NZNBL Wrap (April 16, 2024)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

The New Zealand National Basketball League is stacked with more NBL talent than ever before.

A battle between the Perth Wildcats’ NZNBL representatives headline the contributions of NBL players to the competition this past week, as Ben Henshall, Jack Andrew and Tai Webster can take bragging rights over Hyrum Harris, thanks to Otago’s victory over Wellington.

Henshall led the Nuggets with 29 points and a trio of steals in the seven-point victory, where he impressively hit five of his eight attempted three-pointers.

The Boomers representative top scored for his team and was supported by strong contributions from Kimani Lawrence and Zaccheus Darko-Kelly.

Andrew finished the game with eight points and 10 rebounds, while Webster had 13 points and eight boards for the Nuggets.

Harris continued his strong form for the Saints against his batch of Wildcats teammates and placed himself on early triple-double watch. The former Adelaide 36er ended the game with 16 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists.

Tohi Smith-Milner led the way for the Saints in the defeat, with 30 points and 12 rebounds.

Reported Sydney Kings signing Izayah Le’Afa performed well in the clash against the Nuggets, but elevated his game in the Saints’ second game of the weekend, in which he finished with 20 points and five steals against Southland.

Melbourne’s Flynn Cameron made his first appearance for the season alongside Sam Froling, Mitch McCarron and Carlin Davison in Taranaki’s dominant win over Whai.

Cameron finished the 33-point victory with 18 points of his own, while Froling registered another double-double, this time with 24 points and 14 boards.

Auckland’s uncontracted NBL duo of Rob Loe and Corey Webster starred in Tuatara’s pair of clashes, in what has been a split week for the side.

First, they fell to Dan Grida’s Nelson Giants. The Hawks forward had 18 points for the Giants, while Dan Fotu starred with 17 points and 12 boards in the four-point win.

Webster had 25 points, while Loe – who retired from NBL basketball prior to signing on with Melbourne as an injury replacement player last season – had 18 points and 15 rebounds.

Webster then scored another 25 points in his side’s 12-point win over Canterbury, while Loe added an immense 33 points and 13 boards.

Tasmania’s Tom Vodanovich added 31 points of his own in the victory over the Rams.

Keanu Rasmussen (Hawkes Bay) – 21PTS, 6REB, 3STL vs Manawatu
Mitch McCarron (Taranaki) – 2PTS, 5REB, 6AST vs Whai
Lat Mayen (Wellington) – 15PTS, 2REB, 1STL vs Otago | 15PTS, 3REB, 2AST vs Southland
Tohi Smith-Milner (Wellington) – 30PTS, 12REB, 2BLK vs Otago | 6PTS, 6REB, 3AST vs Southland

Josh Roberts (Hawkes Bay) - 6PTS, 10REB vs Manawatu

Dan Grida (Nelson) – 18PTS, 3REB, 2STL vs Auckland
Sam Froling (Taranaki) – 24PTS, 14REB, 4AST vs Whai

Flynn Cameron (Taranaki) – 18PTS, 6REB, 1BLK vs Whai

Alex McNaught (Nelson) – 13PTS, 6REB, 2STL vs Auckland
Dan Fotu (Nelson) – 17PTS, 12REB, 5AST vs Auckland
Carlin Davison (Taranaki) – 20PTS, 9REB, 2BLK vs Whai
Izayah Le’Afa (Wellington) – 15PTS, 3REB, 3AST vs Otago | 20PTS, 5AST, 5STL vs Southland
Max Darling (Canterbury) – 7PTS vs Auckland

Ben Henshall (Otago) – 29PTS, 6REB, 3STL vs Wellington
Jack Andrew (Otago) – 8PTS, 10REB, 2STL vs Wellington
Tai Webster (Otago) – 13PTS, 8REB, 2AST vs Wellington
Hyrum Harris (Wellington) – 16PTS, 17REB, 7AST vs Otago | 21PTS, 7REB, 8AST vs Southland

Reuben Te Rangi (Auckland) – 16PTS, 7REB, 4AST vs Nelson | 11PTS, 7REB, 9AST vs Canterbury
Ben Ayre (Wellington) – 13PTS, 9AST, 4STL vs Otago | 17PTS, 2REB, 5AST vs Southland