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.