NZNBL Wrap (April 23, 2024)

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

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

Illawarra’s Lachlan Olbrich marked his return to NZNBL action with Canterbury by producing his most dominant performance to date in his emerging professional career.

Olbrich’s Rams took on a Hawkes Bay side led by former Breaker and Taipan Jordan Ngatai and Adelaide’s Keanu Rasmussen, and put Cairns’ Josh Roberts to the sword in their post battle.

Olbrich finished the 20-point win with a game-high 35 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and was the only player on his team to register a block.

Rasmussen continued his strong individual NZNBL form with 13 points, while Roberts had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Seven NBL24 players were in action in Wellington’s win over Taranaki, in which Perth forward Hyrum Harris continued to push his case as an early NZNBL MVP candidate.

Harris has taken his game to another level since his debut NBL campaign with the Wildcats, and he flirted with a triple-double for the Saints in their victory over the Airs.

His 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists were supplemented by an equally strong performance from new Sydney signing Izayah Le’Afa who had 27 points and four steals, and 19 point from recent 36ers acquisition Lat Mayen.

For the Airs, Sam Froling continued his good form from the early stages of the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Melbourne’s Flynn Cameron also added 22 points in the defeat.

Free agent Corey Webster continued to prove his worth as a lethal scorer for Auckland Tuatara, and teamed up with Melbourne’s Rob Loe in their side’s dominant 40-point win over Southland.

Webster, Loe and Tasmania’s Tom Vodanovich each scored 23 points in the victory, while Webster also added seven assists and four steals. Reigning NZNBL MVP Loe registered 14 boards in the win to secure another double-double.

Keanu Rasmussen (Hawkes Bay) – 13PTS, 4REB, 2AST vs Canterbury
Lat Mayen (Wellington) – 19PTS, 2REB, 1AST vs Taranaki

Tohi Smith-Milner (Wellington) – 11PTS, 5REB, 3AST vs Taranaki

Josh Roberts (Hawkes Bay) – 10PTS, 11REB, 4BLK

Dan Grida (Nelson) – 19PTS, 5REB, 3STL vs Manawatu
Lachlan Olbrich (Canterbury) – 35PTS, 7REB, 4AST vs Hawkes Bay
Sam Froling (Taranaki) – 22PTS, 11REB, 2AST vs Wellington

Rob Loe (Auckland) – 23PTS, 14REB, 4AST vs Southland
Flynn Cameron (Taranaki) – 22PTS, 9REB, 3AST vs Wellington

Alex McNaught (Nelson) – 3PTS, 1REB, 3AST vs Manawatu
Dan Fotu (Nelson) – 14PTS, 4REB, 3STL vs Manawatu
Dom Kelman-Poto (Franklin) – 2PTS, 3REB vs Otago
Cam Gliddon (Auckland) – 4PTS, 6REB, 4STL vs Southland
Carlin Davison (Taranaki) – 4PTS, 3REB, 4AST vs Wellington

Ben Henshall (Otago) – 18PTS, 10REB, 7AST vs Franklin
Jack Andrew (Otago) – 4PTS, 4REB, 1BLK vs Franklin
Hyrum Harris (Wellington) – 23PTS, 14REB, 8AST vs Taranaki