Cougars Take Two
Tagged in: NBL
In Round 9 NZCT National Basketball League action on Saturday night the Bartercard Christchurch Cougars have beaten Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 75-73 in a thriller at the NSEC thanks to a game high 30 points from Gerard Bowden.
The win means the Cougars return to the Garden City two big wins after the Heat/ Stars double header road trip.
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat controlled the tip off and proceeded to take charge of the first quarter opening up a 10-point, 19-9, lead.
In the second period, the Heat maintained their 10 point advantage until with less than three minutes to play in the half Bowden hit a pair of threes 20 seconds apart.
Bowden’s long range bombs sparked the Cougars into action and moments later the game was tied up for the first time, but a Karl Noyer lay up sent the Heat to break one point ahead, up 35-34.
The game swung back and forth in the early stages of the third quarter and then became tied at 45 a piece with just over five minutes to play in the third. It was some two minutes before Bowden broke the deadlock that saw the Cougars pull back in front and then end the quarter up four, 55-51.
In a tense fourth quarter the Heat hit the front 59-58 early on the back of a Daryl Cartwright three. The Heat went on to extend that lead to seven with under five minutes to play before a Cougars time out sparked a run that had them back in front with 2:59 to play.
The lead then changed hands five more times before Bowden hit the first of two free throws with :07 second showing on the clock to take the score to 75-73. Bowden missed the second free throw and the Heat got the ball in the hands of Mychal Green to get a three point attempt off on the buzzer that wouldn’t drop.
Gerard Bowden was the stand out offensively for the Cougars taking a game high 30 after putting up 35 against the Stars on Friday night.
Marty Davidson was strong at the defensive end for the Cougars taking seven defensive boards (10 for the night), and Tim Behrendorff had 17 points on the night. New Heat import Mike Bell showed some nice touches in his 21 minutes scoring 18 points, though he will need to adjust to New Zealand referring after fouling out. Cory Webster top scored for the Heat with 20.
Saturday, May 9
At North Shore Event Centre, North Shore
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 73 (Cory Webster 20, Mike Bell 18, Daryl Cartwright 12) v Bartercard Christchurch Cougars 75 (Gerard Bowden 30, Tim Behrendorff 17), Final
Referees – Tim Brown, Kieran Udy, Bo Wills-Choat
1Q: 19-9
HT: 35-34 (16-25)
3Q: 51-55 (16-21)
FT: 73-75 (22-20)
Heat v Cougars Boxscore (html 22KB)
