Dynamos Power Up
Tagged in: Competitions, NBL
Devon Dynamos Taranaki led early, often and late in New Plymouth on Friday night.
Forward Link Abrams had 21 points and 12 rebounds as the Dynamos pulled level with the Youthtown Auckland Stars in the final playoff spot with a 98-84 win over the Marley Canterbury Rams in round 12 of the Dominion Finance NBL at TSB Stadium.
The Dynamos jumped on the visiting Rams early, pushing out to an 18-point lead after the first period, which grew to 23 points by halftime and did not fall into single figures the entire second half.
Taranaki trailed only once in the game, at 5-4 just 77 seconds into the game, and then only for a few seconds. They led by as many as 26 points late in the second period and early in the third, the Rams only getting as close as 13 points once early in the fourth.
In his 100th NBL game, Dynamos point guard Ben Jeffrey had nine points on 3-of-6 shooting, four rebounds, three assists and a season-high six steals in 34 minutes.
American shooting guard Keith Salscheider provided 18 points, centre Tony Rampton 14, his younger brother Damon Rampton 12 and forward Aaron Nowell 10 points.
Rams point guard Jeremy Kench led a minor fourth quarter revival, finishing with 26 points, including 11-of-14 from the foul line, and 10 rebounds but also had seven turnovers, while American centre John Whorton was the next best with 14.
Import forward Joey Harrell added 13 and Gerard Bowden 12 for Canterbury, who are now one loss away from being mathematically removed from the playoff picture.
The Rams back up tomorrow night against the league-leading Waikato Pistons in Hamilton, while the Dynamos host the Pistons on Sunday.
Dominion Finance NBL Round 12
At TSB Stadium, New Plymouth
Devon Dynamos Taranaki 98 (Link Abrams 21, Keith Salscheider 18, Tony Rampton 14, Damon Rampton 12, Aaron Nowell 10) Marley Canterbury Rams 84 (Jeremy Kench 26, John Whorton 14, Joey Harrell 13, Gerard Bowden 12)
1Q: 33-15
HT: 53-30 (20-15)
3Q: 75-56 (22-26)
FT: 98-84 (23-28)
Dynamos vs Rams Box Score (21KB html)
