Luther Muhammad and the Bulls trample on the to Saints book semi-final berth
In the second Sal’s NBL Play-in game Franklin Bulls outclassed Mills Albert Wellington Saints in the capital on Friday night winning 104-67.
The result was a repeat of the 2023 season with the Bulls progressing at the expense of the former champions and the outcome was also the same – the Bulls earning a semi-final date with the Auckland Tuatara.
The Saints, at full strength for one of the few times this season, fell behind by double figures in the opening five minutes and were unable to recover as the Bulls, winning every quarter, put together an outstanding performance – arguably the best in franchise history
Luther Muhammad, the NBL’s leading scorer, was the star of the show for the Bulls finishing with a game high 29 points on a stunning 13 from 16 (81%) from the field including 3 from 3 from beyond the arc.
Although the American guard was the architect of the victory there were other significant contributors to the Bulls second victory in the capital this season. Ethan Rusbatch made 4 triples on his way to 19 points, Sam Timmins put together a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, Lee Skinner was quietly efficient with 10 points (3/5FG) while Josh Scott was a spark off the bench with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
Hyrum Harris ran himself into the ground for the Saints adding 6 rebounds and 4 steals to 21 points (7/10FG), Izayah Le’afa scored a dozen, to go with 5 assists and Taane Samuel tallied 11 points but there was little support from elsewhere with the import trio of Ben Ayre, Terry Henderson Jr and Malik Benlevi combining for just 8 points.
The Saints shoot more threes than any other team in the competition but whilst the volume was about par the percentage was at a level they will want to quickly erase from the memory bank – they made just 3 from 31 at 9%.
In comparison the Bulls put on their best 3-point shooting display of the season converting 15 from 29 at a heady 51% with seven players making at least one shot from beyond the arc.
Harris had the first 6 points - and 2 steals – for the Saints but it was the Bulls up and running early as they forged a 20-6 lead.
Imports Skinner and Muhammad each scored 7 points as the Bulls carried a 25-13 lead into the quarter-time break – the Saints zero from eleven from beyond the arc in the opening ten minutes.
In a prelude of things to come a brace of Muhammad mid-range jump shots opened the second quarter scoring before - at the 17th attempt - the Saints made their first triple courtesy of Le’afa.
Muhammad and the Bulls then went on a scoring spree stretching their lead to 28 points (55-27). Muhammad made the first 16 of the Bulls points in the stanza prior to Isaac Davidson, Rusbatch and Don Kelman-Poto dropping threes.
Le’afa and Samuel reduced the margin slightly although some ill-discipline from Ayre didn’t help the Saints cause – the Aussie guard headed to the sideline with four fouls and his team 57-33 in arears at the interval.
Samuel and Harris kept the score ticking over for the hosts in the third but Scott and Rusbatch matched the tempo as the Bulls carried a 78-53 lead into the last break.
Harris and Smith-Milner gave the Saints a flicker of a chance at the start of the fourth reducing the deficit to 22 points (80-58) but the flame was quickly doused by Davidson and Rusbatch triples.
With the lead over 30 points it was left to Halasiale Maile to put the icing on the Bulls victory with a pair of threes – their 14th and 15th of the night.
Next up for the Bulls is a trip to Eventfinda Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore for a semi-final match-up with local rivals Auckland Tuatara. That game will tip-off at 8.00pm on Wednesday July 24.
Before that the first semi-final, featuring Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams and Steelformers Taranaki Airs will take place at Cowles Stadium, Christchurch on Sunday July 21, tip-off 3.00pm
Result: Mills Albert Wellington Saints (67) defeated by Franklin Bulls (104)
Leading Players:
Saints: Harris 21pts & 4 steals, Le’afa 12pts & 5 assists, Samuel 11pts, Smith-Milner 8pts
Bulls: Muhammad 29pts, Rusbatch 19pts, Scott 13pts, Timmins 11pts & 11rebs, Skinner 10pts
