LACEY LOWDOWN

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

The rearranged fixture between the Wellington Saints and the James Blond Super City Rangers kick started round 11 of the NBL. The game was cancelled four days earlier due to the extreme weather conditions in the capital that caused most flights into the city to be cancelled. Live streaming enabled many observers to get their first look at new Saints recruit Rick Rickert, playing in the NBL for the first time since 2010 when he turned out for the Harbour Heat. In that season Rickert averaged 18.2ppg and 9.1rpg, figures he looks likely to replicate in his second season in the league as he completed a double double of 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Second on the ladder versus last looked like a mismatch and so it proved as the Saints raced to an early 20-3 advantage, Lindsay Tait helping himself to 11first quarter points. A Houston O’Riley triple was the only scoring success for the Rangers in the opening seven minutes. Credit to the Rangers, they did stop the bleeding a little as the game progressed but with a 59-44 advantage the way of the home side at half time, the game was all but over as a contest. With Rickert and Bryant Markson dominating the glass, Corey Webster (23 points) and Tait (22 points/8 assists) picking holes in the Rangers defence, the Saints were in cruise mode. Guard Shea Ili (16pts/7 rebounds) was a shining light for the Aucklanders but their14 turnovers in the half didn’t help their cause.

Dillon Boucher missed the game due to suspension but it made little  difference to the Saints who eased their way to a healthy 81-64 lead at the end of the third period. An impressive Ili dunk following a steal got the Rangers under way in the final quarter but they were unable to put much of a dent in the hosts lead. With the Saints starters sitting on the bench the game became very loose in the final minutes enabling the Rangers to exercise some damage control courtesy of double digit contributions from Ili, O’Riley, Carl Buck, Chris Fahrensohn, Patrich Bolstad and Jack Salt. However, the Saints, playing the first of three games in six days would have been pleased to complete a comfortable 107-87 win and keep plenty of energy in the tank for the testing encounters against Nelson Giants and the Otago Nuggets later in the week.

Following the Waikato Pistons tense 69-64 victory over the HSB Hawks the NBL round 10 focus shifted to Napier. The Hawks had to quickly regroup for a home tie against the Taranaki Mountain Airs the following night. Captain Paora Winitana scored eight first quarter points to give the Hawks a 25-20 advantage. Kenny Gabriel showed great athleticism at both end of the court in the second period helping the Airs to even the contest 42-42 at half time. The Airs cause was not helped when Gabriel was forced to the bench after picking up his fourth foul early in the third quarter – he would foul out later after playing just 23 minutes.

Jarrod Kenny scored seven consecutive points for the Hawks and Dion Prewster nailed a three on the buzzer to give the Hawks a 73-65 lead with ten minutes to play. The Hawks failed to score in the opening four minutes of the final period but still led 78-74 with 4:08 remaining and although it was scrappy at times they held on to win 86-79 for a much needed win, just their fourth of the season. Prewster (21pts) and Brian Greene (17pts/10rebounds) were the best for the Hawks, the Airs getting good value out of Aaron Bailey-Nowell and the improving Ethan Rusbatch who scored 16 points apiece.
The James Blond Super City Rangers had a disruptive build up to their game against Nelson Giants on Saturday night. The Rangers were due to play the Saints in Wellington on Friday night but their flight was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions in the capital. The disruption didn’t seem to affect the Rangers early on, as they trailed by just a single point at quarter time and were still in touch at half time, 42-56. Nelson’s imports Josh Pace and Erron Maxey dominated the home team’s offensive output scoring 40 points between them in the half. The Rangers shaded the third period 19-17 but ran out of steam in the final quarter losing 97-84. Pace with a season high 35 points and Maxey (23pts) were the only Nelson players to reach double figures but Mika Vukona did secure 14 rebounds to go with his 8 points. Once again the guard trio of Carl Buck, Houston O’Riley and Shea Ili led the Rangers scoring.An astounding half time score-line emerged from snowy Invercargill – Southland Sharks 60- Otago Nuggets 30, the home town on fire shooting 56% from the field (22/39), led by Reuben Te Rangi with 19 points. Te Rangi couldn’t buy a basket against the Rangers last week but he showed his true ability in this encounter. Matters didn’t improve for the league leaders in the second half as they found themselves 90-44 behind at three-quarter time, eventually defeated 114-67. The Nuggets premier scoring duo of BJ Anthony and Akeem Wright were held to a collective 19 points more than 50% down on their usual output. The Sharks, led by the consistent Brian Conklin (27pts) had six players in double figures as they took their winning sequence to five, sending their full house support home happy.

In Palmerston North the TBH Jets entertained the Waikato Pistons in the final game of the round needing to win their last three games to have any hope of making the play-offs. The Pistons established an early 11-4 advantage but the Jets had eradicated that by quarter time and tied the game at 21-21. Centres Zack Atkinson and Nick Horvath were having a battle royal, both recording 10 points but Atkinson shading the rebounding count 8-4 and the Pistons shading the half 46-42. Marco Alexander was also prominent for the Pistons with 9 points including two threes. Garrius Holloman, playing against the team that released him earlier in the season made an athletic baseline drive to keep the visitors ahead 55-50 but a 12-2 run from the Jets got the home crowd excited and their team in front. The momentum remained with the Jets as they established a 66-61 three quarter time lead. The advantage quickly ballooned to 79-68 early in the final period as the Pistons offence struggled to break down the 2-3 zone of the Jets. A Holloman triple followed by  a free throw with two minutes remaining got the Pistons back within five points (84-79). However they gave up a transition basket to Jeremiah Trueman and despite a couple of free throws from Webster and a basket in traffic from Ana Haku the Jets held their nerve and recorded a much needed 87-83 win. Horvath (27pts) and Marcel Jones (16pts) were prominent for the Jets. Atkinson (21pts) and Webster (16pts) paced the Pistons and Holloman also scored 21 points for the Pistons but put up 22 shots in the process.

The Jets host the Southland Sharks next Friday, June 28 in a game that could well decide the final make up of the 2013NBL semi finalists.

Round 10 of the NBL began with a thriller in Hamilton. In a low scoring affair the HBS Hawks led the Waikato Pistons 55-50 with 4:53 in the game remaining. Incredibly the Hawks failed to score again until Brian Greene made a three with 18 seconds to play. The Pistons took full advantage of the Hawks scoring drought, claiming fourteen unanswered points before claiming a 69-64 victory, just their second win of the season and one that was good enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.

Once again Tai Webster underlined his Rookie of the Year status claiming 21 points, nine of them in the final five minutes when the game was on the line.  Firstly he scored a basket, then grabbed a steal on the next Hawks play, was fouled and scored one of the two resulting free throws before Zack Atkinson (16points/17 rebounds) tied the scores.

Webster gave his team a four points buffer with a pair of freebies and another shot from the field with 2:03 remaining. Atkinson and Ana Haku pushed the lead out to nine points inside the last minute. Amazingly the Hawks scored nine points in the final 20 seconds after going scoreless in the previous four and a half minutes before Webster scored the last of his points, another pair of free throws, to seal the win. Webster shot 6 from 14 from the field (43%), 8 from 12 free throws, converted his only three point attempt and added 5 assists.

Greene (21pts) top scored for the Hawks who shot a paltry 30% from the field (26 from 87) and now stand only one win ahead of the Pistons.

The Waikato Pistons may be heading for the wooden spoon in the NBL following their home defeat to fellow strugglers the James Blond Super City Rangers but one player is certainly worthy of something a little less inglorious than the spoon. 18 year old Tai Webster has taken the weighty role of starting point guard on his young shoulders and stood tall. He has played big minutes; over thirty-six per game. He is in the top 15 players in the league in points (18.5 per game), assists (4,2pg) and steals (1.8pg). Surely he is a shoo-in for the Rookie of the Year Award. However, will the decision makers at NBL headquarters overlook the fact that Tai played a few minutes of garbage time for the now defunct Auckland Pirates last season? He played just eleven minutes over two games scoring just two points. Strictly speaking he may not be a rookie but in reality he is. It is to be hoped the decision makers make the sensible and correct decision in three or four week’s time.