Airs rout Hawks, Jets fend off Sharks
- NZ Sports Wire
- Mar 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 30
The Taranaki Airs are challenging at the top of the National Basketball League (NBL) with a 3-1 start to the 2025 season.
A huge team effort lifted the Steelformers Airs to a 114-88 win over the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in New Plymouth in Sal’s NBL action on Saturday.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Six players made double-figures for the Airs, as 23-year-old big Jack Andrew, who has previously been at the Otago Nuggets and the Perth Wildcats, lit up the scoreboard with 21 points ( along with 12 rebounds.
Armon Fletcher nabbed 20 points and Australian Harry Froling 18. There was also support from Owen Foxwell, Carlin Davison and Jack Exeter also in double digits.
For the Hawks teenager Jackson Ball led the way with 23 points as did Campbell Scott along with Chicago-born Darnell Cowart on 20.
The Airs host defending champions the Rams on Wednesday 2 April, while the Hawks are away to the Hawks on Saturday 5 April.
In the Sky Broadband Rapid League game, Isaac Allan scored 15 points and grabbed six boards off the bench to lead the Hawks to a 32-29 victory.
Taranaki Airs 114 (Jack Andrew 21, Armon Fletcher 20, Harry Froling 18, Owen Foxwell 17, Carlin Davison 15, Jack Exeter 13) Hawke's Bay Hawks 88 (Jackson Ball 23, Campbell Scott 23, Darnell Cowart 20). 1Q: 27-15, HT: 54-31, 3Q: 85-64
A good comeback on their Southern tour for the Manawatu Jets who are now 3-2 for the season as they beat the Southland Sharks 88-85 in Invercargill.
Twenty-year-old Dontae Russo-Nance went big with 35 points including four successful three point shots, five rebounds and three steasls. He was backed up by Miles Gibson with 24 and Eric Williams Jr 13.
The game was never truly wrapped up until the last seconds of the final quarter after the home side won the first period by four but trailed by five at the second before being down 61-59 going into the final.
Nebraska's Josiah Allick was top-scorer for the Sharks with 29 points and a dozen rebounds. Alonzo Burton in his fifth season with the Sharks scored 20.
The Sharks host the Auckland Tuatara on Friday 4 April in their next game, while the Jets are in Palmerston North and face the Saints on Sunday 5 April.
Earlier, Tyson Thata-Paese hit five threes in his season-high 25 points to take the Jets to a 42-26 win in the Rapid League contest.
Manawatu Jets 88 (Dontae Russo-Nance 35, Miles Gibson 24, Eric Williams Jr 13) Southland Sharks 85 (Josiah Allick 29, Alonzo Burton 20, Caleb Asberry 15, Keylan Boone 12). 1Q: 21-23, HT: 44-41, 3Q: 61-59
