The Week That Was
Franklin travelled south to take on Taranaki, aiming to rebound from a home loss in which they gave up 91 points, a figure they had allowed just twice in their first 10 games. The Airs, meanwhile, were looking to find some offensive rhythm after scoring 75 or fewer in back-to-back games, though Franklin’s physical defense loomed as a potential roadblock. That wouldn't prove to be the case, as the Airs came out firing, scoring the first 7 points of the game and never looking back. Armon Fletcher (23 pts, 5 rebs, 2 blks) was hot early, while Carlin Davison exploded for a career-high 36 points, adding 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals in a game where all five Airs starters scored in double figures. The one-way traffic saw the Airs build a 35-point lead, dominate the paint with 60 points, and commit 10 fewer turnovers. Tobias Cameron (25 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts) battled against his former club, but there was little else for the Bulls to take away in what was a troubling start to their double-header.
Next up, the Sharks hosted the Hawks in a clash with playoff implications in a game that would end up being chock full of highlights. A win at home would have pushed Southland to the edge of the top six, but they were met by a Hawke’s Bay side stinging from a recent home loss that halted a two-game win streak. The Hawks jumped on the Sharks early, with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Darnell Cowart combining for the visitors’ first 11 points to build a 9-point lead. Sam Timmins (30 pts, 8 rebs) found rhythm in the second quarter, helping the Sharks claw their way back before a strong third-quarter defensive effort gave Southland a 6-point lead heading into the final term. Dan Grida (31 pts, 10 rebs) was influential throughout but ceded the spotlight in the fourth as Jackson Ball (21 pts, 5 rebs, 6 asts) erupted for 13 points in the period. Swaka Lo Buluk added 23 to power the Hawks to a 97–90 win, dashing the Sharks’ hopes of a key home victory.
The Whai returned to their home court looking to halt a five-game slide that had dropped them out of the top six. The visiting Saints, winners of 7 of their last 8 and riding a four-game road win streak, presented a formidable challenge. That challenge lessened somewhat with the late withdrawal of Shea Ili, but the Saints still brought firepower, adding Jordan Ngatai to their rotation. The Whai also had reinforcements, with Anzac Rissetto and Mojave King joining the squad. For much of the first half, it looked like the Saints would have enough, as Nick Muszynski (22 pts, 18 rebs, 5 blks) dominated inside and helped limit the Whai to just 23 points over the first 15 minutes. Then Mojave King (29 pts, 6 rebs, 3 asts) found his form, pushing the Whai to a 38–30 halftime lead. King continued to pace the offense through the third, stretching the margin to 15. But the Saints wouldn’t go quietly — Izayah Le’afa (17 pts, 11 asts) led a fierce fourth-quarter rally, draining five threes in the term to cut the lead to just three with 1:14 to play but Sean Murphy’s triple with 20 seconds left proved decisive as the Whai held on for a hard-fought 82–78 win.
In Nelson, the Giants returned home to Trafalgar Centre, where fans had waited over a year to see a win. Hosting the red-hot Rams, who had won five straight, the odds were stacked against them, but the Giants had won three of their last four and were desperate to reward the faithful. They came out energized, with Alex Robinson (22 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts, 4 stls, 1 blk) igniting the perimeter and Cal McRae (14 pts) exploiting single coverage inside. The home side led by 13 at the half and pushed the lead to 20 in the third when Hayden Jones knocked down a jumper. A Sean MacDonald buzzer-beater from just this side of half-court trimmed the margin to 9 heading into the final term while zapping the home teams momentum. In the fourth, CJ Penha (16 pts, 14 rebs, 70% FG) and the Rams stormed back, tying the game in the final minute. Walter Brown (15 pts) then calmly knocked down two free throws to complete the comeback and give the Rams a thrilling 89–87 win, continuing their reign at the top of the ladder and leaving the Giants with another close defeat to simmer on.
In Dunedin, the Nuggets were desperate to snap an eight-game skid but faced a Hawks team chasing a Southern sweep, even without Darnell Cowart, who was ruled out during warm-ups. Jono Janssen (33 pts, 11 rebs, 3 stls, 1 blk) and Jaylen Sebree (29 pts, 9 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls, 1 blk) led the charge early for the Nuggets, taking advantage of Hawke’s Bay’s lack of size to build a 17-point first-half lead. But the Hawks fought back as a collective as all five starters would finish with at least 18 points to display excellent offensive balance. The game was tied heading into the fourth, where Janssen continued to pour in points, scoring 13 in the final quarter. However, the Hawks’ composure and defensive intensity shone through in the closing stages, allowing them to escape with a 98–92 win and complete the sweep.
The Franklin Bulls rolled into Palmerston North for the second leg of their Mid-North double, determined to snap a two-game losing streak with a stronger showing. Facing a shorthanded Jets squad still without leading scorer Corey Webster, the visitors aimed to take advantage — but the Jets had other ideas, banking on import Quintin Rose to find his rhythm in just his second outing with the team. The Bulls came out firing, led by a sharp first quarter from Tae Hardy. The dynamic guard poured in 9 of his team-high 25 points early, helping the Bulls build a 5-point lead at the first break. But the momentum shifted in the second quarter. Trailing by three, the Jets found their spark when Kenny Goins (19 pts, 3 rebs, 5 asts, 3 stls, 1 blk) knocked down a crucial three-pointer to ignite a stunning 16–0 run. That burst of energy flipped the game on its head, pushing the home side to an 11-point halftime lead. Despite the Bulls’ efforts to regain control, the Jets held strong through the third quarter, with Rose stepping up on both ends of the floor. He finished with a game-high 26 points, alongside 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and a remarkable 7 steals to keep the Jets in front. The Bulls weren’t done yet, though. A resilient fourth-quarter push — capped by a go-ahead jumper from Ethan Rusbatch (17 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts) — briefly gave the visitors the lead. But in a tightly contested finish, it was the Jets who showed composure when it mattered most, knocking down clutch free throws in the closing minutes to secure a gritty 92–87 win and snap their own three-game skid.
To wrap the week, the Saints travelled to the City of Sails to face a Tuatara team boosted by the addition of Luther Muhammad, whose scoring and ball-handling were sorely needed. Still missing Shea Ili, the Saints were hopeful they’d left their offensive struggles behind after being held under 80 points in Tauranga. They started strong behind Nick Marshall (25 pts, 11 rebs, 2 asts), who dropped 13 in the first quarter. But Buay Tuach (18 pts, 8 rebs, 2 asts) helped spark the Tuatara, scoring 9 in the second to give Auckland a 5-point halftime lead. The Saints clamped down defensively in the second half, holding the Tuatara to just 32 points, and used a 7–0 third-quarter run to edge ahead. A Muhammad three-pointer made it a one-point game with 2:40 remaining, but the Saints hit just enough free throws to close out a 90–83 win. All ten starters scored in double digits, but the Tuatara’s inefficiency, as none of their starters shot 50%, proved costly.
Worth a Mention
Mojave King’s Scoring Explosion
King matched his Sal’s NBL career high with 29 points on 60% shooting in his debut for the Whai, delivering exactly the offensive firepower Coach Matt Lacey has been searching for. If he can sustain this level, the defensive-minded Whai may have just enough scoring punch to climb back into the top six and make a late-season push.
Nick Muszynski: Saints’ Man in the Middle
"Moose" continues to deliver for the Saints with strong finishing, elite rim protection, and composure on both ends. With the Saints running lean on bigs, Muszynski’s ability to stay on the floor and avoid foul trouble will be crucial. If he can regularly come close to replicating the 22 points and 18 boards he posted against the Whai, Wellington becomes a much tougher out.
Injury Bug Bites
No season is without injuries, but the absence of stars like Shea Ili, Corey Webster, and Darnell Cowart has left three contenders facing serious short-term challenges. Their teams have adapted admirably, for now, but long-term success may hinge on how quickly these players return or the schemes coaches use to patch over their absences.
Welcome to the NBL, Quintin Rose
With Corey Webster sidelined, questions swirled around the Jets’ offensive direction. Enter Quintin Rose. In just his second outing, the import dropped 26 points, but it was his 7 steals that turned heads. His emerging partnership with Dante Russo-Nance (tied for the league lead at 2.75 steals per game) could make for one of the most disruptive backcourts in the league. If they keep this up, and the offense holds, the Jets might just claw their way back into the playoff mix. Yeah, that’s worth a mention.
