Nuggets pay for poor shooting against Rams

• Author: Jeff Cheshire
• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times: Web Edition Articles (New Zealand)

The ball flew out of his hands, straight past the head of Sam Timmins and over the baseline

The import guard, sensational in his first game a week ago, had wanted the centre to roll further into the hole.

His frustration was evident as the pair had a somewhat extended interaction afterwards, before shaking hands.

It was a moment that summed up the Otago Nuggets' night.

They struggled to get going on a cold Dunedin evening and, despite a furious fourth quarter comeback, were beaten 88-77 by the Canterbury Rams.

The Rams backcourt was superb defensively, clamping the Otago guards and preventing them gaining any penetration.

As a result, the Nuggets struggled to get anything going offensively — notably shooting just three-of-29 from the three-point line.

Only during a 16-2 run to end the first quarter did they genuinely look dangerous through the first three quarters.

At the other end the Rams methodically built their lead, pulling ahead in a 30-13 second quarter.

That flipped in the fourth quarter, as the Nuggets began getting stops and eating into the lead.

But they had left themselves too much to do.

Rams duo Sunday Dech and Max Darling had 23 and 19 points respectively.

Young guard Walter Brown was also exceptional and finished with an efficient 14 points, increasingly making his snub from the under-19 national tournament team unfathomable.

Keith Williams had 22 points for the Nuggets, although more than once missed box-outs that led to points at the other end.

Boyd had a tough night, shooting a horrid five-of-21, and 0-of-10 from the three-point line, for his 13 points.

"It was a night where we didn't shoot the ball well," coach Brent Matehaere said.

"Thirty-six percent from the floor, 10% from the three-point line. I think Todd had two early and Keith had one late.

"We just weren't really threatening at all from the perimeter and that's really frustrating.

"Tray didn't get going in this game like he wanted to...