Basketball New Zealand

Phil Jones (Photosport)

In the Trafalgar Centre the Fico Finance Nelson Giants replay last year’s semi final beating the Wellington Saints 92-86.

It was not without controversy though with 1.18 min left in the game, Giants up one when Phil Jones and Casey Frank (15 pts 9 reb) went for a loose ball and an unsportsmanlike foul was called by Gavin Whiu.

Jones then proceeded to make both free throws and a Harrison jump shot followed giving the Giants a five point lead in which the Saints would never recover.

Jones had another good performance scoring 29 points making 12/13 free throws. Giants welcomed home town boy Mika Vukona who marked Darryl Hudson limiting him to 18 points (6/17 FG).

Vukona nearly had a double double of 10 points and 9 rebounds. Micheal Harrison had a strong game 22 points and 10 rebounds including a monster alley oop in the fourth from an inbounds pass.

The first quarter was close both team struggling offensively, Giants shooting a dismal 21.5 percent from the field, but making it up on the free throw line shooting 7/8. Saints weren’t much better shooting at 37.5%, end of the first Giants up 17-16.

The first seven minutes of the second quarter was also close, but the Giants closed the half on an 8-0 run thanks to three pointers from Michael Fitchett and Harrison. Giants leading at the half 44-34.

In the third Saints import Erron Maxey (25 pts 7/12 3pt) came to life hitting five threes scoring 17 in the quarter briefly giving the Saints a three point lead. Giants hit crucial shots at the end of the quarter to regain the lead 63-61.

The fourth was close, but Giants closed it out shooting 62.5% in the quarter. Saints were not helped by foul trouble, Nick Horvarth fouling out to begin the fourth and eventually Leon Henry and Frank also fouling out. Giants went to the line 33 times converting 27 whilst the Saints went to the line 16 times making 12.

In Dunedin the OceanaGold Nuggets were no match for the Cougars losing 104-71. Cougars guards Jeremy Kench (25 pts) and Paora Winitana (26 pts) combined for 51 points.

Cougars started off well ending the first quarter with a 27-16 lead and then extending it to 66-32 at the end of the half.

Again imports Antoine Tisby (19 pts 9 reb) and Tyler Amaya (23 pts) top scored for the Nuggets, the only other player to reach double figures was Riki Buckrell who had 11.

In Te Awamutu last year’s rookie and forward of the year Thomas Abercrombie led his Pistons side to a 96-78 win with 37 points and 5 blocks over the Taranaki Mountainairs.

Abercrombie was complimented by Eric Devendorf (25 pts, 8/12 FG) and big man Alex Pledger (11 pts 11 reb).

For the Airs Jeremiah Trueman top scored with 23 points and nine rebounds, Jack Leasure had 18.

After being down at the end of the first by eight and giving up 32 points the Airs locked down the Pistons in the second restricting them to 13 points only down 41-45 at the half.

A pair of threes by Tony Ronaldson and Devendorff to start the third and a 13-2 run by the Pistons extended their lead to 17. Abercrombie scoring 13 in the quarter.

In the fourth the Airs cut the lead to nine, but the Pistons had too much fire power shooting 57% from the field for the game.

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Fico Finance Nelson Giants 92 (Jones 29, Harrison 22, Rampton 11), Wellington Saints 86 (Maxey 25, Hudson 18, Frank 15) Final

Referees – Dallas Pickering, Hayden Pipe, Jame Campion
1Q: 17-16
HT: 44-34 (27-18)
3Q: 63-61 (19-27)
FT: 92-86 (29-25)
Giants v Saints Boxscore (24 KB html)

Te Awamutu Events Centre, Te Awamutu

Waikato Pistons 96, (Abocrombie 37, Devendorf 25, Pledger 11) Taranaki Mountainairs 78, (Trueman 23, Leasure 18, Johnson 12) Final

Referees – Melony Wealleans, Jamie Hickey, Miguel Gallardo
1Q 32-24
HT 45-41 (13-17)
3Q 75-59 (30-18)
FT 96-78 (21-19)
Pistons v Mountainairs Boxscore (24 KB html)

Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Oceanagold Otago Nuggets 71 (Amaya 23, Tisby 19) Christchurch Cougars 104 (Winitana 26, Kench 25) Final

Referees – Gavin Zimmerman, Bevan Maslin, Matt Bathurst
1Q 16-27
HT 32-66 (16-39)
3Q 52-84 (20-18)
FT 71-104 (19-20)
Nuggets v Cougars Boxscore(24 KB html)