Off-Season Player Wrap Week 10

Feature Image: Jack Riddiford Creative

It’s Monday and that calls for our weekly off-season wrap. Let’s check in with how our contracted players are performing in Puerto Rico, New Zealand and NBL1.

Matt Kenyon – USC Rip City – NBL1 North

Matt Kenyon was one of the main contributors for USC Rip City on Saturday against the Gold Coast Rollers. 

Coming up against other NBL stars in Todd Blanchfield and Adelaide 36ers’ Jason Cadee, Kenyon teamed up with Sydney Kings’ Kouat Noi as the four players that produced big numbers. Kenyon worked hard defensively recording 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, along with four steals. Unfortunately, Rip City went down by 13 points to the second-placed Gold Coast.

Rip City 97-120 Gold Coast Rollers
Kenyon: 22 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals.

Rip City looks to return to the winner’s list against the Northside Wizards on Saturday.

Ben Ayre – Sandringham Sabres – NBL1 South

Sandringham Sabres took on the Ballarat Miners on the weekend, with Ben Ayre returning to the side after a week off.

Ayre returned in style notching up 27 points and 100% from the free throw line (11/11) in the 12-point win over the Miners. The win sees the Sabres in fourth position at 10-4.

Sandringham 99-87 Ballarat Miners
Ayre: 27 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal.

Sandringham and Ayre return to the floor on Thursday to take on the Melbourne Tigers.

Mitch Creek – Mets de Guaynabo – BSN League

Mitch Creek and the Mets had three close games over the last week, which saw them finish the weekend at 1-2.

Starting with Thursday's game, the Mets had a close game against Vaqueros de Bayamon, resulting in Creek and his side being the one-point victors. Creek had a strong defensive presence scoring 10 points with three blocks.

The Mets returned to the floor on Thursday in a tight battle against Carlduros Fajardo, which saw the Mets fight back to send the game into overtime. Sadly, they went down by three points, even with Creek contributing a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds for his side.

Vaqueros de Bayamon had revenge over the Mets in yesterday’s game taking the win by five points. Creek had a quiet game only scoring four points.

Mets 101-100 Vaqueros de Bayamon
Creek: 10 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks.

Mets 92-95 Carlduros Fajardo
Creek: 26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks.

Mets 81-86 Vaqueros de Bayamon
Creek: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists.

The Mets have five home and away games left, starting with Cangrejeros on Wednesday.

Watch all Mets de Guaynabo games via their YouTube Channel.

(The Mets currently sit second on the ladder with five home and away games to go.)

Owen Foxwell – Eltham Wildcats – NBL1 South

Owen Foxwell and the Eltham Wildcats had a huge win on the weekend over the Casey Cavaliers. 

In the 48-point win, Foxwell provided depth defensively notching up 13 points, three steals, and two blocks. 

The Wildcats sit second on the ladder at 10-3 with a month left in the home and away season.

Eltham 114-66 Casey Cavaliers
Foxwell: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks.

The Wildcats have a week off this weekend before the return for a top-of-the-ladder game against Frankston Blues on the 17th of June.

(Foxwell and the Wildcats had a massive 48-point win over the weekend.)

Gorjok Gak – Willetton Tigers – NBL1 West

The Willetton Tigers recorded their fourth win in a row over the Eastern Suns over the weekend.

In the nine-point win, Gorjok Gak had 21 points and six rebounds. The close win did see the Tigers slip to third based on percentage.

Willetton 94-85 Eastern Suns
Gak: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks.

The Tigers return to the floor on Saturday to take on the Lakeside Lightning.

(The Tigers are on a four game winning streak in NBL1 West.)

Reuben Te Rangi – Auckland Tuatara – NZ NBL

Reuben Te Rangi and the Auckland Tuatara recorded their fifth win in a row on Saturday.

Te Rangi had 14 points, two rebounds, and two assists in the 14-point win over the Manawatu Jets.

Auckland sit second on the ladder at 8-3 with over a month to play in the home and away season.

Auckland 96-82 Manawatu Jets
Te Rangi: 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists.

Auckland looks to make it six wins in a row when they take on the Franklin Bulls on Sunday. 

That’s it for this week’s weekly wrap, check back next week to see how Phoenix’s contracted players are going locally and internationally. 

Sign up now for NBL24

Phoenix Media (05/06/23)