Saints, Hawks set tone
The Wellington Saints have made a flying start to the National Basketball League season.
After sitting out the sixweek NBL Showdown tournament in Auckland last year, the 2019 NBL champions have quickly demonstrated they will be the benchmark as usual in 2021.
Friday’s 105-73 thumping of the Southland Sharks lifted them to a perfect 3-0 record.
The Hawke’s Bay Hawks and Canterbury Rams received plenty of hype heading into the new season, but the Saints will take some stopping on this early evidence.
Selby shines
The Franklin Bulls have found a stud in Josh Selby.
American point guard Selby, who played 38 games in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies between 2011-2013, lit it up offensively as the Bulls toppled the winless Mountain Airs 101-85.
Selby caused chaos for Taranaki, torching them for 34 points on 13-20 shooting, which included seven of 10 from three point land.
He and compatriot Zane Waterman are fast turning into a formidable tandem. Waterman, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, delivered a fine double-double with 27 points and 16 boards in the win.
Mountain Airs stalwart Aaron Bailey-Nowell, the oldest player in the league at 39, brought up his 300th NBL game in the loss.
Saints unbeaten
The red-hot Saints improved to 3-0 with a statement victory over the Southland Sharks in the game of the round.
Taane Samuel picked up where he left off last season in the Showdown with the Jets, producing a powerful performance for the Saints. Samuel scored a game-high 26 points on 9-17 shooting, featuring five of eight from deep.
The Saints pulled away from the Sharks in the last quarter, outscoring them 34-11 as they cruised to a 32-point victory.
Rams open account
After two losses to start the season, the highly-fancied Canterbury Rams have their first win of 2021.
Canterbury snuck past the Jets 87-76 in their home opener at Christchurch’s Cowles Stadium for a muchneeded victory.
The Rams had a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double digits, led by a near triple-double from American forward EJ Singler. The Oregon native had an impact at both ends of the court, notching 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Hawks two from two
Early season title favourites, the Hawke’s Bay Hawks are 2-0 to start the season after prevailing 85-73 against Southland, who went 2-0 on their North Island road trip.
Guard Derone Raukawa was busy for the Hawks with a game-high 28 points, while also dishing out five assists.
The Hawks took a nine point lead into halftime (50-41) and went a long way to winning the contest with their defensive intensity in the third quarter. They limited the Sharks to just 10 points, leaving them with too much ground to make up in the last 10 minutes.
Moss comes up big
A standout showing from American shooting guard Isaiah Moss propelled the Nuggets to their second straight win.
Moss was influential, pouring in 33 points and hauling down seven rebounds in Otago’s 108-96 win over the travelling Jets.
The Nuggets also got strong output from centre Sam Timmins who chipped in with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, and Australian Geremy McKay, who added 18 points.
Hale lifts Giants
American point guard Hunter Hale flirted with a triple-double in the Nelson Giants’ away win over the Franklin Bulls.
Hale was superb for Nelson, contributing 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in a classy all-round display.
Compatriot Donte Ingram and Kiwi core Tom Ingham, Anzac Rissetto, and Sam Dempster all scored in double digits as the Giants bounced back from a round one loss to Southland.
American duo Selby (36 points) and Waterman (20) again did it all for the Bulls, but lacked scoring punch from their team-mates.