Imports help Sharks upset Whai in NBL
- NZ Sports Wire
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Southland Sharks' import trio have inspired them to an upset win in the National Basketball League (NBL).
Americans Josiah Allick, Keylan Boone and Caleb Asberry combined for 64 points in the Sharks' 84-78 victory over the Tauranga Whai in Week 6 Sal's NBL action at Mercury Baypark Stadium on Thursday night.
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Allick and Boone each compiled double-doubles, with Allick putting up a game-high 27 points (11/16 FG, 4/5 FT), 13 rebounds and four assists, and Boone 26 points (10/17 FG, 4/7 3pt), 10 boards and three blocks.
Asberry chimed in with 11 points (3/5 FG, 5/8 FT), five rebounds, six assists and two steals despite some foul trouble limiting him to 24 minutes.
In contrast, the Whai's three non-Kiwis - Chris Jones, Sean Bairstow and Talib Zanna - were held to just 24 points, with 16 points (7/15 FG), seven boards, five assists and two steals coming from Jones.
NZ Breakers forward Bairstow had just six points, along with four assists, and Zanna, a college teammate of Steven Adams at Pittsburgh, two points and six boards.
Kiwis were the main scorers for the Whai, with Kruz Perrott-Hunt going for 15 points (5/11 FG, 4/7 FT), four boards and three steals, Jayden Bezzant 15 points (5/8 FG, 2/5 3pt) and3x3 Tall Black Te Tuhi Lewis 13 points (4/8 FG, 4/7 3pt).
It was a poor shooting night for the Whai, connecting on just 40 percent from the field, 29 percent on three-point attempts and 55 percent at the foul-line.
In a game that featured 16 lead changes and eight ties, Tauranga led for most of the first half, and by as many as 13 midway through the second quarter. The Sharks reduced that to four just before halftime and took the lead for the first time since the first period in the middle of the third.
The teams exchanged the lead 10 more times before the Sharks went ahead for good with 2:02 to play, scoring the game's last seven points.
The Sharks (3-5) now head to Pukekohe to take on the league-leading Franklin Bulls (6-2) on Saturday (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Whai (5-3) lick their wounds until an away trip to Palmerston North to face the Manawatu Jets (4-4) on Thursday (tip-off 7pm).
The Whai scraped home to win the Sky Broadband Rapid League game 35-32 over the Sharks, despite scoring just five points in the fourth quarter. Denhym Brooke starred with 18 points and five rebounds.
Southland Sharks 84 (Josiah Allick 27, Keylan Boone 26, Caleb Asberry 11) Tauranga Whai 78 (Chris Jones 16, Kruz Perrott-Hunt 15, Jayden Bezzant 15, Te Tuhi Lewis 13). 1Q: 21-26, HT: 41-47, 3Q: 65-65