Hardy inspires Franklin Bulls past Nuggets
- NZ Sports Wire
- May 3
- 2 min read
Franklin Bulls guard Tae Hardy has added to his MVP resume with another game-winning performance.
Hardy went off for a game-high 35 points as the Logik Bulls protected their home court at 'The Stockyard' in Pukekohe on Friday night, winning 95-87, to be the first team to eight wins in the National Basketball League (NBL).
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The 6-foot-3 American went 14-of-23 from the floor, including 6-of-9 on three-point attempts, adding seven rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and a block to his stat-line, as he played 37 minutes.
German big man Till Gloger supported with 21 points (9/16 FG) and five boards, while Marcel Jones just missed a double-double on a perfect shooting night, with 17 points (7/7 FG, 3/3 3pt), nine rebounds and three steals.
Despite being held to just three points, David Okwera contributed 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while Tobias Cameron had nine points and three boards.
The Nuggets had five players finish in double-digits, led by American forward Jose Perez with 20 points (5/17 FG, 2/6 3pt, 8/9 FT), six rebounds, three steals and a block.
Otago's other two imports, Jaylen Sebree and Donald Carey Jr, gave the bulk of the offensive support. Sebree had 16 points (7/19 FG, 2/8 3pt), six boards and four assists, and Carey Jr 15 points (4/11 FG, 3/9 3pt, 4/4 FT), five rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.
One-game Tall Black Jono Janssen put up 14 points (6/12 FG, 2/5 3pt), five boards and two blocks, and Matthew Bardsley 10 points and three steals off the bench.
The Bulls only trailed for 20 seconds but the Nuggets hung around until a 13-4 run, keyed by back-to-back triples from Ethan Rusbatch and Hardy, in the fourth put the game out of reach.
After the international break next week, the Bulls host the Nelson Giants in Pukekohe on Sunday, May 18 (tip-off 3pm), while the Nuggets are next in action against the Southland Shark in Invercargill the same day (tip-off 6.30pm).
Guard Payton Hughes hit 7-of-9 three-point attempts in his game-high 25 points off the bench as the Bulls claimed a 38-34 win over the Nuggets in the Sky Broadband Rapid League contest.
Franklin Bulls 95 (Tae Hardy 35, Till Gloger 21, Marcel Jones 17) Otago Nuggets 87 (Jose Perez 20, Jaylen Sebree 16, Donald Carey Jr 15, Jono Janssen 14, Matthew Bardsley 10). 1Q: 32-29, 51-46, 74-69
