The Wellington Saints and James Blond Supercity Rangers had both grinded out tough road wins.
It was always going to be a tight affair between the Saints and the SIT Zerofees Sharks who faced each other for the first time since last season’s semi-final. Tonight, the result was similar to the 79-75 semi-final with the Saints edging the home side 88-86.
After trailing 84-75 with three and a half minutes to play, the Sharks made a late rally which saw the scores tied at 86 with under a minute remaining. Southland had a chance to take the lead but a turnover from the home side forced them to foul Leon Henry. Henry would miss both free throws as the Sharks quickly gathered the rebound and drove it up the floor. But they were unable to get a shot as Corey Webster stripped the ball and quickly threw it down the other end as Henry made amends with a dunk with 1.5 seconds left.
Sharks still had a chance to win or tie the game and after a timeout they elected to give it inside to Nick Kay who had took a contested baby hook on the baseline which went astray.
It was a result Head Coach Kevin Braswell will be pleased with after winning in Canterbury the night before and now making it three wins to start the season. Braswell relied heavily on his starters who all played at 32 minutes or more. Corey Webster scored a team high 22 and added six assists and five rebounds. Leon Henry had 21 points, Tai Wesley had 17 and Shea Ili nearly had a double-double of 13 points and nine assists.
Southland will be disappointed they could not build on their eight-point lead as they attacked the paint scoring 44 points thanks to the aggressive play of Reuben Te Rangi who had a game high 27. Point guard Mitch Norton and Kay each added 16. Coach Judd Flavell will take solace that they were without start player Alex Pledger.
In New Plymouth the Rangers made it two from two defeating the Taranaki Mountainairs 85-81. Mitch McCarron scored 23 and Lindsay Tait added 19 for the visitors who after trailing by one at the end of three quarters, won the fourth 20-15.
Rebounds were in favour of the Rangers 43-35 thanks double-double of 19 points and ten rebounds from Nnanna Egwu, and 10 rebounds from veteran Dillon Boucher.
It was not the start to Round Two that the Airs would have liked as they now have lost seven of their last ten at home and travel to the Hawkes Bay where they will play a hungry Taylor Hawks who will be desperate to end their 22-game losing streak.
Alonzo Burton continued his bright start to the season with 19 points on 6/8 shooting. Tylor Ongwae collected 20 points and nine rebounds and Aaron Bailey-Nowell had 10.
Tomorrow the NBL continues when the Mike Pero Nelson Giants try to get their first win of the season when they host the Canterbury Rams.
Friday, March 24
At ILT Stadium, New Plymouth
SIT Zerofees Sharks 86 (Reuben Te Rangi 27, Mitch Norton 16, Nick Kay 16)
Wellington Saints 88 (Corey Webster 22, Leon Henry 21, Tai Wesley 18)
At TSB Stadium, New Plymouth
Taranaki Mountainairs 81 (Tylor Ongwae 20, Alonzo Burton 19, Aaron Bailey-Nowell 10)
James Blond Supercity Rangers 85 (Mitch McCarron 23, Nnanna Egwu 19, Lindsay Tait 19)
Nick Mills Jr
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