Rams rebound, Tuatara rout Panthers in NBL
- NZ Sports Wire
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
A strong second quarter and poise down the stretch has propelled the Canterbury Rams past the Manawatu Jets.
The Rams held off the Jets 92-81 at Christchurch's Cowles Stadium, while the Auckland Tuatara were untroubled in defeating the Indian Panthers at Eventfinda Stadium in the National Basketball League (NBL) on Friday night.
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Australian forward Kyle Bowen put up a big double-double, with 17 points (6/12 FG, 5/8 FT), 16 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks in 30 minutes.
Tall Blacks guard Taylor Britt scored a team-high 21 points (9/16 FG), along with nine assists, while national teammate Tohi Smith-Milner also recorded a double-double, with 11 points (3/6 FG, 2/5 3pt) and 14 boards.
Walter Brown put up 13 points (5/8 FG, 2/5 3pt), five boards and three blocks, import forward CJ Penha 11 points (5/12 FG) and seven rebounds, and Tama Isaac 10 points (4/11 FG).
For the Jets, young Kiwi guard Dontae Russo-Nance had a game-high 22 points (8/16 FG, 5/6 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks in 31 minutes.
Corey Webster put up 16 points (7/18 FG, 2/6 3pt), five boards and two steals, Kenny Goins 14 points (6/14 FG, 2/4 3pt) and five rebounds, and fellow American Eric Williams Jr 12 points (4/13 FG, 3/7 3pt) and four boards.
The Rams scored 15 straight points, including eight from Bowen, in the second period to take a 16-point lead.
Manawatu closed within two at the mid-point of the third quarter but Canterbury responded with a 14-3 run, including four three-pointers. The Jets cut the lead to seven late in the game but the Rams patiently closed it out.
Next up, the Rams (5-2) have a week off before hosting the Otago Nuggets (3-3) next Sunday (tip-off 3pm), while the Jets (3-4) head back to Palmerston North to face the Taranaki Airs (4-2) on Sunday (tip-off 6.30pm).
The Rams held off the fast-finishing Jets for a 39-38 win in the Sky Broadband Rapid League contest earlier in the night, giving up a 10 points lead with just over two minutes remaining and surviving a potential game-winning three at the buzzer.
Canterbury Rams 92 (Taylor Britt 21, Kyle Bowen 17, Walter Brown 13, Tohi Smith-Milner 11, CJ Penha 11, Tama Isaac 10) Manawatu Jets 81 (Dontae Russo-Nance 22, Corey Webster 16, Kenny Goins 14, Eric Williams Jr 12). 1Q: 21-19, HT: 48-37, 3Q: 73-65
American guard Charles Pride had his best game in Tuatara teal, hitting six triples and going for 21 points (6/8 FG, 6/8 3pt, 3/4 FT) and four rebounds in just 19 minutes.
Australian guard Will Hickey came up just short of his third straight triple-double but still managed 20 points (5/8 FG, 9/14 FT), eight boards, seven assists and three steals, with Kiwi centre Rob Loe going for 15 points (6/11 FG), five rebounds and two steals.
Youngester Dylan Wilkie had 14 points (5/9 FG, 4/8 3pt) and four boards off the bench, third import Buay Tuach 13 points (6/7 FG) and four assists, and Tall Blacks forward Tom Vodanovich 12 points (4/9 FG, 2/5 3pt), seven rebounds and two steals.
Young Kiwi point guard Cooper Lepou was the only Panthers player in double-digits, with 21 points (7/11 FG, 5/9 3pt) off the bench.
Against the still-makeshift first-year Panthers, the Tuatara built a 16-point lead after the first quarter, went up by 25 by halftime and 40 after three periods.
The Tuatara (4-3) remain at home to face the Hawke's Bay Hawks (4-2) on Sunday (tip-off 1pm), while the Panthers (0-7) return to the court on Tuesday (tip-off 7pm), welcoming the Hawks (4-2) to Pukekohe.
The Panthers avoided the night sweep, winning the Rapid League clash 40-33, thanks to 10 points from Luke Kelemete and Zack Te Puni.
Auckland Tuatara 114 (Charles Pride 21, Will Hickey 20, Rob Loe 15, Dylan Wilkie 14, Buay Tuach 13, Tom Vodanovich 12) Indian Panthers 71 (Cooper Lepou 21). 1Q: 34-18, HT: 64-39, 3Q: 93-53