Off-Season Player Wrap Week 8

It’s Monday and it is time to check in with how our players are tracking in the off-season as they prepare for NBL24.

NBL1 and NZ NBL have hit the halfway mark of their respective seasons, and the race is on towards the pointy end of the season.

Let’s take a look at how our players performed over the weekend:

Ben Ayre – Sandringham Sabres – NBL1 South

Ben Ayre had himself a weekend out in NBL1 South with the Sandringham Sabres. Ayre was unstoppable in Friday night’s 11-point win over Mt Gambier with a game-high 39 points.

The domination of Ayre didn’t stop there, with the Sabres backing up their performance on Sunday with a 32-point win over NW Tasmania. Ayre scored another game-high 27 points in the win.

Sandringham 95-84 Mt Gambier
Ayre: 39 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal.

Sandringham 100-68 NW Tasmania
Ayre: 27 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal.

The Sabres will look to continue their winning streak against Diamond Valley Eagles on Saturday.

Gorjok Gak – Willetton Tigers – NBL1 West

Gorjok Gak and the Willetton Tigers bounced back strongly after last round’s loss, with back-to-back wins over the weekend.

After being down by 15 points at the first break on Saturday, the Tigers fought back against Mandurah Magic to win by two points. Gak notched up 23 points at 80% from the field in the win.

The Tigers returned to the floor the next day taking on the Goldfields Giants, where they took home an eight-point victory. Gak went on to collect his eighth double-double for the season with 18 points and 16 rebounds and showed off some of his impressive dunking ability in the game.

Tigers 108-106 Mandurah Magic
Gak: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal.

Tigers 94-86 Goldfields Giants
Gak: 18 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists.

The Tigers and Gak return to the court on Saturday to take on the Warwick Senators and continue their climb up the ladder from fourth position.

(Gak produced impressive dunks in his wins over the weekend. Photo: Bay.Files)

Owen Foxwell – Eltham Wildcats – NBL1 South

Owen Foxwell and Eltham were put to their paces on Saturday against the Ringwood Hawks.

The Hawks remained close throughout the game sending it into overtime. Luckily, the Wildcats got the last laugh, taking out the game by five points.

Foxwell continued his growth with a 17-point and seven-assist game. With the win, the Wildcats sit on top of the NBL1 South ladder.

Eltham 104-99 Ringwood Hawks
Foxwell: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals.

Eltham will be looking to hold top spot with back-to-back games this weekend against the Hobart Chargers and NW Tasmania.

(Foxwell and the Wildcats are currently on top of the ladder in NBL1 South. Photo: Travis Palmieri)

Reuben Te Rangi – Auckland Tuatara – NZ NBL

Reuben Te Rangi and his side Auckland also finished the weekend with back-to-back wins.

Auckland got their revenge on the Otago Nuggets from earlier in the season and handed the ladder leaders their first loss on Thursday night, with a nine-point win. Te Rangi recorded 10 points and seven assists in the game.

They returned to the court on Saturday to get a crucial 12-point win over the Canterbury Rams with Te Rangi notching up 12 points in the win.

Auckland 93-84 Otago Nuggets
Te Rangi: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals.

Auckland 84-72 Canterbury Rams
Te Rangi: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal.

Te Rangi and Auckland will look to keep the wins coming when they take on Manawatu Jets on Sunday. 

Anzac Rissetto – Taranaki Airs – NZ NBL

Unfortunately, Anzac Rissetto and his side the Airs weren’t able to notch up a win, going down by seven points to the Franklin Bulls. Rissetto had a quiet game contributing six points and six rebounds.

Airs 71-78 Franklin Bulls
Rissetto: 6 points, 6 rebounds.

The Airs and Rissetto will open the next round against the Canterbury Rams on Thursday night.

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.

Phoenix Media (22/05/23)