13th June 2009
Anendra Singh
IN MAORIDOM, Matariki signals the beginning of a new life cycle and a time to reflect on the previous chapter.
Among other things, it's a time to share skills, achievements, history and showcase culture.
The name for a cluster of tiny stars, Matariki, also known as the Pleiades, signifies the Maori New Year and is spotted close to the sun around this time of the year.
Last night, LPG Hawks fans didn't have to look far to see their basketball stars.
Albeit being a tiny cluster in the National Basketball League (NBL), Hawks showed a glimmer of playoff hope when they beat Taranaki 92-64 in Napier in a dead rubber.
How radiant captain Jeremy Kench and his constellation will be when the new dawn breaks on Tuesday for the first quarterfinal remains to be seen.
With the Auckland Stars beating the Christchurch Cougars 101-91 last night, the Hawks' third placegetters versus the sixth-placed playoff riddle had been solved - against the Wellington Saints, televised live on Sky at 7.10pm.
Did the Cougars throw that game to avoid the Hawks?
"No, I think the Stars are a competitive bunch and they would have fought hard to win," Kench said.
It didn't matter to them who the Hawks were going to play on Tuesday, he said, but conceded travelling a shorter distance to the capital city was more desirable.
Indubitably the Hawks have found that elusive twinkle and, to the tune of the nursery rhyme, do not need to wonder who they are any more at this point.
Following a crisp start to the season in March the new-look outfit hit a lean patch. Predominantly young talent, Paul Henare and Aidan Daly, spent many sessions soul searching after the rot set in during their shock loss to the Manawatu Jets in round eight.
Shortly after, incensed coach Shawn Dennis sent American John "JT" Thomas packing, claiming they could not find common ground.
Enter seasoned Ben Hill and Aussie import David Cooper.
The road to redemption was paved in the mould of a double header last month but it hit a major pothole.
Dennis' insubordinate guards bore the brunt of the 83-73 loss to Harbour Heat on the momentary high the night before when they beat Auckland Stars 84-80 to break their five-loss-on-the-trot habit.
The last road trip, though, raised fans' hopes of possible upsets next week after a point loss to the Wellington Saints before a don't-argue victory against the Christchurch Cougars.
Last night was always going to require motivation for the Hawks. They won the first quarter 28-18, lost the next 19-15, bounced back 26-11 in the third and closed 23-16.
Even assistant coach Clifton Bush and Thomas Bartlett got a run in a game that wasn't short of razzle-dazzle. But was it playoff material?
No, the Hawks weren't polished enough and will have to lift their game a few notches to stay in the race on Tuesday night.
Without doubt they showed great passion and aggression with guard Rangi Kennedy as the standout.
The referees allowed a lot of physicality but then who said it was netball? Hawk Mark Morrison left his imprint from a bloodied elbow on the shirt of 2m centre Warrick Siddell.
Kench, who scored 16, one point behind import Charles Bailey, was satisfied with their build-up despite the second-quarter lapse.
"We'll need to work on our defence rotation and players have to realise we can't get easy baskets." It was befitting end to the home season with a spirited haka from Te Aute College pupils.
