Rapid Wrap Round 14
The Sky Broadband Rapid action continued as round 14 offered last second come backs, furious defense and some of the best scoring of the year. Read on to get all the info you need to know about the fastest league in Aotearoa!
Giants March to Title Continues
Round 14 of the Sky Broadband Rapid League tipped off with the top of the table Giants visiting the Airs, as the home team hoped to slow down the Giants seemingly inevitable march to the Rapid Title. But it may be touch to close for a team missing 3 key pieces to National Team duties. Taranaki would strike first as Scott Telfer opened up scoring, but Aston Inwood would respond, but a tight first quarter would end with the Giants up two, 15-13, thanks to Sam Dempster's back to back triples. The Giants defense would lift over the middle quarters, as Inwood and Dempster kept the scoreboard ticking to take the 11 point lead after three. The Airs kept the work rate on the glass, but couldn't hold possession as they gave up 10 turnovers. The Airs would push hard in the 4th as the Giants offense dried up, but the lead was too great to overcome and the home team would drop their 5th straight. The Giants taking their 5th in a row (and 10th of 11) as they move one win away from a consecutive Rapid League Crown, dropping the Airs to their fifth straight loss in the process to fall to 9th on the ladder.
Taranaki Steeelformers Airs 38- Scott Telfer (12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Cam Quinnell (11points, 3 rebounds), Quintin Bailey (5 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block)
NBS Nelson Giants 43 - Aston Inwood (15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals), Sam Dempster (15 points, 1 rebound), James Matthews (7 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal)
Rams Hold Off Nuggets
Next up the Nuggets hosted the Rams, who were hoping to find a win to keep pace with the top of the table, as the Nuggets hoped to reach the top six with a win. A back and forth contest would ensue, the Nuggets taking the reigns in the opener as a balanced offense was led by Mac Stodart inside. Mana Martin would step up in the 2nd quarter, before Max Darling free throws dropped to take a 2 point halftime lead. Patrick Freeman would come out of the changing sheds with purpose, scoring 7 straight to push the Nuggets back in front by 2 halfway through the quarter. Another Stodart push would see the lead rise to 4, but a Brody Cooper layup just before the buzzer would see the Rams in front by 1 heading into the final term. The pace would quicken in the fourth, both teams finding a bit of desperation, but a balanced Rams attack would continually find themselves with the lead despite the best efforts of the Freeman and Stodart. Every Nuggets push would come across a Rams retort, mostly from Mana Martin, but a Brody Cooper dunk with 1:51 left pushed the lead to 3, which thanks to late Kaia Isaac free throws, would be enough to seal the win, 38-34. The Nuggets second loss in a row putting them 1 game over .500 as the Rams second straight win putting them within site of a Rapid title.
Night ‘n Day Otago Nuggets 36 - Mac Stodart (14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), Patrick Freeman (12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block), Caleb Smiler (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist)
BBQ’s Direct Canterbury Rams 42 - Mana Martin (20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block), Tawhiri Cate (7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), Brody Cooper (6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist)
Sharks Take Last Second Thriller
The Sharks headed to Hawke's Bay for their first game of the round, in what would turn out to be a thrilling contest, both teams struggling to find offensive flow early as a late Zoram Smiler bucket would bring the Hawks back within 2 points at the close of the opening quarter. Each team would find mini runs in the second, the Hawks taking a 3 point lead on a Ryder Moore triple before Brayden Inger and Will Leger hit back to back buckets to retake the lead, before late Jacob Murphy free throws cut the lead to 2 at the main break.
The Hawks picked up the scoring in the 3rd, Murphy picking up where he left off as the Hawks defense limited the Sharks attack, but there was enough from Inger to take the lead by 1 late, before a Dante Matakatea triple put the Hawks up by 2 heading into the final term.
The Hawks offense could only muster 4 points in the 4th, but it was enough to find themselves up 4 with 1:28 left after a Clifton Bush layup, before Inger free throws cut the lead down to 2 with 30 seconds left. That set the stage for Will Leger, who after a bit of a broken possession, caught the ball in the corner before letting a triple fly, that would find the net, giving the Sharks the lead with 8 seconds remaining. The Hawks late game execution creating a solid look for Bush, but it would go wanting giving the Sharks their 3rd win of the Rapid season while knocking the Hawks back to .500.
Total Energies Hawks 29 - Clifton Bush III (9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block), Jacob Murphy (6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Dante Matakatea (5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal)
Southland Sharks 30 - Brayden Inger (8 points, 2 rebounds 2 assists, 1 steal), Johnny Helu (6 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal), Will Leger (5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block)
Bulls Defense Comes to Play
Franklin launched contest against the Airs with blistering intent, boosting confidence in front of their home crowd at the Stockyard. Early defensive pressure led to quick stops, while K.C. Nwafor asserted control on the glass, laying the foundation for Franklin’s front‑court dominance
By the midpoint, the Bulls held a double‑digit lead. Christian Vano chipped in, directing the offense and capitalizing on passing lanes. Taranaki’s Scott Telfer responded and Jack Exeter found some form, but the visitors struggled to reach the net with consistency as the were held to just five points in the first half.
Franklin's combination of disciplined defense and smart shot selection stifled the Airs throughout. Taranaki unable to sustain any offensive runs; their early promise fizzled as Franklin widened the gap with each successful possession, eventually cruising to a 10‑point victory.
Taranaki Steeelformers Airs 22 - Scott Telfer (6 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals), Jack Exeter (5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Quintin Bailey (4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal)
Franklin Bulls 32 - Payton Hughes (9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), K.C. Nwafor (8 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block), Tobias Cameron (3 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
Whai Hold On
Next up the Whai visited the capital hoping to keep apace of the ladder leading Giants, who would take the Rapid crown with a Whai loss. Tauranga came out determined in the first half, combining scrappy defense with strong offense that was driving by Liam Davis (in just his 2nd Rapid appearance) as the Whai looked in control with a 28-14 halftime lead. The Saints would rally in the second half, as Sam Gold and Lukah Richards fought relentlessly, but despite the effort there was still a 10-point gap after 3 quarters.
The energy didn't drop in the 4th as a furious late surge was on the cards, Kazlo Evans leading the charge before a Gold triple cut the lead to 1 with less than a minute remaining. Davis would respond before Gold dunked to make the lead a single point with 14 seconds on the clock, but the Whai would just need to hold possession to take the win. But the Saints defense stepped up again, as a Gold steal would set up a final attempt as the buzzer sounded, the Saints charge coming up just short as the Whai would white knuckle the second half to hold on for a 39-38 win.
Mills Albert Pathways Wellington Saints 39 - Sam Gold (10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal), Lukah Richards (9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Kazlo Evans Jr (7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists)
Amohia Te Waiora Tauranga Whai 39 - Liam Davis (17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal), Denhym Brooke (7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block), Jett Thompson (6 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists)
Tuatara Control the Glass
The Tuatara would host the Sharks to tip off Sunday's festivities, and Auckland would come out aggressively, controlling tempo and space. Their transition game was sharp, Dylan Wilkie contributed heavily to the scoreboard, while Nicholas Barrow chipped in, making early impact on both ends.
The Sharks would respond as Southland got contributions from Quake Webster and Brayden Inger, injecting energy mid-game. Yet, Auckland's structured offense and defensive rotations kept the Sharks limited to a single-digit run. Post-halftime Auckland would keep control of the tempo and the game, as the Tuatara’s discipline and depth shone but it was their offensive efficiency that would keep the scoreboard ticking. Josh Leger touching all aspects of the game as the size of the Tuatara began to weight heavily on the Sharks. Auckland continued to stretch the defense, hit timely threes, and out-rebounded the Sharks consistently, denying any chance of a major comeback.
Auckland Tuatara 35 - Dylan Wilkie (12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist), Chris Mcintosh (9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist), Nick Barrow (6 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal), Josh Leger (3 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal)
Southland Sharks 22 - Quake Webster (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal), Brayden Inger (5 points, 1 rebound)
Rams Dominate In Big Win
The Rams finished a dominant week with a well-orchestrated 51–39 win over the Jets at Fly Palmy Arena. Despite still missing some key names, the Rams leaned on a familiar formula of relentless tempo, perimeter pressure, and unselfish offense to remain unbeaten in Rapid play.
From the outset, Canterbury set the tone defensively—cutting off driving lanes and forcing Manawatū into rushed possessions. Offensively, they found early rhythm behind Mana Martin, who was simply unstoppable in the open floor. Martin poured in 26 points tying the Rapid Record, often gliding past defenders with ease and finishing through contact.
The Jets found their footing in the second half thanks to the dynamic duo of Tinashe Matambanadzo and Tyson Thata-Paese. Their aggressive drives and midrange pull-ups kept the home side within striking distance, trimming what had been a double-digit deficit to just 6 midway through the third period. But every time the Jets threatened a comeback, the Rams answered—either with a dagger three or a perfectly timed backdoor cut.
Brody Cooper played a pivotal supporting role for Canterbury, contributing 11 points and 6 rebounds, while organizing the floor and anchoring the defense. His veteran composure helped the Rams weather any Jets runs and re-establish control in the fourth.
Manawatū’s offense sputtered in the closing stages as fatigue set in and the Rams turned up the pressure. Several late-game turnovers and missed opportunities sealed the outcome, with the visitors closing on a 10–2 run to put the game beyond doubt.
Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 39 - Tinashe Matambanadzo (15 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists), Tyson Thata-Paese (14 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist)
BBQ’s Direct Canterbury Rams 51 - Mana Martin (26 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist), Brody Cooper (11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists), Corban Mason (7 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal)
Simply Rapid Stats
| Position | Team | GP | W | L | %won | For | Agst | % | L5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Nelson Giants | 18 | 15 | 3 | 83 | 675 | 551 | 122 | W W W W W |
| 2 |  |
Tauranga Whai | 17 | 12 | 5 | 70 | 613 | 563 | 108 | W L L W W |
| 3 |  |
Canterbury Rams | 17 | 11 | 6 | 64 | 661 | 617 | 107 | L W L W W |
| 4 |  |
Wellington Saints | 17 | 10 | 7 | 58 | 582 | 559 | 104 | L L L W L |
| 5 |  |
Auckland Tuatara | 17 | 9 | 8 | 52 | 609 | 583 | 104 | W W W L W |
| 6 |  |
Otago Nuggets | 17 | 9 | 8 | 52 | 568 | 569 | 99 | L W W L L |
| 7 |  |
Hawkes Bay Hawks | 18 | 9 | 9 | 50 | 582 | 628 | 92 | W L L W L |
| 8 |  |
Franklin Bulls | 17 | 6 | 11 | 35 | 593 | 628 | 94 | L L L W W |
| 9 |  |
Taranaki Airs | 18 | 6 | 12 | 33 | 578 | 638 | 90 | L L L L L |
| 10 |  |
Manawatū Jets | 16 | 5 | 11 | 31 | 585 | 600 | 97 | W W L L L |
| 11 |  |
Southland Sharks | 18 | 3 | 15 | 16 | 560 | 670 | 83 | L W L W L |
Points Per Game Average
| Tyson Thata | Tyson Thata | 15.3ppg |
| Mana Martin | Canterbury Rams | 11.5ppg |
| Tamatoa Isaac | Canterbury Rams | 11.3ppg |
| Hayden Jones | Nelson Giants | 10.8ppg |
| Jayden Bezzant | Tauranga Whai | 9.9ppg |
Assists Per Game Average
| Kazlo Evans | Wellington Saints | 2.9apg |
| Christian Vano | Franklin Bulls | 2.8apg |
| Jett Thompson | Tauranga Whai | 2.5apg |
| Joshua Leger | Auckland Tuatara | 2.5apg |
| Hayden Jones | Nelson Giants | 2.2apg |
Rebounds Per Game Average
| Kenechukwu Nwafor | Franklin Bulls | 5.6rpg |
| Joshua Leger | Auckland Tuatara | 4.6rpg |
| Riley Snow | Southland Sharks | 4.3rpg |
| Tautoko Wynyard | Manawatū Jets | 4.3rpg |
| Quintin Bailey | Taranaki Airs | 4.1rpg |
