Townsend Lifts Auckland
Tagged in: CBL, Competitions
Auckland were the big movers in round 12 of the Conference Basketball League (CBL) Northern Conference but it may not be enough to push them into a Nationals berth.
Auckland, who welcomed in Canterbury Rams back-up centre Mike Townsend, defeated Waikato Pistons Development 78-62 and picked up a bonus point win, upsetting second-placed Western Bay Suns 71-48 in Tauranga on Sunday.
The Northern Conference will provide five teams to the CBL Nationals, but Auckland currently sits seventh, trailing the defending CBL champion Waikato Titans, who currently hold down fifth, by 10 points.
Townsend, picked up at the mid-season deadline, produced a double-double, top-scoring with 16 points,10 rebounds and two blocks for Auckland, who took control with a 21-14 third quarter to take a 13-point lead into the fourth period.
Auckland out-rebounded the Pistons 46-37, scoring 19 second chance points off 13 offensive boards, while their bench out-scored Waikato 45-10.
With the Northern Conference-leading Junior Tall Blacks/Breakers squad idle in round 12 and the Suns upset on their home floor for just the second time this season, the rest of the top-five were able to close in.
Third-placed Northside got double-doubles from BJ Anthony, Tyrone Davey and Warrick Siddall in their 81-72 win over the Taupo Volcanoes, the Titans blew-out struggling Eastern Bays 132-80 even without leading scorer Puke Lenden, and the Harbour Heat Reserves got 20-plus point games from Dan Ryan, Karl Noyer and Valance McCarthy in a 112-88 rout of winless Tai Tokerau.
Anthony, a Heat NBL bench player, had 23 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks, while Davey, from the cross-city rival Auckland Stars, had 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as Northside took control in the first half, leading by 19 points.
American guard James Carr top-scored with 22 points while Michael Wells added 16 points and 14 rebounds for Taupo, who were able to pull within 10 points in the third quarter.
The young brigade stepped up for the Titans as they made short work of Eastern Bays. Daniel Green top-scored with 33 points, while Matt Aird had 24, Ezra Nikora 15 and Phillip Green 12 points and 11 rebounds. Veteran Robson Tavita had 22 points, while Teri Martin led the way for an under-manned Eastern Bays with 29 points.
Ryan had 30 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Heat Reserves, who recorded only their third loss of the season on Friday night in a default result against West Ballaz Massey. Noyer had 27 points and McCarthy 24 points and 10 boards.
AUT University kept their Nationals hopes burning with a crucial 80-74 win over reeling Counties/Te Wananga. AUT used an overall 51-34 rebounding edge to surge ahead by 14 points at halftime and held on down the stretch. Joshua Tuaiti and Houston O’Riley top-scored with 13 points for AUT, while Joe Jackson had 18 for Counties.
AUT sit sixth, eight points behind the Titans, but could be the first to benefit if any of the top-five opt not to compete at the CBL Nationals.
West Ballaz Massey handed the Pistons Development squad their second loss of the round on Sunday, holding on for a 66-63 win, with Bay Hawks American import Kevin Smith scoring a game-high 25 points.
CBL Northern Conference - Round 12
Friday, July 18
West Ballaz Massey 20 Harbour Heat Reserves 0 (by default)
Saturday, July 19
Auckland 78 (Mike Townsend 16, Boris Babic 11, Vanja Babic 10) Waikato Pistons Development 62 (Jamie Barnett 13, Barney Fitzpatrick 12, Jono Chen 10)
Waikato Titans 132 (Daniel Green 33, Matt Aird 24, Robson Tavita 22, Ezra Nikora 15, Phillip Green 12, Kazlo Evans 10) Eastern Bays 80 (Teri Martin 29, Jamie Reddish 17, Edward Gallagher 15, Simon Cornish 13)
Northside 81 (BJ Anthony 23, Tyrone Davey 22, Jonathon Loe 15, Warrick Siddall 12) Taupo Volcanoes 72 (James Carr 22, Thomas Stebbing 16, Michael Wells 16, Jason Carmichael 11)
AUT University 80 (Joshua Tuaiti 13, Houston O’Riley 13, Patrick Bolstad 11, David McCarthy 11) Counties/Te Wananga 74 (Joe Jackson 18, Cory Poa 13, Dylan Perfect-Tait 13, Jared Purcell 11)
Harbour Heat Reserves 112 (Dan Ryan 30, Karl Noyer 27, Valance McCarthy 24) Tai Tokerau 88 (Travis McIlroy 24, Thomas Whetu 19, Kelly Wheto 18, Carmen Hetaraka 10)
Sunday, July 20
West Ballaz Massey 66 (Kevin Smith 25, Kaea Samson 13) Waikato Pistons Development 63 (Dyllan Wineera 12, Jamie Barnett 10, Carl Whittred 10)
Auckland 71 Western Bay Suns 48
Bye: JTB/Breakers
