Bradshaw Returns
Tagged in: CBL, Competitions
Tall Blacks centre Craig Bradshaw returned to action in New Zealand last week but could not prevent his Wellington Saints from a loss in round six of the Conference Basketball League’s (CBL) Central Conference.
Just a week removed from the Tall Blacks 2008 campaign at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Bradshaw had 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with 13 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals as the Saints fourth quarter comeback fell short, 91-86, against Wellington at Southwest Stadium on Sunday.
It was the third loss in four games for the Saints against Wellington, who improved to 6-4, to co-lead the Central Conference with the Turanga Health Rising Suns.
Round six did little to clear up the Central’s nationals qualification equation, with the Saints and Wellington, and Rising Suns and Taranaki Panthers splitting their double-headers.
Troy McLean, a Saint during the NBL season, had 24 points, six rebounds and four steals for Wellington on Sunday, while Jon Cartwright compiled a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, and point guard George Le’afa had 19 points and Dave Hopoi 17.
Arthur Trousdell, who had 23 points and eight rebounds on Sunday, was key for the Saints in their 105-93 win over Wellington on Saturday night.
Former NBL veteran Rob Tuilave produced 20 points, 15 rebounds and five assists as the Rising Suns defeated the Panthers 71-69 at the Sanfords Events Centre in Opunake on Saturday, getting help from Willie Banks with 17 points and Robbie Wilson with 15.
Taranaki Dynamo Aaron Nowell posted 28 points, 17 rebounds and five assists in a beast performance, while Andrew Green had 19 points.
Taranaki got their revenge on Sunday, Nowell going off for 36 points on 11-of-23 shooting and 20 rebounds as the Panthers edged away from the Rising Suns in the third quarter, posting their second win 82-71.
Josh Paurini had 14 points and Aaron Ratahi 10 points for Taranaki, who claimed 22 offensive rebounds, out-scoring the Rising Suns 27-6 on second chance points.
Bay Hawks star Kareem Johhson posted the triple-double you don’t want, 22 points, 13 rebounds and 12 turnovers for Turanga, while Reg Namana had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Leityn Swann netted 17 points.
Wellington and the Rising Suns set atop the Central Conference with 12 points, while the Saints have eight and Taranaki four.
With two games in hand, the Saints could still overtake the co-leaders but face back-to-back road double-headers, this weekend in Gisborne against the Rising Suns and in round eight to the Panthers.
