In front of a packed house at Cowles Stadium, Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams made it back-to back Sal’s NBL Championships with a 102-87 victory over Auckland Tuatara.
Having previously endured a 31-year wait the Rams have now won titles in successive years although this, the club’s sixth NBL championship, will rank as extra special having been played in front of the Canterbury faithful.
In a repeat of the 2023 final when the Rams prevailed 93-82 this year’s championship game was also decided in the final five minutes.
When Tuatara guard Corey Webster made a fade-away jumper the Tuatara trailed by just 5 points (86-81) and a late charge was on the cards.
However from there, despite a couple of Tom Vodanovich scores it was all Canterbury as, in front of an increasingly delirious crowd, they polished off the challengers with a 16-6 blitz in the closing minutes.
Grand Final MVP Lachlan Olbrich was once again a standout for the Rams. The 20-year old Australian centre backed up his semi-final haul of 22 points and 16 rebounds and 6 assists to record an even bigger double-double of 29 points and 18 rebounds with another 6 assists and was naturally delighted when interviewed after the game.
“It’s fantastic, I’m stoked. It’s such a great group of guys to play with - we deserve it every one of us.
“So much work has gone in, every training Judd (Flavell) has us going, pushing each other and that’s how we got here. I guarantee amongst every team in this league we work the hardest – it’s a great group.”
Rams Head Coach Judd Flavell praised the contribution Olbrich had made.
“I’ve said it before, over the last few weeks, when there has been talk about him. He had a difficult situation to come back to (after a family tragedy) when leaving family.
“He has the world in front of him. As good a player as he is on the floor he’s an even better human being. We run a lot of our stuff through him and he’s a tough match up for people.
“We’ll be in his corner moving forward but he’s a special kid.”
Flavell also had praise for Rams captain Taylor Britt who tallied 11 points and 8 assists.
“He’s been the leader the whole season. Since I got down here a couple of years ago his confidence, ability and self-belief has grown and that has transferred into the team.
“We go whenever Taylor goes and I think he drives this vehicle as well as anyone in the league.”
In addition to Olbrich and Britt the American duo of Kenyon Buffen Jr and James Walker Jr played major roles, finishing with 21 points and 11 respectively.
Walter Brown finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds and now has the distinction of winning three championships in 12 months. Either side of the Rams titles he was also a member of the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers team that claimed the 2023-24 Australian NBL title.
It wasn’t to be for the Tuatara as they were consigned to a third straight Grand-Final loss. Tom Vodanovich led the way for the Aucklander’s with 20 points, Corey Webster had 19 points and 8 assists, Cam Gliddon 13 and Charlie Dalton 12.
Rob Loe scored 17 points to go with 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks but when the former Tall Black fouled out early in the final term the Tuatara’s chances took a term for the worse.
Webster had made the opening basket of the contest before Olbrich and Buffen Jr scored 7 points each as the reigning champions closed the opening quarter 27-18 ahead.
When Kaia Isaac became the fifth Ram to make a triple the home side had a 37-25 lead and the Tuatara needed a timeout 3:30 into the second period.
The response came in the form of triples - twice from Dalton and once from Webster - as the Rams advantage was trimmed to 41-34.
The closing stages of the first half became something of an individual dual between 2024 MVP Olbrich and previous season’s MVP Loe.
That contest was pretty even as was the overall score – Tuatara ahead 51-50 ahead at the interval.
The Tuatara scored the first 6 points of the third but when Buffen Jnr drained his third shot from beyond the arc the Rams had bounced back into the lead.
Worse was to follow for the Tuatara as Loe was forced to the bench after picking up a fourth foul. With the Defensive Player of the Year missing the Rams took advantage – closing the period with a 75-69 lead.
One of the biggest cheers of the night from the partisan crowd came 73 seconds into the final quarter when Loe exited the game after picking up his fifth foul. The Rams led 80-75 at that stage but the Tuatara weren’t finished as they closed to 81-79 after a Dalton put back.
However from there, to the delight of the home supporters, the Rams charged to the finishing line – a brace of Walker Jr triples putting the finishing touches to the triumph.
For NBL Coach of the Year Judd Flavell it’s a fourth championship following successful campaigns with Auckland Pirates (2012), Southland Sharks (2018) and the Rams in the past two years.
Flavell was full of praise for the Rams front office support.
“Leadership always starts at the top. It’s a great organisation with a great culture led by the Harrison family who have been instrumental in the Rams over the years.
“They play a massive role down here not just with the Rams but also the Pouākai, the Eagles programme and the whole Canterbury basketball scene is in a fantastic place, I think it is a great model. But it starts with those guys and we are just reaping the rewards.”
The Tuatara finish the season with the disappointment of another grand final defeat and the unenviable record of being the first club in the 43-year history of the NBL to have lost three straight championship games.
Result: Canterbury Rams (102) defeated Auckland Tuatara (87)
Leading Players:
Rams 102: Olbrich 29pts & 18rebs, Buffen Jnr 21pts, Britt 13pts & 8 assists, Walker Jr 11pts, Brown Jr 10pts, K Isaac 9pts, Darling 9pts
Tuatara 78: Vodanovich 20pts, Webster 19pts & 8assists, Loe 17pts, Gliddon 13pts, Dalton 10pts
