Crowe Lets Fly
Tagged in: Kiwis Abroad, NBL
Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/vhosts/basketball.org.nz/httpdocs/resources/uploads/2007/12/crowe_jason-hi2p8870-edit.thumbnail.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/bbnz/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /home/bbnz/domains/tallblacks.org.nz/public_html/wp-includes/post.php on line 3943
Waikato Pistons import Jason Crowe was unstoppable from the arc to guide Gold Coast Blaze to a 127-116 home win over South Dragons in the Hummer NBL Championship.
Crowe, who has already re-signed for the Pistons in next year’s Dominion Finance NBL, led the Blaze with 33 points, including 10/14 3pt, and eight assists as they controlled the contest throughout.
But he was not the only player to find the Gold Coast Convention Centre rims to their liking from long range – both teams combined for 55.6% (40/72) 3pt.
Tall Black captain Pero Cameron had 15 points (5/9 FG, 3/5 3pt, 2/4 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and a steal in 27 minutes off the bench for the Blaze, while international team-mate Casey Frank contributed 10 points (4/6 FG, 2/2 3pt), three rebounds and an assist in 17 minutes.
For the Dragons, former Wellington Saints import Bakari Hendrix had his strongest game since arriving in Australia, providing 23 points (8/11 FG, 5/5 3pt, 2/2 FT) in 31 minutes.
The result saw Gold Coast improve to 10-7 and they have subsequently moved ahead of the NZ Breakers into fourth on the competition table.
Meanwhile, Canterbury guard Jeremy Kench had seven points (2/3 FG, 3/4 FT), three assists, a steal and a rebound in 17 minutes as his Wollongong Hawks beat Singapore Slingers 93-72 at home.
Tall Black point guard Mark Dickel had six assists in Bamberg’s 58-80 loss to Barcelona in the Eurobasket competition.
Dickel logged 22 minutes off the bench for the Germans, adding two points (2/2 FT) and a steal. Bamberg are 1-6 halfway through pool play.
In US college play, Kiwi-born Aron Baynes led #6 Washington State University to a 51-47 win over 19th-ranked Gonzaga, extending their unbeaten start to the season to eight games.
Baynes had 13 points (5/11 FG, 3/4 FT), seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in the encounter that saw the Cougars punish their opponents for comments made in the pre-game build-up.
Bulldogs guard Micah Downs described WSU as the “second best” team, inferring that his team was better.
“Pretty good showing for the second-best team in the state, I think,” quipped Cougars guard Taylor Rochestie, who shot the game-clinching three-pointer with 29s remaining.
