Champion Rams headed back to final in classic contest
In the first of the 2024 Sal’s NBL semifinals defending champions, the Canterbury Rams held off a defiant and valiant Taranaki Airs to win a classic encounter, 112-111.
A packed Cowles Stadium was treated to one of the greatest playoff games in NBL history. The double overtime epic had multiple momentum swings, numerous lead changes, a nerve-tingling finish and two game-tying buzzer beaters.
After the scores were tied 101 points apiece after one overtime period, it looked as if the Airs had claimed an historic win. The teams went basket for basket through the second extra five minutes but when Elijah Minnie calmly made two freethrows with 3 seconds to play, the
visitors were 111-110 ahead and victory was within their grasp.
However, following a timeout, the Rams found big man Lachie Olbrich under the hoop and the Australian centre made no mistake to put his team a point in front.
The Airs used their player timeout to advance the ball but a desperate attempt from Minnie fell short and the Rams were able to celebrate in front of a raucous fanbase.
Twice earlier the Airs had rescued what appeared to be, lost causes.
In regulation it had been Flynn Cameron who had knotted the scores with 2 seconds to play and in the first overtime period Carlin Davison made a difficult baseline jump shot to tie proceedings on the buzzer.
Seven players had 20-point games in a contest that will be remembered for a very long time.
MJ Walker led the way for the Rams with 23 points while Olbrich had his customary double-double (22 points and 16 rebounds). Max Darling and Taylor Britt scored 20 points each, Walter Brown scored 17 and
Kaia Isaac chimed in with 10 points.
Following his 30-point haul in the play-in game against the Nelson Giants, Minnie again top scored for the Airs with 26. Cameron made 6 from 10 threes on his way to 25 points and Davison was also immense with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Derone Raukawa came off the bench to register 14 points while Breakersbound Mitch McCarron threatened a triple double with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists.
The Rams now await the outcome of the second semifinal to see who their opponents will be in next Sunday’s NBL Grand Final.
That contest will be a repeat of the 2023 semifinal with second seeds the Auckland Tuatara taking on the Franklin Bulls at Eventfinda Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore tomorrow with the tip-off at 8pm..