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The Junior Tall Blacks and Nelson Suns kept their title hopes alive with quarterfinal victories late on Day Three of the Conference Basketball League at Porirua.

The national U19 men, preparing for next month’s FIBA U19 Championships against Australia, edged Actrix Waikato Titans Fraser 76-74, their second victory of the day over the same opponents. Harbour guard Brad Anderson led the way with 20 points.

But the Suns had to reverse their earlier result over Southland, effecting a 20-point turnaround to eliminate their rivals 81-64. Guard Sam Dempster led all scorers with 23 points.

In the morning, Porirua, led by Jordan Mills‘ 31 points, upset previously unbeaten Hutt Valley 121-99 to finish top of the table. They now face Nelson in one semifinal, while Hutt take on the JTBs.

2010 Conference Basketball League Tournament

Porirua

Wednesday, July 28
10am
Porirua 121 (Jordan Mills 31, Brook Ruscoe 18, Ross Taurima 16, Nick Mills 15, Josh McCrombie 14, Randall Bishop 12) Hutt Valley 99 (Brendon Polyblank 29, Leon Henry 26, Cory Vessey 17, Dean Antipas 16)
Q1 32-22
HT 57-49 (25-27)
Q3 84-70 (27-21)
FT 121-99 (37-29)

Noon
Junior Tall Blacks 73 (Ethan Rusbatch 22, Hyrum Hippolite 10) Actrix Waikato Titans Fraser 67 (Chris Daniel 23, Daniel Green 16, Duane Bailey 13, Jerome Tafa 11)
Q1 16-6
HT 37-34 (21-28)
Q3 57-53 (20-19)
FT 73-67 (16-14)

Southland 66 (James Paringatai 18, Gareth Dawson 16, Paratene McLeod 13, Izaac Williams 12) Nelson Suns 63 (Sam To’omata 20, Bronson Beri 13, Sam Dempster 12, Tom Ingham 10)
Q1 15-15
HT 32-36 (17-21)
Q3 40-51 (8-15)
FT 66-63 (26-12)

Standings after Round Robin
Porirua 4-1
Hutt Valley 4-1
Junior Tall Blacks 2-3
Nelson Suns 2-3
Southland 2-3
Actrix Waikato Titans Fraser 1-4

6pm
Quarterfinal 1 – Junior Tall Blacks 76 (Brad Anderson 20, Kiki Kiriau 11, Ethan Rusbatch 10) Actrix Waikato Titans Fraser 74 (Duane Bailey 23, Ben King 10)
Q1 17-26
HT 43-43 (26-15)
Q3 62-61 (19-18)
FT 76-74 (14-13)

8pm
Quarterfinal 2 – Nelson Suns 81 (Sam Dempster 23, Bronson Beri 16, Sam To’omata 15, Ben Wright 13) Southland 64 (Paratene McLeod 14, James Paringatai 14, Gareth Dawson 12, Dan Peck 11)
Q1 26-20
HT 44-29 (18-9)
Q3 60-46 (16-17)
FT 81-64 (21-18)

Thursday, July 29
2pm
Actrix Waikato Titans Fraser v Southland (Fifth/sixth playoff)

4pm
Hutt Valley v Junior Tall Blacks (Semifinal 2)

6pm
Porirua v Nelson Suns (Semifinal 1)