Rapid Wrap Round 15
Tuatara Bring the Defense to Nelson
The Giants welcomed the Tuatara to open the Rapid action for the round and came out firing in the first quarter as James Matthews got off to a fast start, helping pace the Giants to a 13-12 quarter time lead. But the middle portion of the game would be defined by a scrappy, physical tone as both teams struggled to find rhythm offensively. Auckland would find just enough spark to begin pulling away as Dylan Wilkie and Bartosz Jackowki offered composed play. The home crowd backed their Giants, as Matthews kept chipping away while Aston Inwood did his part, but the size of the visitors started to take its toll as Josh Lege and Nick Barrow imposed their will on the interior down the stretch, holding the Giants to just 10 points in the 2nd half to snatch a 37-29 victory. The win keeps Auckland in the top 5 of the ladder while keeping the ladder leading Giants from being crowed Rapid champions just yet.
NBS Nelson Giants 29 - James Matthews (12pts), Aston Inwood (5pts, 4ast), Kaleb Chamberlain (5pts, 3rbs)
Auckland Tuatara - 37 Dylan Wilkie (10pts, 2rbs, 1ast), Bartosz Jackowki (10pts, 2rbs, 2ast), Josh Leger (8pts, 7rbs, 4ast)
Bulls Pull Through Despite Thata-Paese Onslaught
The Bulls came out seeing red their defense dominating the throughout the first half as only Tyson Thata-Paese could find space to breathe. The offense was driven by Payton Hughes and Tobias Cameron, both getting free from deep in the last minute of the half to build a commanding 21-11 lead. The halftime break would ignite the Jets, and Thata-Paese in particular, as he carried the offense scoring every point for the Jets in the 3rd, But all his offense couldn't slow down the Bulls collective, as KC Nwafor controlled the paint while Christian Vano and Harry Coker-Grey got involved on the scoring, keepint the Jets at bay with a 14 point lead. Thata-Paese picked up the scoring even more in the 4th, combining with a stiffer Jets defense to fly back into the game, leading to a Josh Crowley triple with under twenty seconds left that would cut the lead to 4. That was as close as they could get however as the Bulls held on for the 42-36 win despite the brilliance of Thata-Paese who set a new high water mark in the Rapid league with his 29 point haul to enter the record books, for what would turn out to be a brief period.
Franklin Bulls 42 - Tobias Cameron (10pts, 3rbs, 2ast), Christian Vano (9pts, 2rbs, 2ast), KC Nwafor (4pts, 5rbs, 1ast)
Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 36 - Tyson Thata-Paese (29pts, 2rbs), Josh Crowley (5pts, 2rbs)
Whai Keep Championship Hopes Alive
From the opening whistle the visiting Whai would look to dictate tempo with a calculated brand of defense, forcing the Nuggets into tough shots and limiting their possessions, holding the nuggets to 5 points in the opening term. Jayden Bezzant came out aggressively with the ball in hand, his 7 opening quarter points putting the Whai in front. The Nuggets offense awoke in the second term as Patrick Freeman scored 7 points in the term, but the defense couldn't gain any traction, a Denhym Brooke triple at the buzzer pushing the lead to 7 at 21-14. The teams traded blows in the third, the Whai suffocating the hosts offensive exploits, but that would change in final term as the teams combined for 30, as the play freed up. But the Whai proved to strong to be chased down, responding to every bucket with one of their own, Jett Thompson free throws the final nail in the coffin as the Whai claimed a 44-33 win.
Night ‘n Day Otago Nuggets 33 - Patrick Freeman (10pts, 2rbs, 1ast), Christian Martin (8pts, 2rbs, 2ast)
Amohia Te Waiora Tauranga Whai 44 - Jayden Bezzant (12pts, 2rbs, 2ast), Denhym Brooke (10pts, 4rbs)
Saints Too Strong for Hawks
From the start, Wellington’s defense took over. Every time the Hawks looked poised to score, the Saints rotated crisply, contesting shots and forcing mistake after mistake. Jacob Murphy and Dante Matakatea combined for Hawke’s Bay’s leading offensive efforts, but even their toughest buckets couldn’t stem the tide. Meanwhile, Wellington spread the scoring evenly. Hassan Munir led all scorers , while Kazlo Evans and Sam Gold chipped with near double-doubles. Their poise on both ends proving difficult for the Hawks to counter despite throwing everything they had at the Saints, but Napier’s home side lacked consistent support beyond their top two. Their 39-point total underscored Wellington’s grip, as the visitors maintained pressure on every possession. Each Hawks rally answered by calm, efficient Saints play that closed out the game as the Hawks took the 39-31 victory.
Total Energies Hawks 17- Jacob Murphy (9pts, 2rbs, 1stl) Dante Matakatea (8pts, 2rbs, 2stls, 1blk), Ezrah Eagle (7pts, 1rb, 1ast)
Mills Albert Pathways Wellington Saints 39 - Hassan Munir (10pts, 4rbs), Kazlo Evans Jr (8pts, 2rbs, 7ast), Sam Gold (8pts, 8rbs, 2stls)
Tuatara Streaking Down the Stretch
From the opening tip-off, it was clear this contest would be a defensive grind. Both teams battled fiercely, exchanging stops and working to score through tight windows. But Auckland managed to seize control in the second quarter. Led by a pair of efficient outings from Dylan Wilkie and Zach Riley, each contributing nine key buckets, as the Tuatara edged ahead and never looked back. The Jets fought valiantly, with Tinashe Matambanadzo remaining steady for the Jets, but their offense struggled to break through Auckland’s well-drilled defense, and opportunities became sparse as the game wore on. Auckland’s backcourt brought the intensity as Wilkie and Riley’s balanced scoring allowed the Tuatara to stay in rhythm, while their defensive commitment frustrated the Jets (and especially Tyson Thata-Paese) at every turn. Manawatū managed to stay within reach through their physicality and grit, but couldn’t sustain enough offensive momentum late in the game. The play of Josh Leger key, as the big man scooped a vaunted 5/5/5 line, but it was the Tuatara discipline on both ends, especially their ability to clamp down in key moments, that sealed the 37-30 win, their 3rd straight victory.
Auckland Tuatara 37 - Zach Riley (9pts, 3rbs, 1ast, 1stl), Dylan Wilkie (9pts, 2stls), Josh Leger (5pts, 5rbs, 5ast, 1stl, 1blk)
Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 30 - Tinashe Matambanadzo (7pts, 1rb, 2ast), Josh Crowley (6pts, 4rbs), Dion Colliins (6pts, 3rbs)
Record Breaking Performance Propels Rams
The Airs took to Cowles stadium looking to break their 5 game skid but the Rams struck first, riding the hot hand of Mana Martin who dropped 16 points in the opening term! The Airs weren't deterred as Jaylen Gerrand and Jack Exeter paced the visitors, Gerrand's buzzer beating triple cutting the lead to 2 at 17-15. Martin would hit the first 8 of the second quarter but the Airs defense would tighten allowing Gerrand free throws to push themselves into the lead at the half by just 1 point. The back and forth affair continued in the 3rd, extra attention on Martin slowing him down but the energy of Brody Cooper carrying the Rams as Jack Exeter and Cam Quinell pushed the offense. But Martin would close the quarter with a layup to grab the lead back, 39-38 going into the 4th. Quintin Bailey would open the final term with a triple, but the Rams were undeterred, the collective following Martins lead to keep in the game tied with 2 minutes remaining. Down the stretch the defense would tighten, and 8 points down by Ihaka Cate and Martin would be too much for a floundering Airs offense, the Rams grabbing the 51-47 victory. A record setting night for Martin, his 31 points in 16 minutes a new scoring mark, breaking the 5-day old record set by the Jets Thata-Paese.
BBQ’s Direct Canterbury Rams 51 - Mana Martin (31pts, 4rbs, 2ast), Brody Cooper (10pts, 1rb, 1ast), Jonty Bond (6pts, 3rbs, 3ast)
Steeelformers Taranaki Airs 47 - Jaylen Gerrand (15pts, 1rb, 1ast, 1stl), Jack Exeter (12pts, 1 rbs, 1ast, 2stls), Dom Kelman-Poto (8pts, 7rbs, 1ast)
Whai Streaking Down the Stretch
Beneath the familiar lights of ILT Stadium Southland, the Tauranga Whai dictated the game with their physicality and discipline as the defense took center stage in the opening quarter where 5 points were scored, and just 1 for the Sharks. The offense was invited to the party in the second quarter as Jett Thompson and Dane Bertinshaw led from the front for their respective teams, as the scores knotted at 13 at the half. The Sharks seemed to leave their jumpshots in the changing room at halftime, Hayden Collier scoring all 4 points the Sharks could manage in the 3rd. In response the Whai's Liam Davis came out determined, scoring 5 straight as the visitors rattled off a 10-0 run to take control of the game. The pace slowed again in the 4th, but a 7-0 run capped by a Will Leger triple put the Sharks just 1 point down with 2 minutes to play. Searching for answers the Whai turned to Liam Davis, who continued his efforts by scoring the last 4 points of the game to secure a 5 point win. The victory opening the door for the Whai to catch the top of table Giants (with a little help) as they chase their first Rapid League title.
Southland Sharks 24 - Quake Webster (6pts, 4rbs, 3ast), Hayden Collier (6pts, 5rbs, 3ast), Will Leger (5pts, 1rb, 2stls)
Amohia Te Waiora Tauranga Whai 44- Liam Davis (13pts, 11rbs), Jett Thompson (9pts, 1ast, 1rb, 1stl)
Simply Rapid
| Position | Team | GP | W | L | %won | For | Agst | % | L5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Nelson Giants | 19 | 15 | 4 | 78 | 704 | 588 | 119 | W W W W L |
| 2 |  |
Tauranga Whai | 19 | 14 | 5 | 73 | 686 | 620 | 110 | L W W W W |
| 3 |  |
Canterbury Rams | 18 | 12 | 6 | 66 | 712 | 664 | 107 | W L W W W |
| 4 |  |
Wellington Saints | 18 | 11 | 7 | 61 | 621 | 590 | 105 | L L W L W |
| 5 |  |
Auckland Tuatara | 19 | 11 | 8 | 57 | 683 | 642 | 106 | W L W W W |
| 6 |  |
Otago Nuggets | 18 | 9 | 9 | 50 | 601 | 613 | 98 | W W L L L |
| 7 |  |
Hawkes Bay Hawks | 19 | 9 | 10 | 47 | 613 | 667 | 91 | L L W L L |
| 8 |  |
Franklin Bulls | 18 | 7 | 11 | 38 | 635 | 664 | 95 | L L W W W |
| 9 |  |
Taranaki Airs | 19 | 6 | 13 | 31 | 625 | 689 | 90 | L L L L L |
| 10 |  |
Manawatū Jets | 18 | 5 | 13 | 27 | 651 | 679 | 95 | L L L L L |
| 11 |  |
Southland Sharks | 19 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 584 | 699 | 83 | W L W L L |
| Tyson Thata | Manawatū Jets | 15.4
PPG
|
| Mana Martin | Canterbury Rams | 12.9 |
| Tamatoa Isaac | Canterbury Rams | 11.3 |
| Hayden Jones | Nelson Giants | 10.8 |
| Xanda Marsters | Tauranga Whai | 9.7 |
| Kazlo Evans | Wellington Saints | 3.1
APG
|
| Christian Vano | Franklin Bulls | 2.8 |
| Joshua Leger | Auckland Tuatara | 2.7 |
| Jett Thompson | Tauranga Whai | 2.6 |
| Hayden Jones | Nelson Giants | 2. |
Rebounding Leaders
| Kenechukwu Nwafor | Franklin Bulls | 5.6
RPG
|
| Joshua Leger | Auckland Tuatara | 4.8 |
| Tautoko Wynyard | Manawatū Jets | 4.3 |
| Quintin Bailey | Taranaki Airs | 4.2 |
| Riley Snow | Southland Sharks | 4.1 |
