The Canterbury Rams overcame a slow start to grind out a 35–29 victory over the Wellington Saints in Sky Broadband Rapid League action.
The Saints made the early running, leading 10–6 after the opening period behind the aggressive play of Kazlo Evans Jr, who finished with a team-high 11 points and four assists. But the Rams responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Wellington 14–3 thanks to the hot hand of Brody Cooper. Cooper was clinical, going 6-of-8 from the field (including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc) on his way to a game-high 15 points, enabling the Rams to take a massive 20-13 lead into the half.
Wellington briefly rallied in the third quarter, cutting into the deficit with baskets from Samuel Gold and Luka Richards, but the Rams' balanced attack kept them ahead. Mana Martin (6 points, 5 assists) and Ihaka Cate (6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals) played key supporting roles, while the Rams’ defense forced 7 turnovers to keep the Saints at arm’s length.
Despite trailing by just two points entering the final quarter, the Saints couldn’t find enough scoring late as Cate and Cooper responded to an opening triple from Evans Jr. The Saints shot just 40% from the field and 38% from deep, compared to Canterbury’s more efficient 41% overall. The Rams also won the rebounding battle 18–14, with Tony Worthington and Cate pulling down important boards.
For Wellington, Evans and Gold combined for 17 points, while Lukah Richards added 4 points and 4 rebounds in a solid outing.
With the win, the Rams snag third while the Saints drop to fifth on the final Rapid League Ladder.
Mills Albert Pathways Wellington Saints 29 - Kazlo Evans Jr (11pts,, 2rbs, 4asts), Sam Gold (6pts, 3rbs, 2stls)
BBQ’s Direct Canterbury Rams 35 - Brody Cooper (15pts, 4rbs, 1stl), Mana Martin (6pts, 3rbs, 5ast, 1sl)
Tauranga used a strong second-half surge to overcome a cold start and claim a 28–19 win over Manawatū in Sky Broadband Rapid League action at Mercury Baypark Arena.
It was a slow grind early, with Tauranga managing just 7 points in the first half and trailing by two after the opening quarter. But the game turned in the third, as Liam Davis provided a much-needed spark off the bench. Davis finished with a game-high 13 points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting, adding 6 rebounds and going a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line to anchor the Whai offense. When the shot of the day finished the term as Jett Thompson nailed a full court heave to give the Whai a lead they wouldn't relinquish heading into the final term.
The Whai caught fire with an 11-point third quarter, taking control and never looking back. Michael Wade chipped in 6 points and 5 rebounds, while point guard Jett Thompson—despite a tough shooting night (1-of-12 with the only make his prayer from deep)—added 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, helping steady the team and set up teammates.
Tauranga’s defense was definitively the difference, forcing 6 turnovers and limiting the Jets to just 4 points in the final quarter. The Whai also dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Jets 29–17, with big contributions from Davis and Ky-Mani Kaumoana, who pulled down 4 boards in limited minutes.
The offense wasn't there for the Jets, as Tyson Thata-Paese (coming off of a 29 point haul last round) led the scoring with Just 7 points and 6 rebounds, while Tinashe Matambanadzo added 6 points on 2-of-3 shooting. As the Jets struggled to find offensive rhythm, finishing just 33% from the field and only 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The victory moved the Whai into equal wins with the Giants, guaranteeing second on the ladder, while the Jets loss sets them in a tie for 9th place on the ladder heading into their final game of the season.
Amohia Te Waiora Tauranga Whai 28 - Liam Davis (13pts, 6rbs) Michael Wad (6pts, 5rbs, 1ast)
Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 19 - Tyson Thata-Paese (7pts, 6rbs, 1ast), Tinashe Matambanadzo (6pts, 2rbs, 1ast)
The Nelson Giants secured the 2025 Sky Broadband Rapid League championship with a determined 37–30 victory over the Southland Sharks at Trafalgar Centre, capping off an impressive season in front of an energetic home crowd keen to see the Giants take back to back titles.
Nelson set the tone early, bursting out to a 16–4 lead in the opening quarter thanks to the hot hand of captain Sam Dempster, who knocked down four triples on his way to a game-high 14 points and 6 rebounds. The Giants’ defense smothered the Sharks early, forcing turnovers and controlling the boards.
The Sharks, led by Brayden Inger (8 points on 4-of-5 shooting) and a spark off the bench from Jack Ramage (10 points), fought back with a big third quarter, narrowing the gap to just eight points heading into the final period. But Nelson’s depth and hustle proved to be enough down the stretch.
Aston Inwood was a force for the Giants, adding 6 points and a game-high 9 rebounds, while Alex McNaught controlled the tempo, dishing out 3 assists and adding 4 points. The Giants dominated the offensive glass (14 offensive rebounds), turning them into 11 second-chance points, and kept their composure from the free throw line, shooting 66%.
For the Sharks, despite shooting an efficient 56% from two (44% overall), turnovers and foul trouble in the first half proved costly. Hayden Collier contributed 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Giants’ balanced attack.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Trafalgar Centre crowd celebrated as the Giants lifted the Rapid League trophy (metaphorically speaking), closing out a season built on defensive grit, teamwork, and clutch performances to claim their 2nd consecutive Rapid Crown.
NBS Nelson Giants 37 - Sam Dempster (14pts, 6rbs, 3stls), Aston Inwood (6pts, 9rbs, 1ast)
Southland Sharks 30 - Jack Ramage (10pts, 1rb), Brayden Inger (8pts, 4rbs, 2ast, 1stl)
The Otago Nuggets claimed a dramatic 51–49 overtime win over the Taranaki Airs in Sky Broadband Rapid League action in New Plymouth, overcoming an early double-digit deficit to secure victory on the road.
The Airs came out flying, dominating the first quarter 16–9 behind the efficient inside play of Quintin Bailey (6 points, 7 rebounds) and the hot shooting of Scott Telfer, who poured in a team-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including three triples. Dom Kelman-Poto added energy off the bench with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, helping Taranaki build a lead that grew as large as 13 points.
But the Nuggets chipped away steadily, led by a huge double-double performance from Patrick Freeman, who finished with 19 points and an eye-popping 11 rebounds. Freeman powered the Nuggets on the boards and kept them alive at the free throw line, going 4-of-8. Christian Martin was electric from deep, draining 4-of-7 from deep on his way to 17 points.
Otago surged in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Airs 15–8 to force overtime. Noah Mcdowall hit a pair of big threes, as Darcy Knox ran the offense, dishing out 5 assists despite a cold shooting night.
In overtime, the Nuggets edged ahead thanks to clutch Martin free throws after a Cam Quinell triple, which combined with big defensive stops, sealing the win and denying the Airs despite Bailey's late efforts. Taranaki finished the night shooting an impressive 62% overall and 54% from three, but costly turnovers (6) and Otago’s second-chance points (12) turned the tide.
The win capped an entertaining, high-paced contest that saw the Nuggets move up to 6th on the Rapid ladder heading into their final game of the year as the Airs finished their season 9th overall.
Steeelformers Taranaki Airs 49 - Scott Telfer (19pts, 3rbs, 3ast), Dom Kelman-Poto (11pts, 2rbs, 1ast)
Night ‘n Day Otago Nuggets 51- Patrick Freeman (19pts, 11rbs, 2ast), Christian Martin (17pts, 3rbs, 1ast)
The Auckland Tuatara produced a balanced, high-energy performance to claim a 47–31 road victory over the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in Rapid League action at Rodney Green Arena, backed by an efficient shooting night and strong team defense.
Auckland jumped out early, winning the first quarter 15–8 behind the versatile scoring of Zach Riley, who led all scorers with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Riley was backed by Dylan Wilkie, who drilled four triples on his way to 12 points, giving the Tuatara a seven point opening quarter lead they never surrendered.
The Hawks battled hard to stay in it, with Jacob Murphy contributing 12 points and Ezrah Eagle adding 9 points at an efficient 66% from the floor. But the Hawks struggled with turnovers (6) and couldn’t slow Auckland’s inside presence.
The Tuatara controlled the paint, scoring 20 points inside and grabbing 21 rebounds (including 6 offensive). Nicholas Barrow was key under the rim, finishing with 5 points and a game-high 6 rebounds, while Joshua Leger chipped in 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks to anchor the defense.
Auckland’s bench also made an impact, adding 8 points led by Chris Wyllie (5 points). As a team, the Tuatara shot an impressive 54% from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
Despite late efforts from the Hawks, including some bright moments from Dante Matakatea (5 points, 4 rebounds), the Tuatara kept control, extending the lead to as much as 16 and closing out a comfortable win.
The result showcased Auckland’s late season surge, their 4th straight win to finish the season placing them fifth on the table, while the Hawks slumped to their 3rd straight defeat to finish the season in 7th place.
Total Energies Hawks 17- Jacob Murphy (12pts, 3rbs, 2ast, 1stl), Ezrah Eagle (9pts, 3rbs, 2ast)
Jadcup Auckland Tuatara - 37 Zach Riley (15pts, 3rbs), Dylan Wilkie (12pts, r1bs, 2ast)
The Otago Nuggets surged to a comfortable 37–23 road win over the Manawatū Jets, powered by a strong final quarter and efficient scoring inside the three-point line.
It was a defensive grind early, with the Nuggets holding Manawatū to just 8 points across the first half and carrying a 21–8 lead into halftime. The Jets showed signs of life in the third, cutting into the margin as they locked down defensively, but Otago slammed the door with a dominant 15–6 final period to seal the victory.
Mac Stodart led the way for the Nuggets with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and Noah Mcdowall chipped in 6 points on an efficient 75% from the field. Otago’s frontcourt depth proved decisive, as they outscored the Jets 26–10 in the paint and out-rebounded them 21–14.
Manawatū had a tough shooting night (27% from the floor), despite efforts from Kairangi Te Huki (8 points, 3-3 FT) and Tinashe Matambanadzo (6 points) as they missed the scoring of Tyson Thata-Paese who was moved into the NBL starting lineup. Turnovers also hurt, as the Jets coughed it up 7 times to hamper what little momentum they had created.
Otago got contributions across the board, including Darcy Knox (4 points, 4 rebounds) and Patrick Freeman (6 points, 2 assists). Off the bench, Christian Martin and Liam Boomer combined for 6 points and solid defense.
With the win, the Nuggets showcased their balance and discipline and claimed a 6th place finish, the Jets slumping to 10th overall.
Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 36 - Kairangi Te Huki (8pts, 2rbs), Tinashe Matambanadzo (6pts, 2rbs, 2ast)
Night ‘n Day Otago Nuggets 33 - Mac Stodart (13pts, 6rbs, 1ast), Patrick Freeman (6pts, 1rb, 2ast)
The Canterbury Rams rode a third-quarter surge and a huge night from Brody Cooper to secure a 34–29 win over the Franklin Bulls at Cowles Stadium.
After trailing by three at the end of the first quarter, the Rams swung momentum their way with an 11–8 second quarter, then took control in the third, outscoring the Bulls 14–7 to build a buffer they wouldn’t surrender.
Brody Cooper was electric, leading all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while adding 8 rebounds. Ihaka Cate added 10 points, including three timely triples, and Sam Smith chipped in with all-round contributions, finishing with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Canterbury’s defense locked in late, holding Franklin to just 4 points in the final quarter, sealing the win despite closing the game ice cold themselves with just 2 points in the final term.
For the Bulls, KC Nwafor was a standout, finishing with 12 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting, while Payton Hughes had 9 points from deep. But the Bulls struggled to get to the line (0/4 FT) and couldn’t convert enough second-chance opportunities to close the gap.
The Rams capitalised on Franklin’s turnovers, scoring 6 points off them, and won the rebounding battle 20–15, helping them grind out the win in a physical contest.
With the win, the streaking Canterbury Rams move up to third spot on the final ladder, while the loss sees Franklin drop to 8th in the final standings.
BBQ’s Direct Canterbury Rams 51 - Brody Cooper (15pts, 8rbs, 1stl, 2blks), Ihaka Cate (10pts, 3rbs)
Franklin Bulls 42 - KC Nwafor (12pts, 5rbs, 3blks), Payton Hughes (9pts, 3rbs, 1ast)
Final Standings
| Position | Team | GP | W | L | %won | For | Agst | % | L5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Nelson Giants | 20 | 16 | 4 | 80 | 741 | 618 | 119 | W W W L W |
| 2 |  |
Tauranga Whai | 20 | 15 | 5 | 75 | 714 | 639 | 111 | W W W W W |
| 3 |  |
Canterbury Rams | 20 | 14 | 6 | 70 | 785 | 724 | 108 | W W W W W |
| 4 |  |
Auckland Tuatara | 20 | 12 | 8 | 60 | 730 | 673 | 108 | L W W W W |
| 5 |  |
Wellington Saints | 19 | 11 | 8 | 57 | 650 | 625 | 104 | L W L W L |
| 6 |  |
Otago Nuggets | 20 | 11 | 9 | 55 | 689 | 685 | 100 | L L L W W |
| 7 |  |
Hawkes Bay Hawks | 20 | 9 | 11 | 45 | 644 | 714 | 90 | L W L L L |
| 8 |  |
Franklin Bulls | 19 | 7 | 12 | 36 | 666 | 702 | 94 | L W W W L |
| 9 |  |
Taranaki Airs | 20 | 6 | 14 | 30 | 674 | 740 | 91 | L L L L L |
| 10 |  |
Manawatū Jets | 20 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 693 | 744 | 93 | L L L L L |
| 11 |  |
Southland Sharks | 20 | 3 | 17 | 15 | 614 | 736 | 83 | L W L L L |
Scoring Leaders
| Tyson Thata | Manawatū Jets | 15.0
PPG
|
| Mana Martin | Canterbury Rams | 12.5 |
| Hayden Jones | Nelson Giants | 10.8 |
| Xanda Marsters | Tauranga Whai | 9.7 |
| Christian Martin | Otago Nuggets | 9.6 |
