LACEY LOWDOWN

The NBL Grand Final featured the Southland Sharks, playing in their first final having only joined the league in 2010, up against three times champions the Nelson Giants.

There were some intriguing questions entering the game: Could the Southland guards contain the prodigious Josh Pace? Who would win the battle in the paint, Mika Vukona and Erron Maxey or Brian Conklin and Leon Henry? Which coach would secure his first NBL title, Paul Henare or Liam Flynn? Would Phill Jones playing in his 350^th NBL game win his fourth title?

After some early sparring it was the Southland Sharks that gained the upper hand in the first quarter despite having Reuben Te Rangi benched after a couple of soft fouls. Brian Conklin engineered 11 points, the Sharks ahead 28-16 at quarter time. The Giants were still off the pace early in the second period, outscored 18-4 by a rampant Sharks outfit and trailed 49-23 when Dan Peck sunk a long range three. Reuben Te Rangi converted an alley-oop play off a Martin pass to underline the Sharks dominance and the Giants meek defence. Phill Jones converted a brace from behind the three point line but his team trailed 59-35 at half time, the Sharks appearing to have both hands on the trophy never mind one. Kevin Braswell led all scorers with 17 points, the Sharks shooting a mighty impressive 64% from the floor.

Josh Pace scored the first 6 points of the second half and Sky TV made the mistake of putting a microphone inside the ensuing Sharks time out – Paul Henare was not holding back in the huddle. Further points from Pace and a pair of baskets from Vukona, Henry benched on four fouls and suddenly the lead was reduced, 66-49 to the Sharks and the Giants sensed a recovery. The reliable Conklin scored a couple of baskets, Te Rangi a three and a pair of  buckets from Gareth Dawson resulted in the Sharks dominance reinstated – Southland ahead 79-54, coach Henare a little more relaxed.

The Giants began the last quarter with a 9-0 run but when Phill Jones fouled out with 6:16 remaining and his team still 20 points in arrears the resistance of the Giants appeared to be over. However Ruscoe and Maxey made baskets, the Sharks offence dried up and with 3:43 remaining the Sharks lead was just 11 points. Maxey 3 points, the lead only 8 points under 2 mins to go. Henry relieved the pressure with a fast break lay up and then a score in the paint – Southland hands on the NBL trophy for the first time but a lot tighter than imagined at half time. Final score Southland Sharks 92 ( Braswell 24pts, Conklin 21pts, Henry 15pts) Nelson Giants 81 (Pace 18pts, Maxey 18pts, Vukona 17pts).

The NBL Final Four series held at Pettigrew Arena, Napier opened with the top seeded Wellington Saints taking on the Southland Sharks, followed by the Nelson Giants against the Otago Nuggets.

The Saints (14-2) were contesting their 20^th semi final, the Sharks (11-5) playing in their first ever semi. Although the Saints began as firm favourites having won both of the regular season contests between the two teams it was the Sharks who were the quickest out of the blocks. Luke Martin was at his penetrative best scoring seven first quarter points to help his team to a 24-19 lead. Outstanding Sharks defence limited the Wellington shooters to just 14 points in the second period, Leon Henry helping greatly by limiting the effectiveness of Bryant Markson and garnering 6 rebounds in the process. He also connected with back to back threes in the closing stages of the period to help the Southlanders to a 44-33 half time lead. Corey Webster led the Saints scoring with 8 points, Martin the best for Southland with 11points.

Wellington opened the second half with a predictable 10-3 run, an emphatic Rick Rickert prompting a time out from Sharks coach Paul Henare. Advice from the coach and consecutive ‘and one’ plays from Henry steadied the ship for Southland and re-established a ten point advantage, 55-45. Another mini surge from Wellington on the back of a smart Casey Frank defensive play followed by a three had the Saints in touch at three quarter time, 58-50 behind.

Two minutes into the final quarter Reuben Te Rangi converted a lay-up off a turnover and coach Pero Cameron called his team into a huddle for what many thought would be a game defining time out – the champion players in the Saints line up would surely take charge and assert their authority? What happened was barely believable as the Saints committed three consecutive turnovers gifting six points to their opponents and a 16 points advantage, 68-52 with 6:23 remaining. Scores from Lindsay Tait, Webster and Frank gave the Saints fans a little hope but a three from Braswell, a floater from Te Rangi and a Brian Conklin dunk sealed an emphatic, deserved upset 81-66 win for the men from the deep south. Henry and Conklin scored 19 points each and Te Rangi 15 points for Southland, Webster contributing 19 of the Saints points. A couple of stats underlined the Saints problems; they committed 21 turnovers and shot a paltry 2 from 13 from the three point arc.

The second semi final featured the Nelson Giants and the Otago Nuggets who had finished the regular season with an identical 12-4 record. The Nuggets handed out a thirty points hiding to the Giants early in the season, the Giants winning a much tighter encounter, 87-82 last month. The game turned out to be a story of Josh and Josh as Messer’s Bloxham and Pace played a major part in securing the Nelson Giants a place in the final. The Nuggets started well and were ahead 23-22 at the first break, 44-38 at half time. Brendon Polyblank (17pts) and Akeem Wright (15pts) were terrific for the Nuggets early on, the Giants getting into a little foul trouble trying to contain Otago big men in the paint. The third quarter was another tight affair, the Giants shading it by a couple of points to trail by just four points 63-59 entering the final quarter.

In the final quarter the Giants defensive tyros Mika Vukona and Erron Maxey led a great Giants effort, capped by the shooting of Pace and Bloxham as they outscored the Nuggets 28-9 to secure the win. Pace with his unorthodox shooting style accumulated 25 points and Bloxham connected with three of his five threes in the final period to finish with 17 points. Phill Jones looked hungry for another, perhaps final shot at the title and added 10 rebounds to 12 points. Final score 87-72 in favour of the Giants.

The final round of the NBL regular season began with the two top teams clashing at the TSB Arena in Wellington on Friday night. The Saints (14-2), on an eight game winning streak entertained the Southland Sharks (11-5), themselves on a seven game streak. Both teams were assured of a spot in next weekends final four play-offs but there was still a little psychological advantage to be gained.

The Saints, still without the injured Lindsay Tait led at the end of each quarter but with their advantage just 82-77 entering the last period a Sharks victory remained a possibility. However, the Sharks could not get closer than the five points margin at the start of the fourth quarter, the Saints recording their fourteenth win of the season. Bryant Markson stepped up for the home team contributing 30 points, Corey Webster amassed 23 points and Rick Rickert his habitual double double (13pts/12 rebounds). Leon Henry, 30 points on the back of 12 from 18 from the floor was terrific for the Sharks. He was ably supported by Brian Conklin, (21pts/10 rebounds), Reuben Te Rangi 16 points and Kevin Braswell 19 points.

Super Saturday featured four games the first of which saw the James Blond Super City Rangers host the TBH Jets. The highlight of the first quarter was an athletic put back dunk by Patrice Bolstad, the Rangers most consistent player of the season, over Nick Horvath. The Jets were ahead 27-21 at the quarter, 47-37 at half time and a commanding 79-61 with one period remaining. Houston O’Riley (12 pts), the Rangers captain scored a flurry of points in the final period to reduce the deficit to ten points but Marcel Jones (32pts), Horvath (17pts/17rebounds) and Jeremiah Trueman (13pts) ensured there would be no upset, the Jets winning 99-84 to finish fifth on the ladder with a 9-7 record. Although the Rangers (2-14) ended up collecting the wooden spoon they showed evidence that with the experience gained in this campaign they can be more competitive in 2014. Duane Bailey (17pts) was strong for them as was Carl Buck (15pts).

There was a quadruple overtime thriller in New Plymouth where the Taranaki Mountain Airs hosted the Otago Nuggets. The scores were locked at 93 all at the end of regulation time, only five points apiece were scored in the first extra five minutes but twenty eight points were shared in the next period. Once again in the seventh period of play neither team could establish anymore than a single shot lead. Eleven points from Jack Leasure including three triples, one of them on the buzzer, forced this remarkable game into yet another period of extra time. It looked as if  Antoine Tisby had finally won the game for the Nuggets as he coolly aced a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining to put the visitor’s ahead128-125 before Leasure nailed the three. In the longest games in NBL history, it was the veteran Mark Dickel who had the final say in the eighth period of play. He scored nine points in the period including seven from seven free throws to finally bring the game to a conclusion in favour of the semi finals bound Nuggets, final score 145-137!! Jack Leasure scored 41 points yet still ended up on the losing team. Link Abrahams and Ethan Rusbatch for the Airs and Dickel, Antoine Tisby, Akeem Wright and Hayden Allen all had twenty plus scoring games. I was breathless just watching the live stats!

Southland Sharks lost their second game in 24 hours defeated119-100 in another high scoring affair in Nelson. Perhaps suffering from the exertions of the night before the Sharks got off to a sluggish start and were 63-44 in arrears at half time. They did have the better of the third period but never looked like overturning the Giants who cruised to the win, taking their home record to 7-1 and overall 12-4. The Townsville Crocodiles bound pair of Josh Pace (24pts) and Brian Conklin (28pts) were outstanding for Nelson and Southland respectively. Nelson also had three players snare 22 points each – Erron Maxey, Mika Vukona and Phill Jones who in a timely return to form sunk 4 from 5 from behind the three point arc. Kevin Braswell scored 29 points for the Sharks but it was not to be their night.

The final game pitched the Bay Hawks against the Waikato Pistons, seventh versus eighth. It was the higher placed Hawks who prevailed 93-83, the Pistons leaving themselves too much to do after trailing 46-28 at half time. The Hawks (5-11) have had a disappointing season but led by Darko Cohadarevic (23pts), Everard Bartlett (19pts) and 15 points/12 rebounds from Paora Winitana were too strong for the Pistons. Zack Atkinson had his customary double double (20pts/ 12 rebounds) for the visitors and Tai Webster and Garrius Holloman contributed 17 points each but it was not enough to gain Waikato their third win of the season.

The final four series will be held at Pettigrew Arena, Napier next weekend.

The first semi final next Saturday will feature the Saints versus Sharks, followed by the Giants against the Nuggets. The final will be played on Sunday, all three games to be covered live by Sky television.

A remarkable final quarter meltdown by the Palmerston North Jets handed the Southland Sharks the last remaining semi final berth for the 2013 NBL season.

With 4:56 remaining, the Jets appeared to not only have the game completely under control but it also looked possible they could turn around the 29 points differential the Sharks had established by winning the first encounter 110-81 earlier in the month. Sharks coach Paul Henare called a time out at that point, his team trailing 84-68 and in need of some inspiration. Whatever was said had the desired effect as the Sharks piled in a remarkable 26 points in the remaining minutes and held the Jets to just 5 points of their own. Leon Henry (19pts) and Kevin Braswell (20pts) made nine points apiece during the run, the Sharks hitting a collective 82% (28/34) from the free throw line.

Earlier it looked as if Chris Hagan (27pts) and Marcel Jones (20pts) were pacing the home side to the win they required to keep their season alive but when the Jet’s key player Nick Horvath (11pts/15rebounds) fouled out with six minutes remaining the Sharks sensed an opportunity and pounced. The Sharks now look forward to a trip to the play-offs, the Jets reflect on a campaign that promised much but returned very little.

The other Friday night game pitched the third placed Nelson Giants up against the league leading Wellington Saints in the capital. The Saints were dealt a major blow before the game, point guard Lindsay Tait sidelined with a suspected broken thumb. Despite this set back the Saints were able to overcome the Giants, who had beaten them by a single point in round four.

The Giants were ahead by a single point at quarter time but it was the Saints with the advantage at the main break 55-48. Rick Rickert is looking like a terrific late season pick up for the Saints, he was virtually unstoppable in the low post scoring a game high 33 points at 81% from the field (13/16) plus 15 rebounds.  Corey Webster (32pts/5 assists) more than covered the points shortfall created by the absence of Tait and Casey Frank also had a strong game contributing 9 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists.

The Saints had built a healthy 99-84 advantage with just 3:30 remaining and appeared to be cruising to victory but Nelson caused a few anxious moments for the good crowd at TSB Arena by scoring a quick ten points courtesy of Mika Vukona (21pts) and Josh Pace (23pts) to reduce the deficit to four points entering the final minute. However, Webster and Frank scored a brace of free throws each to enable the Saints to close out the game.

The Giants travelled north to Napier for a game against the HBS Bank Hawks and despite their loss twenty four hours earlier started the stronger of the two teams, establishing a 24-18 first quarter advantage. Josh Pace (32pts/9rebounds) was a constant thorn in the side of the Hawks and aided by Mika Vukona (14pts/10rebounds) the visitors established a valuable 56-44 advantage. The Hawks, who had inflicted on Nelson their only home loss of the season back in round eight, had much the better of the third quarter as Everard Bartlett (17pts) and Brian Greene (19pts) found their range, ‘The Bay’ slightly ahead, 68-66 with ten minutes to play. With 4:17 remaining they still lead 77-74 but baskets from Vukona, Pace and Erron Maxey re-established the Giants advantage. Brian Greene nailed a three with just over a minute left to tie the scores, Pace and Bartlett exchanged baskets before a typical athletic two points from Pace edged the Giants ahead in the closing seconds.  Bartlett had the last shot of the game to win it for the Hawks on the buzzer but the near miss rather summed up the Hawks season, just four victories when much more was expected.

In New Plymouth Jack Leasure put on a show for the home fans scoring 33 points (14 from 22 from the field) to help his side to a 114-93 victory over the bottom placed James Blond Super City Rangers. Leasure was ably assisted by fellow import Kenny Gabriel (22pts/11rebounds). Brad Anderson and Ethan Rusbatch continued their recent fine form with 16 points each as the Taranaki Mountain Airs improved their record to 5-10.

Once again the Rangers had little trouble scoring, Duane Bailey had a season best 23 points, Carl Buck and Houston O’Riley 18 points apiece and Patrich Bolstad 12 points and nine rebounds but their defensive frailty has been their achilles heal all season as they have given up 97.7 points per game.

The feature game of the round pitched first versus second on the ladder, the table topping Wellington Saints visiting the Otago Nuggets. The hosts shaded the first quarter 19-16, centre Antoine Tisby contributing eight early points, his battle with Saints big man Rick Rickert one of the key match ups of the encounter. Mark Dickel gifted Corey Webster a couple of free throws early in the second quarter courtesy of a technical foul and when Webster nailed a three point attempt followed by another pair of freebies the Saints had regained the initiative, 32-26.  The Nuggets endured a barren four minutes in which they failed to score but the Saints collected eleven unanswered points before Akeem Wright broke the drought. The Saints were once again without injured playmaker Lindsay Tait but at half time they were travelling nicely without him, ahead 47-29, a massive twenty one points swing in just ten minutes. The Nuggets did make a better fist of things in the third quarter shading it by two points but they never looked like threatening the Saints who took out the win 97-72 and with it the regular season title. Tisby (22pts/13 rebounds) was outstanding for the Nuggets but the usually high scoring duo, BJ Antony and Akeem Wright were not at their best scoring 12 points and 11 points respectively. Once again Rick Rickert recorded a double double of 11 points and 16 rebounds, Casey Frank posted 18 points and Corey Webster had 21 points although his 6 from 18 from the floor was not up to his usual high percentage shooting.

In the final game of the round the lowly Waikato Pistons entertained the Southland Sharks in Hamilton. The Sharks, on a five game winning streak were trailing 41-38 at half time but had locked the scores at 67 all at three-quarter time before dominating the final quarter to win 96-85. A 13-2 surge by the Sharks to open the final stanza put paid to the Pistons resistance for whom Tai Webster scored twenty points. Fellow youngsters Anamata Haku (13pts/6rebounds) and Marco Alexander (14pts/8rebounds) also made useful contributions. Brian Conklin, a contender for this seasons MVP title scored 32 points at 86% from the field (12 from 14), Reuben Te Rangi was prominent with 20 points and Kevin Braswell and Leon Henry were also in double figures.

With just one round to go the semi finalists are already established, Wellington Saints (13-2), Otago Nuggets (11-4), Nelson Giants (11-4) and Southland Sharks (11-3). The Sharks play both the Saints and the Giants next weekend perhaps hoping they can move up into second or third spot thereby avoiding Wellington