Sharks stun Rams to reach NBL grand final
- NZ Sports Wire
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The Canterbury Rams' reign as National Basketball League (NBL) champions has ended unceremoniously.
After winning back-to-back titles and finishing second in the 2025 regular season, the Rams were dominated by the Southland Sharks 101-82 in the first semifinal at Christchurch's Cowles Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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Newly-anointed NBL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Josiah Allick produced a monster double-double, with a team-high 21 points (8/12 FG, 3/4 3pt) and 15 rebounds, along with three assists, in 38 minutes.
All five Sharks starters scored in double-digits, with their two other American imports, Caleb Asberry going for 19 points (9/12 FG), four boards and nine assists, and Keylan Boone 18 points (7/19 FG, 4/9 3pt), 10 rebounds and two steals.
Tukaha Cooper put up 16 points (6/13 FG, 3/5 3pt) and Sam Timmins 11 points (5/8 FG), five rebounds and three blocks. Off the bench, Alonzo Burton had nine points and Brayden Inger seven points, nine boards and three blocks.
The Sharks shot 53 percent both from the field (41-of-76) and three-point range (14-of-26), while the Rams managed just 35 and 30 percent, respectively, under tight defensive pressure from Southland.
Australian point guard Sean Mcdonald put up a game-high 23 points (7/20 FG, 5/11 3pt, 4/4 FT) for Canterbury, to go with seven assists, while Max Darling had 15 points (5/8 FG, 3/4 3pt) off the bench.
Tall Black Taylor Britt managed 13 points (5/12 FG, 3/4 FT) and six assists, Walter Brown 12 points (5/15 FG, 2/7 3pt) and five boards, and Kaia Isaac eight points, four rebounds and three assists off the bench.
But Australian forward Kyle Bowen, who grabbed a season-high eight steals, and Tall Blacks forward Tohi Smith-Milner were held to a combined nine points.
The Sharks trailed for a total of 1:24 in the game before taking the lead for good midway through the first period. They stretched out to a 14-point lead after the first, to as many as 20 in the second and 29 in the third.
A 12-2 stretch straddling the third-quarter break got the Rams within 19 points but with Southland racking up 50 points in the paint and winning the rebounding battle 53-36, the fourth quarter was largely a procession.
The regular season champion Wellington Saints host the Tauranga Whai in the second semifinal at TSB Arena on Sunday (tip-off 3pm).
Southland Sharks 101 (Josiah Allick 21, Caleb Asberry 19, Keylan Boone 18, Tukaha Cooper 16, Sam Timmins 11) Canterbury Rams 82 (Sean Mcdonald 23, Max Darling 15, Taylor Britt 13, Walter Brown 12). 1Q: 28-14, HT: 47-34, 3Q: 73-48
