Game Preview – Canterbury Rams v Southland Sharks 22/03/25

Mad March is truly living up to its name as we’re already on to our third game of the season!

Saturday night hoops have arrived. Tonight we host the retooled Southland Sharks and look to improve our record to 2-1.

Game Info

Saturday, March 22nd, 2024. 

Rapid League: 6:30 PM. Sal’s NBL: 7:30pm.

Cowles Stadium, Christchurch.

Watch live on Sky Sport 5 (NZ), ESPN3 (USA), FIBA YouTube (Globally)

Buy tickets here!

So, What Are We Dealing With?

2024 was not a year to remember for the Southland faithful. Winning just four games all season, the Sharks decided to shake things up in the offseason starting with the addition of NBA-experienced coach Jonathan Yim. Surely management already feel good about their decision, returning to the winner’s table with a victory over Otago last week. 

In the offence of this new and improved Southland team, most possessions start and finish with the electric play of imports Caleb Asberry and Josiah Allick. Asberry – a returner from last season – provides the Sharks with quickness and the ability to force the defence into rotation. His 2024 averages of 16.2 points and 4.2 assists were only second on Southland to the short stint of Legerald Vick and the since departed Callum McRae, respectively.

A first-year pro, 6’8” Allick proved to be a physical force in his debut against the Nuggets. He hustled his way to an impressive 26 points and 11 rebounds, with 4 of those boards being on the offensive glass. While a playfinisher by archetype, the Sharks utilise him as a decision maker in the middle of the floor where he’s able to get to the basket off of running fake handoffs and decoy off-ball actions. 

It’ll be a team effort on defence tonight to stay engaged 1-through-5 and be prepared to rotate accordingly. Thankfully for us, DPOY runner-up Walter Brown is ready to go and back in the starting lineup. In fact, Brown doesn’t mind playing against the Sharks. He went for 17 points on 5 made threes against them in 2023, and scored 14 points in the Shark Tank last season.

The Hot Topic: The Breakout of Tama Isaac

Tama Isaac can ball. Of course us Rams fans already knew that, but the rest of the league is starting to take notice. Across two games this season, the 18-year-old is averaging 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. Now forgive me for hyping up a small sample size, but the last player to record those averages was All-Star Five member Javontae Douglas in 2022.

So will Tama make the All Star Five this season? Probably not. He’ll have plenty of opportunity in the future to earn a couple nods though. Regardless, the start he has had to the 2025 Sal’s NBL season is nothing short of phenomenal. All eyes will be on the breakout star come Saturday night to see if he can follow up his career night against the Giants.

Injury Report (as of 16/03/25)

Canterbury Rams
OUT – Sean Macdonald (injury)
OUT – Kyle Bowen (ANBL finals)
OUT – CJ Penha (personal)
OUT – Marco Sula (not selected)

Southland Sharks
OUT – Sam Timmins (Overseas)

Spend Your Saturday Afternoon the Right Way

Tickets for Rams v Sharks are still available! Grab a few using the link below.

Buy Tickets Here.