Southland Sharks well off NBL pace
The Guy Molloy-coached Southland Sharks recorded its seventh straight loss, with many of those by big margins.
Canterbury Rams 87 (KJ Buffen (24pts, 8rbs, 3stls) Lachlan Olbrich (19pts, 20rbs), Taylor Britt (14pts, 8ast, 3stls), Southland Sharks 65 (Alonzo Burton (19pts), Callum McRae (16pts, 15rbs, 4ast), Caleb Asberry (14pts, 8rbs, 6stls).
It’s difficult to wrap up the Southland Sharks’ performances at the moment without being a touch brutal.
We might as well be honest about it; the Sharks are a long way off the pace in the 2024 New Zealand NBL with few signs of getting better.
The TAB highlighted that pregame when they had Southland $18 outsiders to beat the Canterbury Rams at what historically has been a fortress for the Sharks at ILT Stadium Southland.
Those bookmakers were proved correct with the Sharks’ horror start to the 2024 season continuing through an 87-65 loss to the Canterbury Rams.
It was the Guy Molloy-coached team’s seventh straight loss, with many of those losses by big margins.
The Sharks welcomed back captain Alonzo Burton from injury on Saturday in a timely boost to morale and playing resource. Burton provided Southland with what they needed in offense through his 19-point haul. It included three three-pointers in the third quarter to spark some momentum.
Callum McRae - who had struggled to date this season - also showed plenty more on Saturday night with his 16 points, 15 rebounds, four assists.
But the reality is Southland again didn’t get enough out of its imports in a league where they are so important to teams. Particularly for those teams based outside the bigger centres.
Replacement American import Caleb Asberry appears to have added some energy to the group and probably will be an asset for the remainder of the campaign.
And in a nice touch on Saturday night, Asberry was spotted playing basketball with young Sharks fans well after the fulltime whistle. It suggests the Sharks have also landed a quality person as well.
But between fellow imports Marcale Lotts and LaGerald Vick, they contributed just 11 points and eight rebounds on Saturday night.
The Sharks have already made a move by cutting import Josh Turner early in the season, and with 13 games still to be played the microscope is now likely to hover over Lotts’ output as well.
Southland scored just 23 points in the first half to trail 43-23, before providing those at the ‘Shark Tank’ with something to get excited about in the third quarter when they went on a run.
That was sparked by Burton as Southland won the third quarter 26-20.
But that good work was underdone in the final quarter when they again put up just 14 points as the Rams locked in the 87-65 victory.
Yet again Southland has a short wait to right the wrongs when they host the Nelson Giants in Invercargill at ILT Stadium Southland on Friday night.