In the first of the 2024 Sal’s NBL semi-final’s defending champions Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams held off a defiant and valiant Steelformers Taranaki Airs to win a classic encounter 112-111.
A packed Cowles Stadium was treated to one of the greatest play-off games in NBL history. The double overtime epic had multiple momentum swings, numerous lead changes a nerve tingling finish and two game tying buzzer beaters.
After the scores were tied 101 points apiece after one overtime period it looked as if the Airs had claimed an historic win. The teams went basket for basket through the second extra five minutes but when Elijah Minnie calmy made two free-throws with 3 seconds to play the visitors were 111-112 ahead and victory was within their grasp.
However, following a timeout, the Rams found big man Lachie Olbrich under the hoop and the Australian centre made no mistake to put his team a point in front.
The Airs used their player timeout to advance the ball but a desperate attempt from Minnie fell short and the Rams were able to celebrate in front of a raucous Cowles Stadium.
Twice earlier the Airs had rescued, what appeared to be, lost causes.
In regulation it had been Flynn Cameron that had knotted the scores with 2 seconds to play and in the first overtime period Carlin Davison made a difficult baseline jump shot to tie proceedings on the buzzer.
Seven players had 20-point games in a contest that will be remembered for a very long time.
James Walker led the way for the Rams with 23 points while Olbrich, had his customary double-double (22 points and 16 rebounds). Max Darling and Taylor Britt scored 20 points each, Walter Brown scored 17 and Kaia Isaac chimed in with 10 points
Following his 29 points haul in the play-in game against Nelson Giants Elijah Minnie again top scored for the Airs with 26 points. Fynn Cameron made 6 from 10 threes on his way to 25 points and Carlin Davison was also immense with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Derone Raukawa came off the bench to register 14 points while Breakers bound Mitch McCarron threatened a triple double with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists.
Earlier, in a high energy start, a couple of scores from Olbrich propelled the Rams to an 11-5 start before Davison and Flynn Cameron got the Airs back on level terms.
A Kaia Isaac triple gave the Rams a 16-10 lead but 9 unanswered points from the Airs – six of them to Raukawa – gave the visitors a 23-19 quarter time lead.
A Max Darling triple opened the second stanza scoring before Elijah Minnie opened his account with a two handed flush.
The final three minutes of the frame mirrored the ebb and flow of an intriguing opening half. A Flynn Cameron triple gave the Airs a ten-point cushion only for the Rams to embark on a 12-0 run to grab the lead.
However Davison’s sideline buzzer beating triple sent the Airs to the locker room with a 50-49 advantage.
There was just one score apiece in the opening three minutes of the second half before a couple of makes from Taylor Britt and Walker Jr took the Rams into the lead (63-57).
The Airs scored a much needed basket via a Raukawa floater but Isaac had the last say of the third – the Rams 69-63 ahead with ten minutes to play.
When Taylor Britt put the Rams 11 points ahead (88-77) with under three minutes to play it looked as if the defending champions were headed to the final only for the Airs to produce a stunning finish.
The Cowles Stadium crowd were silenced as Flynn Cameron and Minnie made four threes in just 126 seconds to force overtime.
In the first overtime period the lead changed hands seven times before a successful Britt free-throw gave the Rams a two-point advantage. The Airs had only two seconds to work with following their final timeout but it was long enough for Davison to once again level the scores.
The result could have gone either way but eventually in the last two seconds of the final two seconds of the 50th minute it was Olbrich and the Rams that prevailed.
The Rams now await the outcome of the second semi-final to see who their opponents will be in next Sunday’s Sal’s NBL Grand Final.
That contest will be a repeat of the 2023 semi-final with Auckland Tuatara taking on Franklin Bulls at Eventfinda Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore on Wednesday July 24 with the tip-off at 8.00pm..
Result: Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams (112) defeated by Steelformers Taranaki Airs (111)
Leading Players:
Rams 112: Walker Jr (23pts), Olbrich (22pts & 16rebs), Darling (20pts & 10rebs), Britt (20pts), Brown (17pts), K Isaac (10pts)
Airs 111: Minnie (26pts), F Cameron (25pts), Davison (22pts & 13rebs), Raukawa (14pts), McCarron (8pts,8 rebs & 9 assists), Bailey (8pts), T Cameron (8pts)
