Basketball New Zealand

The ecogise Nelson Giants have defeated the Century City Saints 83-82 in a thrilling NZCT National Basketball League semi final at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson tonight that came down to a last second and a bit play by Tony Rampton.

With 1.7 seconds to play John Barber was fouled, with the Saints up by three, attempting a three pointer which would have tied the game up at 82-82 sending it into overtime. Barber hit his first two free throws and then missed his third attempt to see the ball be mis-rebounded by the Saints come back of the glass and be taken by Tony Rampton who put the ball in the basket from close range to send the Giants faithful crazy.

The Saints immediately lodged a protest on the grounds the clock had not been started appropriately and that the basket had been made after the buzzer. With the game being screened live on Sky Sport, management from both teams were able to view the play which was confirmed by slow motion replay as happening in 1.5 seconds of the alloted 1.7 seconds that was left to play. The protest was subsequently recinded and the Giants victorious.

In tight game befitting a semi final the Giants lead at the first quarter break 19-16 and by half time the scores were locked up at 41-41. The Saints took a slender two point lead into the fourth ahead 62-60 and lead by as many as nine points in the fourth and by eight with 2:34 to play.

The Saints will look back on a game that should have won leading by five with :34 seconds to play but threw away with poor decision making, a huge Phil Jones three pointer from way down town, and the inabillity to box out and collect a defensive rebound that would have seen them win. The inabillity to collect the decisive rebound was punctuated by the Giants dominating the boards all eveining, out rebounding the Saints 48 to 36. Tony Rampton was a Giant in that department ripping down 20 boards as well has scoring 16 points to collect a match winning double double.

Though Mike Efevberha lead all scorers on the night with 24 it was Phil Jones’ 22 points including 6/11 from the three point line that kept the Giants in touch at points where the Saints threatened to pull away.

The Giants will now sit back and watch Sky Sport 3 tomorrow night to see who they will play in the NZCT National Basketball League finals series when the Waikato Pistons host the Bartercard Christchurch Cougars in Te Awamutu. Semi Final 2 tips off at 7.10pm.

NBL Semifinals

Thursday, June 18

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

ecogise Nelson Giants 83 (Phil Jones 22, Tony Rampton 16, John Barber 15) v Century City Saints 82 (Mike Efevberha 24, Brendon Polyblank 13, Lindsay Tait 12), FT

Live on Sky Sport 3
Referees - Dallas Pickering, Gavin Whiu, Gavin Zimmerman
1Q: 19-16
HT: 41-41 (22-25)
3Q: 60-62 (19-21)
FT: 83-82 (23-20)

Giants v Saints Boxscore (html 22KB)