NZNBL 2014 Round 6: Rusty Rams shown up by league leading Hawks
Round 6 of the NZNBL commenced on Thursday the 8th of May and concluded on Sunday the 11th of May.
Pacific Jewellers Saints 99-89 Breakers Manawatu Jets
Corey Webster led the fight back after a sluggish start to give the Wellington Saints yet another victory in the NZNBL. Webster, who scored a game high 33 points, was helped out by hot shooting teammates, as the team shot 58% from the floor and over 50% from downtown.
All five starters scored in double figures, with BJ Anthony playing a big hand in the win with 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Ernest Scott (15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists), Lindsay Tait (13 points, 9 assists) and Dion Prewster (11 points, 3 rebounds) rounded out the statistics as their bench was a weakness throughout the game.
Manawatu was led by efficient Brandon Jenkins with 22 points and 10 assists on 75% shooting. Troy McLean was just as effective off the bench as he scored 15 quick fire points in his 26 minutes.
OceanaGold Nuggets 79-83 Fico Finance Giants
The Nelson Giants have rolled on to a hot 7-2 start with a victory over the Otago Nuggets.
Josh Pace was outstanding with 26 points and 12 rebounds, continuing to pay dividends for the Giants, and was well worth the pennies paid. Phill Jones was hot off the bench, scoring 17 points which included getting to the line twelve times!
For the home side Brendon Polyblank had 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Warren Carter was everywhere for the Nuggets when they led early on, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds (five offensive), three blocks and two steals.
Canterbury Rams 59-76 IMS Payroll Hawks
The Canterbury Rams were well and truly embarrassed on Friday night as home fans walked out extremely unhappy with the poor performance that was left out on the court in their 17 point loss to Hawke’s Bay.
Managing just 24 points at half time (50-24 HT), the Rams shot 35% from the field and turned the ball over 16 times. Captain Jeremy Kench was the lonely highlight with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Richie Edwards was gallant with 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Hawks had players everywhere adapting to the contest and providing their team with advantages. Marco Alexander led the scoring punch off the pine with 16, while Kareem Johnson finished with a double double (10 points, 11 rebounds). Dennis Scott secured 16 rebounds to go along with six points.
The Good Home Mountainairs 126-90 James Blond Supercity Rangers
The Taranaki Mountainairs have continued their winning ways from last week to jump aboard a strong victory over the Supercity Rangers.
Behind big scorers Adrian Oliver (42 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals), Suleiman Braimoh (35 points, 15 rebounds, 5 steals) and Brad Anderson (26 points, 6 rebounds), the ‘Airs were electric all night giving their home fans 30 or more points in every quarter.
While a third quarter meltdown by the Rangers split the game wide open (35-12), Daryl Corletto led the team with 30 points of his own. Jason Cadee tried as hard as he could to help Corletto out with 16 points, yet couldn’t manage a triple which would have helped the cause (0-7).
IMS Payroll Hawks 88-78 Pacific Jewellers Saints
A specialist defensive third quarter has seen the Hawke’s Bay Hawks stay at the perch of the NZNBL with a ten point win over currently their biggest rivals.
Allowing just seven points in the third term, the Hawks managed 17 themselves to end up winning by that ten point gap. Dennis Scott was very important in the victory managing 20 points and nine rebounds, while Kareem Johnson (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Everard Bartlett (14 points, 7 assists) chipped in respectively.
Corey Webster kept the Saints alive for the most part of it, dropping 28 points and grabbing six boards. BJ Anthony had 21 points and seven rebounds on an efficient night.
Zerofees Southland Sharks 94-83 Fico Finance Nelson Giants
Credit: Photo Credit: Monica Toretto - Southland Sharks photographer
The Southland Sharks have ticked yet another box on their attempt to jump back up the NZNBL ladder and challenge for another championship by knocking off the hot starting Nelson Giants.
Thanks to the pairing of Brian Conklin (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Reuben Te Rangi (16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists), the Sharks went 29 to 10 in the second quarter to erase the early deficit and set up a second half which they gave themselves every chance at victory.
For the visitors, Conklin’s Townsville buddy Josh Pace was the star with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Phill Jones (16 points, 4 assists) was handy off the bench.
Advice First Pistons 73-72 Breakers Manawatu Jets
An Akeem Wright show has jolted the Waikato Pistons into gear despite losing the final three quarters to hang on by a solitary point. Wright was brilliant scoring 29 points and collecting 11 rebounds in his best on court performance in the only game on Sunday.
While his shooting wasn’t extremely fancy, Corin Henry was Wright’s second man, chiming in with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists of his own.
Captain Jeremiah Trueman did his absolute best for the visitors to complete the comeback from the early deficit, registering a double double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Jenkins had 16 points, four rebounds and five assists in the loss.
For more information regarding the NZNBL, head to their website here.