Basketball New Zealand

Craig Bradshaw (Photosport)

Kiwis Mika Vukona and Craig Bradshaw have kept their Australian NBL title hopes alive as the Gold Coast Blaze conduct a three-way dogfight for the regular season title.

The Blaze split their Round 19 double header, defeating league leaders Perth 86-73 at home, but losing to Wollongong Hawks 88-100 on the road.

Vukona and Bradshaw combined for 11 points and six rebounds against the Wildcats, but Vukona had a double-figure scoring night against the Hawks, contributing 11 points (5/5 FG, 1/1 3pt) and two rebounds before fouling out.

Bradshaw chipped in eight points, five rebounds, two steals and an assist.

Gold Coast are now 15-11 for the season and visit the Burger King NZ Breakers and the Melbourne Tigers in the final round. They could still miss the semifinals if they lose both games.

Out of playoff contention, veteran Kiwi Phill Jones had 25 points (8/17 FG, 4/5 3pt, 5/5 FT), seven rebounds and an assist to lead Cairns Taipans to a 79-76 home victory over Perth midweek. Centre Tony Rampton also connected with a trey in his 22 minutes on court.

The NZ duo recorded eight points apiece as the Snakes fell 76-89 to Townsville Crocs on the road.

While their own title hopes are gone, Jones, Rampton and the Taipans (11-16) may still hold the Breakers’ fate in their hands – they host the Auckland-based team next Saturday.

In the Australian WNBL, Tall Fern Natalie Purcell helped Logan Thunder to a 68-55 home win over Australian Institute of Sport with 16 points (5/18 FG, 4/12 3pt, 2/4 FT), seven rebounds, a steal and an assist.

Logan are 7-14 for the season.

Kiwi shooter Lisa Pardon and her Bulleen Boomers (20-1) defended their position atop the WNBL table with a 92-50 win over Dandenong Rangers.

In Turkey, Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic recorded his second win since taking over the reins of Darussafaka in early January, defeating Aliaga 71-62 at home. Former Sacramento Kings guard Quincy Douby led all scorers with 26 points, while former Charlotte Bobcats forward Jermareo Davidson had a 14 points/18 rebounds double.

Darussafaka, who dominated the boards at both ends of the court, are now 2-16 for the season and still occupy bottom place on the TBL table.

In the United States, Tall Fern Micaela Cocks was honoured for surpassing 1000 points in her college career and then helped University of Oregon overcome archrivals Oregon State 82-62 in their last ever encounter at the McArthur Court.

Cocks scored 18 points (7/11 FG, 2/2 3pt, 2/2 FT), adding two rebounds, an assist and a steal in a result that took the Ducks to 14-8 for the season and 5-5 in the Pac-10 Conference.

Ferns guard Erin Rooney had nine points (3/6 FG, 3/4 3pt), six rebounds and three assists to help Monmouth University defeat Farleigh Dickinson University 59-49.

The freshman connected with consecutive treys early in the game to get her team rolling as the Hawks (12-11) beat out their New Jersey state rivals and secured the Governor Codey Trophy for the first time in its three-year history.