Saints Secure 13th NBL Championship

Credit to NZ Sportswire

The Wellington Saints have scored a narrow win over the Southland Sharks to secure their 13th National Basketball League (NBL) title.

Playing to a sold out crowd at Wellington’s TSB Arena on Sunday afternoon, the Aaron Young-coached Saints defeated the Sharks 88-83.

Young had lost the last three finals with the Auckland Tuatara before moving south to the Saints and finally got his championship.

However the Saints had Hyrum Harris at his best with 20 points, 14 rebounds and three assists combining well alongside Australian Nick Marshall, who posted 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

New Tall Blacks captain Jordan Ngatai contributed 19 points, Australian guard Shaun Bruce 13 points and Izayah Le'afa 11 points.

For the Sharks, Kiwi Sam Timmins was impressive with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists while league MVP Josiah Allick finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Keylan Boone was the Sharks leading scorer with 19 points and six rebounds to give coaches Jonathann Yim and John Auld some hope.

Considering the Sharks did not look like finals contenders until the back end of the season, the fact they beat defending champions the Rams to make the final was impressive enough.

Wellington Saints 88 (Hyrum Harris 20pts, Jordan Ngatai 19, Shaun Bruce 13)

Southland Sharks 83 (Keylan Boone 19pts, Sam Timmins 17, Josiah Allick 15)

1Q: 25-25, HT: 41-44, 3Q: 67-60