BACK TO BACK WINS OVER GIANTS

IMS Payroll Hawks won their eleventh game of the season, holding off the Fico Finance Giants 86-79.

Kareem Johnson had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Everard Bartlett scored 16 and dished out seven assists, and forward Dustin Scott added a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Giants have now dropped their second game in a row, and lost four of five to drop to eight wins and six losses.

Jamal Boykin had another strong game of 25 points and eleven rebounds, Josh Bloxham had 15, and Phill Jones added 12.

It was going to be a difficult task for Nelson to win at Pettigrew Green Arena, where the Hawks are unbeaten this season with six wins. But the visitors got off to a relatively good start, leading by as many as nine in the first half.

This season the Hawks have been dominant in the third quarter, and it was much the same for the home-side, outscoring Nelson 26-12, pushing their lead to as many as 10.

Nelson would close the gap to two with five minutes left to go, but the Hawks would not surrender their lead, moving their record to 11-2.

The Hawks did a fantastic job of containing Josh Pace, who was held to nine points, making it the first time he has failed to reach double-digits points this season.

With five games remaining, the Hawks could beat their previous best franchise regular season of 14-4, which they achieved in 2006, the year they won their lone NBL Championship.

Nelson are still in the top four, but with the other teams closing in they will need to take care of business at home where they will play the remainder of their regular season games.

IMS Payroll Hawks 86 (Kareem Johnson 18, Everard Bartlett 16, Dustin Scott 13)

Fico Finance Giants 79 (Jamal Boykin 25, Josh Bloxham 15, Phill Jones 12)

1Q: 20-20

HT: 35-41 (15-21)

3Q: 61-53 (26-12)

FT: 86-79 (25-26)

HAWKS KEEP FLYING

The IMS Payroll Hawks win their sixth straight, defeating the Fico Finance Giants 82-77.

Led by Everard Bartlett (20 points) the Hawks had six players reach double digit points or more, as they continue their success this season, which sees them with a 10-2 record.

The Giants were missing starter Brook Ruscoe, but young player Finn Delany stepped up in Ruscoe’s absence with a career high 19 points. Nelson started off well, leading 32-24 in the second period. But the Hawks would go on a 14-3 run to take a three point lead at half time.

The visitors would not allow the Giants to regain the lead and after a tight third period the Bay would extend their lead to 12 in the fourth.

The Giants would not let the Hawks run away with the game though, closing to within four with a 9-1 spurt. But that was the closest they got to within the Hawks, who managed to hold on for the win.

It was not the result that Phill Jones would have liked in his record tying 361st game, but he added 14. Josh Pace had 17 points, eight rebounds and Jamal Boykin added 16.

Former Giant Darryl Jones had 14, Dustin Scott also scored 14 and Kareem Johnson added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

NZ HOOPS MID-SEASON AWARDS

Check out our IMS Payroll Hawks featuring in the mid season awards as chosen by NZ Hoops…

http://nzhoops.co.nz/nbl-mid-season-awards/

HAWKS REIGN SUPREME

The IMS Payroll Hawks are fast becoming the team to beat in the Bartercard NBL with a convincing 88-78 win over the Pacific Jewellers Saints.

Dustin Scott (20 points, 9 rebounds) and Kareem Johnson (18 points , 10 rebounds) were too much for the Saints, in particular the paint where they dominated on the boards.

After a high scoring first half which saw both teams tied at 52, the Tab Baldwin coached side put the clamps on Wellington, holding them scoreless for nearly eight minutes.

The Hawks would lead by as many as 15, until finally the Saints would score from a layup by Dion Prewster.

Wellington scored 11 unanswered points to close to within four with nine minutes still remaining in the game.

After a timeout the Hawks would reply with a 14-2 run, which ended the Saints chance of a comeback win.

It was again a balanced effort from the Hawks, and guards Jarrod Kenny and Everard Bartlett were tremendous on both ends of the court.

Kenny had 16 points and won the battle of the Tall Black point guards over Lindsay Tait who shot 5/14 for 14 points.

Bartlett added 14 and seven assists, and although his opposite Corey Webster had 28, he did shoot 9/22.

The loss now puts the Saints win/loss to 7-3, but their main concern would be their imports Elijah Obade and Ernest Scott who were held to a combined four points and five rebounds.

The Hawks are now 9-2 and so far look like they will be the first team to clinch a playoff berth.

WATCH THE RE-MATCH LIVE IMS PAYROLL HAWKS VS RAMS THIS FRIDAY

You can still watch the HAWKS games ON DEMAND with the NBL SEASON PASS which gives you 25 games of NBL Action. 

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LIVESTREAMING AVAILABLE

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Remaining Games to be covered

May 9                   Rams v Hawks

May 10                 Hawks v Saints

May 11                 Pistons v Jets

May 17                 Nuggets v Pistons

May 18                 Rangers v Rams

May 24                 Nuggets v Saints

May 26                 Rams v Rangers

May 30                 Jets v Rangers

May 31                 Rangers v Nuggets

June2                    Jets v Saints

June 6                   Nuggets v Jets

June 7                   Sharks v Jets

June 8                   Rams v Pistons

June 14                Jets v Hawks

June 15                Pistons v Rams

June 20                Jets v Airs

June 22                Jets v Pistons

June 27                Jets v Nuggets

June 28                Hawks v Nuggets

IMS PAYROLL HAWKS MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE

The IMS Payroll Hawks continued their strong start to the season with a 72-61 win over the Advice First Pistons in Hamilton.

It was another low scoring affair at Hamilton Boys High School, but the Hawks saved their best quarter for last, outscoring the homeside 27-16.

Forward Dustin Scott was the best player on the floor, posting 27 points and 16 rebounds. Scott did it both on the inside and outside, converting on 4/5 from the three point line.

Waikato were in the contest for the majority of the game, but they committed 21 turnovers compared to the Hawks 12.

The Piston’s size kept them in the game, and they got a valuable contribution off the bench from Jack Salt, who had 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

Akeem Wright and Casey Frank each posted double-doubles, and Corin Henry had 10 assists and five steals, but shot 2/10 for six points.

Waikato led after the first half and by as many as five in third, but an 11-5 run by the Hawks tied the scores at the end of the fourth.

Four straight points from Salt gave the Pistons a one point early part in the fourth, but Scott would hit two straight three’s to give back the lead to the Hawks, who would hold the lead for the remainder of the contest.

Hawks move to 7-2 ahead of the Fico Finance Nelson Giants (6-2) and the Pacific Jewellers Saints (6-2).

TIGHT END TO GAME TO GET THE WIN

IMS Payroll Hawks have won the game off a Jarrod Kenny alley-oop layup on the buzzer for the 91-89 win over the Canterbury Rams.

Rams looked like they were going to come away with the upset win when forward Matt Rogers was fouled on a make with a chance to take a one point lead with 0.8 seconds left.

A Rogers free throw rattled around the hoop, but the Hawks managed to tip the ball off rim, which after a lengthy discussion from the referees, the decision was made that there was no goal tend and that the Hawks would have possession at half way from a time out they called.

Hawks coach Tab Baldwin then drew up the play which went to plan with the Kenny game winner.

Guard Marco Alexander continues his good run of form, scoring a game high 28, as the Hawks move to 6-2.

Rams stormed back into the contest in the third quarter, outscoring the home side 37-14.

But the Hawks would return the favour, winning the final period 31-16.

Matt Rogers scored 28 points and new recruit Marcel Jones gave Canterbury and extra offensive option, scoring 11 points off the bench.

IMS PAYROLL HAWKS UPSET SHARKS IN INVERCARGILL

The IMS Payroll Hawks have bounced back from their loss last night to defeat the Zerofees Southland Sharks 101-88 in Invercargill.

It was the absolute team performance from the Tab Baldwin coached side, as seven players reached at least double digits. A strong third quarter from the Bay was the difference, outscoring the home side 30-14, to hold a 72-56 heading into the fourth. The visitors pushed their lead to 21 after a Marco Alexander field goal, but Southland rallied and went on a 24-9 run to close the gap to six with still two minutes left.

A Kareem Johnson three point play pushed the lead back up to nine which gave the Hawks enough momentum to finish the game, putting their record to five wins and two losses.

The Hawks did an extremely good job of containing the Sharks leading scorer Reuben Te Rangi who was held to four points, shooting 1/8 from the field and turning the ball over four times. Sharks Coach Paul Henare moved import David Gruber into the starting line-up in place of Leon Henry. Gruber responded well with 23 points and 10 rebounds while Henry also had a good game of 16.

Kevin Braswell shared the game high honours with Gruber, but shot 7/20 as the Sharks suffer their second loss at home, pushing their win/loss back under .500.

IMS PAYROLL HAWKS GO DOWN IN OVER TIME.

OceanaGold Nuggets have ended the IMS Payroll Hawks four game winning streak with a 97-91 win.

In Dunedin the Nuggets have knocked the Hawks off second place with their second straight win at home. Veteran forward Brendon Polyblank continued his strong start to the season with a game high 25 points, and double-doubles from Troy Payne (16 points, 12 rebounds) and Warren Carter (21 points, 12 rebounds) have helped the Nuggets move to 4-1.

After missing the loss to Wellington last week, Mark Dickel returned to the lineup and tallied 11 points, 12 assists and six rebounds.

Last week’s player of the week Dustin Scott had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Jarrod Kenny scored 17 and Everard Bartlett added 16. The Hawks trailed by as many as seven in the second period, but off the bench guard Marco Alexander was the catalyst for their run, scoring 13 points in the period, as the visitors took a one point lead at the break.

Alexander ended the game with a team high 20 points in only 20 minutes. The visitors kept their lead intact for nearly all of the second half until Carter made a bucket with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter which gave the Nuggets 79-78 lead. Nuggets would hold a slim 80-79 lead, but a turnover from Polyblank and then a fifth foul from Dickel on former Nugget Darryl Jones, gave the Hawks a chance to to tie or potentially win the game from the free throw line.

Jones would miss the first but slot the second as the game would go to an extra period. The visitors started the overtime well, holding a three point lead, but from there on it was all the home team who outscored the Hawks 17-8 to seal the victory.

It is the second straight time the two teams have had to battle it out in an extra period at the Edgar Centre, the Nuggets also prevailing 90-85. Hawks will have a stern test tomorrow when they travel to Invercargill to play the Zerofees Southland Sharks.