MELO Trimble continues to struggle from the field, but his teammate, Devon Hall is improving. Brian Bowen, Harry Froling, Daniel Grida and Rhys Vague have also shown promising signs, while Wani Swaka Lo Buluk impressed in his Wildcats debut.

#1 Melo Trimble – Cairns Taipans 

Trimble had his worst output against Perth this round, staying in single figures for points scored for the first time this season, scoring eight as he went 22.2 per cent from the field. Adding four rebounds and two assists was never going to help the Taipans against the top team though. A few nights earlier, Trimble knocked down the baskets, collecting 19 points. But his conversion of 25 per cent is worrying. He did his work across the other side of the court too, bringing down three rebounds, one steal and two blocks, along with five assists.

#5 Devon Hall – Cairns Taipans 

The starting forward for Cairns produced a quality game against fellow bottom-two team, Illawarra. Hall threw up 15 points (including four threes) but it could have been so much better, shooting at 36.4 per cent. His height gave him the wood over the Hawks’ offence, one rebound short of a double-figure tally, but it was his best output this season. He added four assists to his game too, and contributed with three steals and a block, but it still wasn’t enough for the Taipans. Against Perth, Hall had nine points (shooting a season high 50 per cent) and four rebounds.

#9 Wani Swaka Lo Buluk – Perth Wildcats 

Swaka Lo Buluk made his debut in the red against Cairns, after joining the Wildcats as a development player last week. Thrown onto the big stage, captain, Damian Martin made a final play call involving the 17 year-old, where the youngster converted a layup, and the crowd went crazy. It was a special one and a half minutes, and with no idea of how much more he could play in a perfect Perth outfit, he seems to have the support of his teammates.

#11 Harry Froling – Adelaide 36ers 

Froling is really making an impact for the 36ers coming off the bench, and it was no different on Sunday. Coming up against the Hawks for the second time in as many rounds, Froling was perfect from the field in getting his five points. He contributed towards six rebounds, splitting them between each end of the court, and assisted on a basket.

#11 Daniel Grida – Illawarra Hawks 

Grida is making his opportunities count, especially on the scoreboard. He is also converting well lately. Against Cairns, he scored five points at an 100 per cent scoring rate, as he shot a two and a three. Against Adelaide, Grida missed one attempt, but still nailed three for eight points, which included a trip to the line for one. He had two rebounds and a steal against the 36ers in a game that went down the wire.

#20 Brian Bowen – Sydney Kings 

Bowen had a double-header this weekend, coming up against Perth on Thursday and the Breakers on Sunday. He played fewer minutes than he had the previous fortnight, which impacted his output, netting two points from free throws in the first game, with two rebounds. His second match produced a better stats line, which read four points, seven rebounds (a season-high) and one assist.

#25 Rhys Vague – Perth Wildcats 

Another player who didn’t receive much court time, Vague couldn’t make much of a dent against the Kings, collecting only two rebounds. Against Cairns on Sunday, he was better, and in just under six minutes, he had five points, including taking two trips to the line. He doubled his rebounds tally from the game before, with three of them coming defensively.