Basketball New Zealand

NZCT National Basketball League

Defending NZCT National Basketball League champions the Waikato Pistons grabbed the regular season honours and top seeding for the play-offs after an emphatic 108-70 victory over the Youthtown Auckland Stars at the Te Awamutu Events Centre tonight.

The win for the Pistons took their regular season record to 14-2 with a 7-1 home and away win/ loss record. The Pistons will now watch with interest what plays out over the next seven days as they wait to see who will have the unenviable task of travelling to Hamilton next Friday to take on the Pistons in the second sudden death semi final. The Youthtown Auckland Stars still have one game to play in what has been a difficult season and must board a flight to the southernmost franchise in the NBL to take on the Cougars Friday night.

The Pistons stamped there mark on the game tonight from the outside, jumping out to a 30-16 lead by first quarter time. That lead was extended to 19 by halftime as the Pistons went to the major break ahead 53-34, Justin Bailey leading all scorers at the half with 24 points. The second half didn’t get any better for the Stars with the Pistons extending the gulf between the teams to 32 points at the third quarter break, 79-47. Rather than take the foot of the pedal in the fourth quarter the Pistons piled on 29 points to the Stars 23 to see the final margin between the two teams blow out to 38 points.

For the Stars Janev Blagoj top scored with 19 while Hayden Allen (17) and Casey Frank (14) were the only other Stars to make any notable contributions on the score sheet. Justin Bailey and Puke Lendon had a good night at the office for the Pistons leading all scorers’ with 26 points each. Thomas Abercrombie (14) and Muka Silver (14) made decent contributions also.

Four of the top six teams will take the court tomorrow night as they build towards the play-offs. The ecogise Nelson Giants host the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat, while in Napier the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks will take on the Devon Dynamos Taranaki and in Christchurch the Bartercard Cougars host the Youthtown Auckland Stars.

Thursday, June 11

At Te Awamutu Event Centre

Waikato Pistons 108 (Justin Bailey 26, Puke Lendon 26, Thomas Abercrombie 14, Muka Silver 14) Youthtown Auckland Stars 70 (Blagoj Janev 19, Hayden Allen 17, Casey Frank 16), Final

Referees – Dallas Pickering, Tim Brown, Kelly McLeod
1Q: 30-16
HT: 53-34 (23-18)
3Q: 79-47 (26-13)
FT: 108-70 (29-23)