Basketball: Airs pipped in overtime thriller

NZ Sports Wire

The Canterbury Rams have held off a huge effort from the Taranaki Airs to win a thrilling National Basketball League (NBL) semifinal

Christchurch’s Cowles Stadium was treated to one of the greatest playoff games in NBL history, with the defending champion Rams surviving 112-111 in double-overtime.

The instant classic had multiple momentum swings, numerous lead changes, a nerve-tingling finish and two game-tying buzzer-beaters.

The game was tied 101-101 after one extra period, it looked as if the Airs had claimed an historic win. The teams went basket-for-basket through the second overtime but when Elijah Minnie calmly made two free-throws with three seconds to play the visitors were 111-110 ahead and victory was within their grasp.

However, following a timeout, the Rams found big man Lachlan Olbrich under the hoop on an inbounds play and the Australian centre made no mistake to put his team a point in front.

The Airs used their player timeout to advance the ball but a desperate attempt from Minnie fell short and the Rams were able to celebrate in front of their raucous home fans.

Earlier, the Airs rescued what appeared to be lost causes twice.

In regulation, Flynn Cameron knotted the scores with two seconds to play and in the first overtime period Carlin Davison made a difficult baseline jump shot to tie proceedings on the buzzer.

Seven players had 20-point games in a contest that will be remembered for a long time.

James Walker led the way for the Rams with 23 points, while Olbrich, had his customary double-double (22 points and 16 rebounds). Max Darling and Taylor Britt scored 20 points each, Walter Brown scored 17 and Kaia Isaac chimed in with 10 points

Following his 29-point haul in the first round game against Nelson Giants, Minnie again top-scored for the Airs with 26 points.

Cameron made 6-of-10 threes on his way to 25 points and Davison was also immense with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Derone Raukawa came off the bench to register 14 points, while NZ Breakers-bound Mitch McCarron threatened a triple-double with eight points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

Earlier, in a high energy start, a couple of scores from Olbrich propelled the Rams to an 11-5 start before Davison and Flynn Cameron got the Airs back on level terms.

A Kaia Isaac triple gave the Rams a 16-10 lead but 9 unanswered points from the Airs – six of them to Raukawa – gave the visitors a 23-19 quarter time lead.

A Max Darling triple opened the second stanza scoring before Elijah Minnie opened his account with a two handed flush.

The final three minutes of the frame mirrored the ebb and flow of an intriguing opening half. A Flynn Cameron triple gave the Airs a ten-point cushion only for the Rams to embark on a 12-0 run to grab the lead.

However, Davison’s sideline buzzer beating triple sent the Airs to the locker room with a 50-49 advantage.

There was just one score apiece in the opening three minutes of the second half before a couple of makes from Taylor Britt and Walker Jr took the Rams into the lead (63-57).

The Airs scored a much-needed basket via a Raukawa floater, but Isaac had the last say of the third – the Rams were 69-63 ahead with ten minutes to play.

When Taylor Britt put the Rams 11 points ahead (88-77) with under three minutes to play it looked as if the defending champions were headed to the final only for the Airs to produce a stunning finish.

The crowd were silenced as Flynn Cameron and Minnie made four threes in just 126 seconds to force overtime.

In the first overtime period the lead changed hands seven times before a successful Britt free-throw gave the Rams a two-point advantage. The Airs had only two seconds to work with following their final timeout but it was long enough for Davison to once again level the scores.

The result could have gone either way but eventually in the last two seconds of the final two seconds of the 50th minute it was Olbrich and the Rams that prevailed. 

The Rams now await the outcome of the second semi-final to see who their opponents will be in next Sunday’s Sal’s NBL Grand Final.

That contest will be a repeat of the 2023 semi-final with Auckland Tuatara taking on Franklin Bulls at Eventfinda Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore on Wednesday July 24.

Canterbury Rams 112 (MJ Walker 23, Lachlan Olbrich 22, Max Darling 20, Taylor Britt 20, Walter Brown 17, Kaia Isaac 10) Taranaki Airs 111 (Elijah Minnie 26, Flynn Cameron 25, Carlin Davison 22, Derone Raukawa 14) in 2OT.