the blocks with a 27-17 first term to open up a double-digit advantage at quarter time. The Hawks started clawing their way back into the contest by cutting the deficit back to eight at the main break, before a dominant third stanza of 23-13 swung the momentum in their favour. With the lead now two points to the visiting team, the Rams needed something special, and they pulled it out with a 25-15 final term to run out 87-79 winners.

While the Hawks were more efficient from their shooting (41 to 38 per cent from the field and particularly 54 to 43 per cent from inside the arc), the Rams lead most key statistics. Canterbury finished ahead in the rebounds (51-41), steals (9-5), points in the paint (42-30) and bench points (22-9), with less turnovers (12-18) leading to more points from turnovers (20-14). The Hawks won the assists (19-15) and were the only team to produce any blocks (8-0).

Deshon Taylor was outstanding with 33 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals in a double-double performance for the Rams. EJ Singler had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Quintin Bailey (10 points, seven rebounds) and Ben Constable (10 points, six rebounds) were also busy.

For the Hawks it was a triple threat of Ethan Rusbatsch (23 points, three rebounds and two assists), Devondrick Walker (18 points, five rebounds and two assists) and Rhys Vague (14 points, eight rebounds and three assists), while Jonathan Janssen (nine points, nine rebounds and five blocks) was prolific off the bench in the defeat.

Southland Sharks won three of the four quarters against Manawatu Jets to post a 12-point victory over their opponents at the Fly Palmy Central Energy Trust Arena. The Sharks got out to a two-point quarter time lead and extended that to nine by half-time, before the Jets managed to cut it back by one to remain in the contest at the last change. Southland steadied in the final term to post 26-22 and record a 100-88 victory.

The Sharks were deadly from long-range with a 45 per cent to 28 per cent shooting efficiency outside the arc, for an overall 48 to 46 per cent from the field. They led the steals (7-5) and second chance points (16-11), with less turnovers (8-14) allowing them to have more points from turnovers (18-10). The Jets had more rebounds (43-37), assists (16-12) and blocks (3-0).

Alonzo Burton put up 27 points, four rebounds and two steals for the winners, shooting six of 11 from long-ranger in the process. Dom Kelman-Poto (14 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals), Courtney Belger (15 points, seven rebounds and five assists) and Brayden Inger (19 points, three assists were all lively.

Daishon Knight picked up a team-high 22 points, as well as three assists and two rebounds for the Jets, while Deandre Daniels was the star with a double-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Shane Temara (20 points, eight rebounds and three assists) was not too far behind, while Jayden Bezzant managed the 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.

The Manawatu Jets are the first of the four sides to play again with a huge clash on June 3, with the Southland Sharks hosting Wellington Saints, and Hawkes Bay Hawks taking on Franklin Bulls on June 4. A day later, the Canterbury Rams host the Saints in a huge clash for the Rams.

Picture credit: PhotosportNZ via NZNBL