Taranaki Mountainairs Outlast Southland Sharks 93-84 in NZNBL Thriller

The Taranaki Mountainairs secured a hard-fought 93-84 victory over the Southland Sharks on Thursday, 18 June 2026, at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill. The win lifted the Mountainairs into the top four of the New Zealand National Basketball League standings, while the Sharks slipped further in the tightly contested table.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both teams showed aggressive intent. Taranaki seized a narrow 24–22 lead after the first quarter, capitalising on fast-break opportunities. The Sharks responded in the second period with a physical inside game, tying the score at 46–46 by halftime. The third quarter proved decisive, as the Mountainairs used a 12–2 run to build a 73–65 advantage heading into the final frame. Southland cut the deficit to three points with five minutes remaining, but Taranaki’s poise at the free-throw line and timely three-pointers sealed the result.

Key Moments

• Third-quarter surge: Trailing 48–47 early in the third, the Mountainairs exploded for nine unanswered points, turning a one-point deficit into a double-digit lead.
• Fourth-quarter response: Sharks guard Derone Raukawa hit back-to-back triples to make it 83–80 with 4:12 left, but Taranaki’s Tai Wynyard answered with a dunk and a steal that led to a layup.
• Clutch free throws: The Mountainairs shot 21-of-25 from the stripe, including 8-of-10 in the final two minutes, to keep the Sharks at arm's length.

Standout Performances

For the Taranaki Mountainairs, forward Jordan Ngatai was outstanding, finishing with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Import guard Jabari Narcis added 22 points and 7 boards, while centre Tai Wynyard recorded a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the paint on both ends.

The Southland Sharks were led by Raukawa’s 20 points and 6 assists. Veteran forward Tom Vodanovich contributed 17 points and 9 rebounds, and lively guard Dom Kelman-Poto chipped in 13 points off the bench. However, the Sharks struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 6-of-22 (27.3%) compared to Taranaki’s 11-of-27 (40.7%).

Tactical Story

The Mountainairs’ game plan centred on spacing and perimeter shooting, forcing the Sharks’ big men to defend the three-point line. When Southland closed out hard, Taranaki attacked the basket through Wynyard and Narcis. Defensively, the Mountainairs clogged the lane, limiting the Sharks to only 38 points in the paint, well below their season average of 46. The Sharks, meanwhile, struggled with turnovers—committing 16 that led to 22 Taranaki points.

Standings Impact

With the victory, Taranaki improved to 8–3 on the season, moving into a tie for third place with the Canterbury Rams. The Sharks dropped to 5–6, now sitting seventh in the 10-team league as the race for the playoff spots heats up. Both teams will be back in action next week—the Mountainairs host the Manawatu Jets on June 21, while the Sharks travel to face the Auckland Tuatara on June 22.

The result highlighted Taranaki’s growing confidence under head coach Michael Fitchett, while Southland will need to tighten its defensive rotations and find more consistent shooting to remain in postseason contention. Fans at Stadium Southland saw a contest that swung multiple times before the visitors’ execution in the clutch decided the outcome.