Sharks hammered by Hawks
It’s been a forgettable start to the 2024 Sals NBL Season for the Southland Sharks.
An overtime loss to the Otago Nuggets was backed up with a lacklustre effort in their first clash at home against the Manawatū Jets, and then on Sunday the Sharks were well beaten by the Hawke’s Bay Hawks 107-80 in Napier.
The Sharks had headed north light on personnel, as skipper Alonzo Burton missed the trek with a hamstring niggle, while American import and guard Josh Turner was let go after the loss to the Jets, and Brayden Inger isn’t expected back until May.
Letting players go isn’t something the Sharks like to do, although they did something similar last year with import Romaro Gill.
If the Sharks were to win on the road, they needed imports Marcale Lotts and LaGerald Vicks to lead the way, and while the latter shone with 26 points, it was a disappointing night overall.
Big man Callum McRae netted 14 points and picked up 10 rebounds, and looks to be improving more and more each game he plays in the orange, while the rest of the Sharks squad was reasonably quiet.
If there was a positive to take from the loss to the Hawks, it was the fact that the side was down on personnel but still managed to rectify their slow starts from the first two outings by leading the first quarter 24-15.
It is not dire straits for the Sharks at 0-3 – in fact, with a 20-game season, far from it – but they need a victory fast, to get some confidence into the new group.
Unfortunately, the Sharks Rapid League team were also beaten in Napier, going down 32-30 in a double overtime thriller.
A bonus was the return from injury of Connor Coll, who scored 12 points.
The Sharks need to improve their shooting across the court and cut out the basic mistakes if they want a victory on April 15 against competition heavyweights the Wellington Saints in Invercargill.
It would also give them time to look for an import to replace Turner.