Steelformers Taranaki Airs (8-4, 3rd) v Southland Sharks (5-8, 9th)
The Airs have taken 4 wins in their last 5 games and are chasing the top two teams on the ladder but the Sharks come to town desperate to get back to their winning ways to stay in the postseason race. Will the Airs protect the peak or will the Sharks swim out of the North island with a season defining victory?
When: Friday 30th May, Rapid League 6:30pm, Sal's NBL 7:30pm
Where: TSB Stadium, New Plymouth
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 6 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube | TikTok Livestream: sksportnz
Last Time Out:
Taranaki brought the energy and execution in a statement win over Franklin, snapping out of a scoring slump with a dominant performance at home. The Airs opened with a 7–0 run and never looked back, overwhelming the Bulls with pace and precision. Carlin Davison erupted for a career-high 36 points to go with 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals, while Armon Fletcher added 23 points as all five Airs starters hit double figures. Taranaki controlled the paint with 60 points inside while committing 10 fewer turnovers, building a lead as large as 35 in a wire-to-wire 110–81 blowout. Tobias Cameron dropped 25 for Franklin against his former team, but the Air were able to stifle the efficiency of his teammates in the 29 point win.
The Sharks took on the Jets in Hawera, hopeful their hosts home record wouldn't travel with the change in venue. The Jets lost Kenny Goins prematurely, but still were able to keep the Sharks bigs in check in the back and forth affair. Keylan Boone (29pts, 8rbs) led the scoring for the road trippers and helped grab momentum for the Sharks as they built a 6 point 3rd quarter lead. Quinton Rose (18pts, 6ast, 4stls) was solid through out but it was Dontae Russo-Nance (21pts, 6rbs, 5ast, 3stls) who would hit the game winning shot with 4 seconds left to send the fans into a frenzy. The Sharks had a final chance but the Alonzo Burton triple went wanting, saddling the Sharks with their 3rd loss in 4 games.
What to Expect:
Taranaki welcomes Craig Moller as the final piece of their rotation, hoping he pairs well with Jack Andrew down the stretch. Owen Foxwell remains a key playmaker on the perimeter, but it’s his passing more than his scoring that elevates the Airs’ offense, especially when creating looks for Armon Fletcher, who’s coming off his fourth 20+ point game of the season.
Still, the Airs’ attack flows through Carlin Davison, fresh off his second 36-point performance of the year. He’s developed beyond just a rim-attacker, showing improved handle and vision to go with a diet of threes and finishes at the cup. With a third restricted player now in the mix, Taranaki’s depth should stabilise, Jaylen Gerrand, Dom Kelman-Poto, and Quintin Bailey lead a reliable second unit.
The Sharks are leaning heavily on Keylan Boone, who has become their go-to option on the wing and attacking the basket. Caleb Asberry plays a crucial role at point guard but must strike a better balance between scoring and playmaking to keep Josiah Allick and Sam Timmins involved. The frontcourt duo has the physical tools to trouble any team, and they’re one of the few tandems capable of pushing the Airs’ bigs off balance.
Alonzo Burton still has the range to stretch the floor, but relies on teammates to shift the defense and create space. Bryden Inger has added depth, giving the Sharks confidence in an eight-man rotation, something they lacked earlier in the season. The question now is whether that added depth will be enough to pull off a crucial win in New Plymouth.
Matchup to Watch: Jack Andrew v Sam Timmins - Andrew has been hugely productive all season long but now he comes up against the player he used to back up (and eventually start next to) in Otago in Sam Timmins. Has the apprentice become the teacher? Or will Timmins find influence on the block to push his team to victory.
Stats that Might Matter:
| Stat | Airs | Sharks |
| Scoring Offense | 97.50ppg (2nd) | 89.00 (6th) |
| Scoring Defense | 91.50 (5th) | 93.54 (9th) |
| Effective Field Goal % | 53% (5th) | 55% (2nd) |
| Field Goal % Defense | 43% (2nd) | 46% (7th) |
| Free Throw Rate | 35% (1st) | 23% (last) |
| Free Throw % | 72% (6th) | 75% (2nd) |
| Three Point Rate | 34% (last) | 44% (3rd) |
| Three Point % | 32% (5th) | 32% (6th) |
| Turnover Rate | 13% (6th) | 15% (10th) |
| Assist Rate | 55% (8th) | 64% (1st) |
| Offensive Rebound Rate | 30% (2nd) | 26% (6th) |
| Defensive Rebound Rate | 75% (4th) | 73% (6th) |
| Block Rate | 10% (2nd) | 9% (4th) |
| Steal Rate | 11% (3rd) | 8% (9th) |
all advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
