Southland Sharks crush Otago to open 2025 campaign
In the process the Sharks also unleashed a player in import Josiah Allick who has quickly put the New Zealand National Basketball League on notice.
Southland 98: Josiah Allick (26pts, 11rbs, 2ast), Alonzo Burton (19pts, 5-7 3pfg), Tukaha Cooper (19pts, 5rbs, 7ast)
Otago 70: Jose Perez (16pts, 9rbs, 4ast), Christian Martin (16pts, 7rbs, 2ast), Darcy Knox (11pts)
MVP Votes: Josiah Allick (Sharks) - 10 Votes, Tukaha Cooper (Sharks) - 6 Votes, Alonzo Burton (Sharks) - 5 Votes, Caleb Asberry (Sharks) - 3 Votes, Christian Martin (Otago) - 3 Votes, Jose Perez (Otago) - 3 Votes.
A lot can change in 12 months - just ask those at the Southland Sharks HQ.
This time last year the Sharks travelled to Dunedin to take on the Otago Nuggets in round one of the 2024 Sal’s NBL.
The Sharks, on that day, were beaten by an understrength Nuggets team and cracks quickly appeared in the Southland camp - to the extent one of their American imports wanted out.
It led to a disastrous 2024 campaign, finishing 10th with a six-win-14-loss record.
On Friday night, in round one of the 2025 NBL season, life was much different for those ardent followers of the team in orange.
The Sharks again ventured to Dunedin to take on their closest rivals, but this time Southland crushed the Nuggets 98-70 and looked like a team having a lot of fun doing it.
In the process, the Sharks also unleashed a player in import Josiah Allick who has quickly put the New Zealand National Basketball League on notice.
In the lead up to Friday night’s season opener, Allick declared he was one of the more athletic players in the league and he backed that statement up in Dunedin for all to see.
The unique character was sporting pigtails and wore short shorts like he was inserted into the NZNBL from the 1970s.
But all that aside, boy can Allick play. The American, in his first pro gig, finished with 26 points - which included some athletic plays - as well as 11 rebounds.
At this point, Allick is scheduled to head back to the United States midway through the NBL season as part of a pre-planned roster change-up that includes Tall Black Sam Timmins coming in, as well as another American import.
We are only one game in, but coach Jonathan Yim may be revisiting those plans given the impression Allick has made in such a short space of time.
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But it should be pointed out, Friday night’s demolition job of the Otago Nuggets wasn’t a one-man band type performance.
Southland hit 13 threes at 46% from long-range with Tukaha Cooper knocking down four from six in 26 minutes off the bench. It was a statement type performance for the 22-year-old.
Cooper spent three seasons with the Manawatu Jets before last year joining the Auckland Tuatara.
He has now linked with the Southland with the hope of elevating his career under coach Yim. If Friday night is anything to go by, it’s a good move for Cooper.
Veteran Alonzo Burton also did Alonzo Burton things on Friday night with his five three pointers in a 19-point haul.
The focus now flicks to a showdown against the Canterbury Rams next Friday night in Christchurch. Many have tipped the Rams as the leading title contenders in the competition.
Although an understrength Rams outfit did suffer a first up loss to Tauranga Whai on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the Southland Sharks were beaten 27-18 by the Nuggets in the curtain-raiser Rapid League contest on Friday night.
Rapid League MVP Votes: Christian Martin (Otago) - 10 Votes, Caleb Smiler (Otago) 7 Votes, Hayden Collier (Southland) - 6 Votes, Patrick Freeman (Otago) - 3 Votes, Dane Betinshaw (Southland) - 2 Votes, Noah McDowall (Otago) - 2 Votes.