June 6, 2009
In Round 13 NZCT National Basketball League ecogise Nelson Giants have beaten the McDonald Manawatu Jets 94-72 in Palmerston North, the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks have downed the Bartercard Christchurch Cougars 86-81 in Christchurch and the Waikato Pistons beat the Century City Saints 76-63 in Hamilton.
The ecogise Nelson Giants briefly moved to the top of the table after cruising past the Jets. The Giants opened up a 24-13 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked in any dangers from then on. The Jets did edge the Giants 21-20 in the second quarter, but a third quarter Nelson blitz saw the visitors take the quarter 34-18 to be ahead 79-51 going into the fourth. With the game gone and the Giants giving time to their bench the Jets did manage to take the fourth 21-15 but the Giants ended comfortable winners by 22 points.
Phil Jones top scored with 26 and was ably assisted by John Barber with 16 and Christopher Reay 14. Marcel Jones lead the Jets with 24 and Jamil Terrell was the only other Jet to hit double figures with 11.
The Giants stay at the top was short lived with the Waikato Pistons dismissing the Century City Saints 76-63 to take first place and leave the Saints in third and now having to reach the semi finals via a home play-off game.
The Pistons opened up a 20-13 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked like letting the lead go with a solid defensive display. By halftime that lead had grown to 11 points with the Pistons up 40-29. Any hope the Saints had of a comeback were well and truly dashed with the Pistons dominating the third quarter to take it 21-11 and open up a 21 point, 61-40 lead going into the fourth. The saints through the kitchen sink at in the fourth and despite winning it 23-25 were left ruing a loss that leaves them with no chance of finishing in the top two. The Pistons will wrap up the regular season top spot with a win against the Stars on Thursday night.
Justin Bailey lead all scorers with 19 and was backed up well by Thomas Abercrombie (17) and Michael Fitchett (16) in what was a good team performance. Lindsay Tait and Mike Efevberha were the only Saints players to reach double figures scoring 15 each.
The Bartercard Christchurch Cougars missed out on the chance of taking third spot after falling to the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks 86-81 at Cowles Stadium. Backing up after there narrow one point loss to the Saints last night, the Hawks held on in a tight tussle and will take some confidence into the play-offs with a pretty good return from a tough away double header.
The Hawks started well to be ahead 23-15 at the end of the first but the Cougars came back at the Hawks in the second to close the deficit to three points at half time with the Hawks ahead 35-38. The third quarter was an even affair as the lead changed 10 times and was shared 24-24. The lead changed hands and was tied up a few more times at the start of the fourth before the Hawks got their noses in front with less than five minutes to play and did not let the lead go. By the final buzzer a jubilant Hawks side took a hard fought five point victory.
Foe the Cougars Tim Behrendorff lead all scores in the game with 22 and completed a double double pulling down 11 boards. Paul Henare hit 15 as well as dishing up 6 assists while Trenton Wurtz completed a double double of 11 points and 11 boards. Jeremy Kench lead the Hawks with 21 while David Cooper was a strong inside presence logging a 14 point, 12 rebound double double.
The final round of the regular season tips off on Thursday night with the Pistons hosting Youthtown Auckland Stars at Te Awamutu Events Centre, tip off 7.30pm.
