Welocme to the Eye Catchers from R3 of the Sal's NBL season. Once again the crowd numbers were amazing, lots of games kept us on the edge of our seat and just one team remains without a win.
Here's what caught our eye.
SLAMMIN' SAM TIMMINS
The Go Media Otago Nuggets has been a tower of strength this season, but on Saturday night in Palmerston North he went to the next level with a game-high 29 points and 25 rebounds. Sam's influence at both ends of the floor was the difference in a game that went to overtime against the Jets.
AIRS WIN IN STYLE
While Saturday was a good night for the Nuggets, they encountered a fast and defensively-minded outfit on Sunday. The Steeleformers Taranaki Mountainairs smothered the Nuggets from tip-off and mastered a clinical win with Marcel Jones and Tai Wynyard leading the way. Another standout was the pairing of Haize Walker and Dru-Leo Leusogi-Ape. Watch these two continue to grow as they spend more time on court together.
DERONE RAUKAWA
Nothing suprises us when it comes to dynamic guard Derone Raukawa. With his Taylor Hawke's Bay Hawks needing a touch of magic in the dying seconds against the Mike Pero Nelson Giants on Sunday, in the blink of an eye Raukawa dribbled the length of the court and dropped a jumper from the elbow on the buzzer to lead his team to an 82-80 win. To say the scenes were amazing would be an understatement.
TAANE SAMUEL
Back-to-back big games from Taane Samuel has him placed as a key player to watch right now. The Wellington Saints cleaned up the Giants with an impressive second half, but it was the continued good form of Samuel that turned heads. This young man is on the rise.
DESHON TAYLOR
Talk about having a full stadium eating out of your hands! With the Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams needing something special in the last quarter against a highly competitive Sky Tower Auckland Huskies unit, the man they call 'DT' rose to the occasion. Taylor had Cowles Stadium rocking as he poured in 19 of his 31 points during the final period. It was all class and pure entertainment.
DOM KELMAN-POTO
Did anyone notice the performance of DKP across the SIT Zero Fees Sharks two games in Auckland? The versatile forward was on fire and relishing the responsibility of being the team's go-to player. The purple-topped showman delivered 46 points, 29 rebounds and 8 assists, shooting 22/34 for the weekend at 65%. Impressive!
(Photo credits: PhotosportNZ)
