The Week That Was
Week 1 of Mad March tipped off the Sal's NBL 2025 season with the 1st of 26 games in 20 days in Hawke's Bay where the Big Barrel Hawks hosted the first ever Indian Panthers game in our competition. Unfortunately due to a myriad of issues that have been documented elsewhere (but as a refresh Visa issues and a surprise National team camp) the Panthers squad wasn't quite what fans were expecting. But an underdone group of Kiwis (and import pg Alex Robinson 24pts, 8rbs, 5ast) led by a pulled out of retirement Leon Henry took a 6 point quarter time lead and it looked like a spectacular story was emerging. A spectacular story it was, but was this was the tale of a teenage sensation as 17 year old (and 2 days) Jackson Ball put on a display to remember in just his 2nd NBL start by dropping a near-unfathomable 40 point performance filled with plays that belied his age as a Hawks squad with just one import and a young local core pulled off a big victory. The Panthers getting the gift of time to prepare for their home opener in week 2 as the Hawks prepped to defend the nest three days.
The 2-time defending champion Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams launched their season the next night, visiting a Northern Group Whai squad that was yet to experience victory over the road team. The Rams confident coming into the season despite featuring a 26 year-old coach and a team that had yet to welcome their import contingent while also missing rising star Walter Brown due to injury. For the 2nd straight year the Whai took advantage of an underdone road team to open the season with victory, and, much the same as the franchise's opening night, Kruz Perrott-Hunt (27pts, 6rb, 4ast) starred. He dropped 5-9 from deep, which was more than enough offense to go around as their defense stifled the champs, holding them to just 16% (3-18) from deep. Frigid shooting from the stripe didn't help as their 50% clip left 13 points on the board (13-26fts). A youth movement was on display in this one as well as Carter Hopoi (17pts, 6rbs, 2ast) grabbed his first start with both hands while Xanda Marsters contributed 12 off the bench. Both teams would need to head back to the drawing board, playing the first of two games in the opening week.
Next on deck was the Southern Stoush, and the Sharks would come out swinging (tough to do with fins, so maybe biting) to show that a new era had begun under coach Jonathan Yim. Right off the bat the Sharks used high energy play to dig into the Nuggets, who suited lone import Jose Perez, and quickly grabbed control of the game as 4 out of 5 starters hit double figures. Josiah Allick grabbed the spotlight with his strong interior play (10-13 fgs) and aerial superiority on his way to 26pts and 11rbs. Alonzo Burton providing solid shooting (19pts, 5-9 3pfg) as Tukaha Cooper showed why he made the move south as he contributed 19 points of his own. The Night 'n Day Otago Nuggets unable to keep the offense flowing with any consistency, topping 50% efficiency only from the Chemist Warehouse Stripe and looking like a team that is nervously eyeing the International arrivals gate.
The Property Brokers Manawatū Jets were the next squad to tip of the '25 season, travelling to the Hawks nest to see if they could get the Tony Webster era off to a flying start. The Jets took off early,despite being unable to slow down Jackson Ball in the first half, and held a 6-point at half time as the hustle of imports Miles Gibson (25pts, 4rbs) and Eric Williams Jr. (12pts, 7rbs, 3ast, 2stls, 2blks) combined with the scoring power of Dontae-Russo-Nance (25pts, 6rbs, 3ast) and Corey Webster (32pts, 6rbs, 4ast). But the lead wasn't safe as the Hawks upped the defensive intensity and put the ball in the hands of Ball once again, as he followed up an epic 40 point outburst with an equally impressive 36pt, 8rb, 3ast performance. Darnell Cowart showed off his varied skill set once again, snaking his way to a 25pt, 13rb, 5ast performance filled with timely plays on both ends while Jacob Murphy worked his way to an important 19pt, 5rb performance. The Hawks off to a blinder of a start, and that's before considering they have two imports (and a head coach) yet to report.
Next game on the list was the battle of the 09, as the Logik Franklin Bulls traveled north across the bridge to see if they could sneak a win in the Tuatara sanctuary, not an easy feat for a team that came in 1-7 against their closet rivals. The Tuatara were far from full strength (with Rob Loe, Davo Hickey and Dan Fotu still with teams overseas) but were able to keep it tight for a quarter. But the Bulls defense then took over, taking all the air out of the Tuatara offense as they held the home squad to just 26points over the middle quarters and 33% shooting overall for the game. Tae Hardy the latest quality guard that Franklin has found on the open market, leading his team with 30pts, 4rbs, 7ast.
The Bulls would need to put that defensive identity to good use once again, this time in their second game of the round in the final game of the week where they welcomed the visiting Whai, who they would subsequently hold to just 34 first half points to take a commanding 11 point lead. But the Whai have a defensive identity of their own and stuffed all half court opportunities for the Bulls as they allowed just 10 points in each quarter of the second half, cutting the deficit to just 3points with under a minute to play. But when they needed it most the Whai offense went back to sputtering, unable to leap the final hurdle to secure a road win. The Bulls led by Tae Hardy (19pts, 6rbs,2stls) and Rueben Te Rangi (13pts, 9rbs) on offense but buoyed by the defensive prowess of just arrived David Okwera who finished with an 8pt, 7rb, 4stl 3blk statline in his first game of the season. The Bulls 2-0 start putting them in the ideal position as they await the arrival of Flynn Cameron to complete the rosters formation (at least temporarily).
The Rams would return to the paddock looking for answers after a subpar opener, and would find those answers early as they charged their way to a 21-4 lead to open the game. A return to the homecourt all the offense seemed to need as they dropped 39% of 3's that was fueled by the first quarter onslaught. The Giants would fight back, playing their way back into the game to cut the lead to 4 late in the third. But a comeback was not to be for the G-men as 23 points a piece from Taylor Britt and Tama Isaac held off Hayden Jones (17pts, 7rbs, 4ast) and the Giants comeback efforts.
Leaving us with the game of the round (maybe season?) as the Steelformers Taranaki Airs took an exhausting double overtime victory from the Mills Albert Project Wellington Saints (115-110) behind huge performances from Carlin Davison (36pts, 4rbs, 4ast, 5stls) and Harry Froling (32pts, 12rbs, 2ast). The back and forth affair would see over 40 lead changes and over a dozen ties with neither team ever able to exert control over the flow of the game for more than a few minutes. All 5 Saints starters would hit double figures but it was double-doubles for Hyrum Harris (20pts, 12rbs, 6ast) and Nick Muszynski (18pts, 14rbs, 3ast, 3stls, 6blks) that really stood out. And despite the eye popping display of athleticism by Carlin Davison and all 5 starters of their own hitting double figures, the day really belonged to Harry Froling. It had been 786 days since he last laced em up in a professional game. Longer than any man of his talent should be kept away from the game he loves. Emotions ran high before and after the game, but in the end a Froling stood victorious on the court having helped power his squad to victory as he had done so many times before, this time with a new found appreciation for the game that he had feared was taken away from him for good.
Worth Mentioning
Sharks New Look - Its been a few seasons since the Sharks looked like a team that could swim in postseason waters, but the Jonathon Yim coached side was in midseason form to tip off the season. Yes the Nugs are a lil underdone, but you could see a swiftness of movement and a commitment to defense that had been missing in recent years. Recruits from overseas and from the North Island seem to lift the talent from recent years and with Sam Timmins still to come there could be something brewing in those waters.
Teenagers Romp- Jackson Ball, Carter Hopoi, Tama Isaac, Hayden Jones, Troy Plumtree, the list goes on and on. Players still in their teens, and sometimes still in high school played large and small parts in games all across the league, stepping into a spotlight they may not be far away from for a decade or so.
Vets In the House - The youngsters aren't the only ones getting it done, with 39 year old Marcel Jones and Leon Henry found running up and down the hardwood once again. My knees (and my back, and my ankles, and the rest of my body) salute you!! Yip, that's worth a mention.
