NZNBL 2014 Final Four: Top Two Seal Fate to Face Off in Final
The NZNBL Final Four took place on Friday July 4 2014, make sure to check back later this weekend with the recap of the Grand Final which takes place Saturday July 5 2014.
IMS Payroll Hawks 100-87 Zerofees Sharks
The first team to make it through to the big dance are none other than the most deserving minor premiers in the Hawke’s Bay Hawks. The Hawks showed class in their calm and collected victory in their final four show down with the Southland Sharks, powering their way through a big third term to steer the ship.
While it was Everard Bartlett (24 points) leading the team for scoring, the teams’ other starters certainly did their fair share of the workload, as Paora Winitana (24 points), Jarrod Kenny (12 points, 9 assists), Dustin Scott (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Kareem Johnson (8 points, 10 rebounds) all shared the spoils.
For the away side, the big game from in-form Tai Wesley (20 points, 9 rebounds) couldn’t combine with Brian Conklin’s double double (15 points, 11 rebounds) into an upset victory. Despite his standard shooting woes, Kevin Braswell also chimed in with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Pacific Jewellers Saints 89-71 Fico Finance Giants
Wellington’s first half display was enough to see them into this year’s NZNBL Grand Final. The team poured on the points in the opening twenty minutes to lead 54-22 over the Nelson Giants.
Despite the Giants’ best efforts to peg back the deficit, the damage had well and truly been done as the Saints used this time to rest their big players for the test ahead against Hawke’s Bay.
Lindsay Tait felt like he was everywhere on the court, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds and 11 assists. Joining him on 19 points was teammate Corey Webster, while the ever attacking Dion Prewster scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.
In what was a disappointing end to a strong season for Nelson, Josh Pace continued to show his season form with 26 points, while Mika Vukona was handy with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Only two other players scored in double figures.
Stay tuned as Hawke’s Bay and Wellington face off tomorrow to see who will be the 2014 NZNBL Champions!
For more information regarding the NZNBL, head to their website, here.