Take that Otago... Shark attack at Stadium Southland
Monday night’s massacre of the Otago Nuggets might just be the spark needed to set up the Southland Sharks' march toward the NBL playoffs.
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The Southland Sharks have dished up its most dominant display in the National Basketball League for some time thumping the Otago Nuggets 116-79 in Invercargill on Monday night.
Earlier in the season in Dunedin, it was the Nuggets who recorded a 76-68 victory over the Sharks.
They claimed the ILT Challenge Shield that night which is played for between the two teams. At that time, it seemed coach Brent Matehaere took great delight in parading the shield around in the background of a Sharks player interview soon after the game.
That moment quite possibly stuck with the Sharks, and provided a bit of motivation, as they went about destroying the defending champions from the outset in Invercargill on Monday night.
The Sharks led 34-17 after the first quarter, 64-41 at halftime, 98-52 at the end of the third quarter, before finishing 116-79 winners.
At one point in the third quarter, Southland led by 46 points in what was arguably the most dominant performance of the entire 2023 NBL season.
Otago was missing star point guard JaQuori McLaughlin through a knee injury but its woes on Monday night were much bigger than the loss of one player.
The Sharks won the rebounding battle 46-26 and in basketball that’s often regarded as an effort area.
Southland’s dominance at the attacking end of the court was spread throughout with seven players reaching double figures.
But it was the defensive showing that would have prompted the biggest smile from coach Guy Molloy.
The Sharks had struggled defensively in recent weeks but against the Nuggets they were ruthless holding them to 79 points.
Monday night’s massacre of the Nuggets might just be the spark needed to set up the Sharks’ march toward the playoffs.
They will be back on the ILT Stadium Southland court on Saturday night when the Sharks take on the Taranaki Airs.
Tip-off will be 5pm.
Southland Sharks 116 (Alonzo Burton 20, Ben Hall 19, Grant Anticevich 18, Jeremy Kendle 14, Josh Cuningham 12, Brayden Inger 11, Alex Pledger 10), Otago Nuggets 79 (Michael Harris 21, Sam Timmins 15). Quarter scores 34-17, 64-41, 98-52.