Basketball New Zealand

Phill Jones (Photosport)

Fico Finance Nelson Giants have got their double header off to a brilliant start beating the Exodus Saints 80-65 at TSB Arena

Giants were the last team to beat the Saints at TSB Arena back in Round Two in 2009. Phill Jones was outstanding top scoring with 24 points including nine points in the final quarter in which the Giants won 22-13. Darryl Jones was efficient off the bench scoring 13 points without missing a shot.

Saints were not helped by the fact that their best player Eric Devendorf injured his ankle early in the second quarter and did not play the rest of the game. Giants had a similar scare with Michael Harrison in the second quarter, but managed to play some minutes in the third.

Giants dictated terms in the opening quarter keeping the game at their pace leading 22-15. In the second the Saints got to within three a couple of times but their offense looked out of sync without Devendorf, Giants with a 41-35 lead at the break.

In the third it looked like the Saints were back in the game when a Leon Henry three cut the deficit to two, but after a good time out by Giants coach Chris Tupu the visitors replyed with an 8-0 run to lead thanks to Mike Fitchett who scored five of his twelve in the run.

Giants began the fourth the right way with a 6-0 run, Phill Jones scoring eight in the first two minutes. They say defense wins championships and the Giants will be quietly confident holding the home side to a season low 65 points.

The Giants will now go down south to play the Christchurch Cougars tomorrow and look to move closer to the top spot where the Waikato Pistons hold at present.

Zerofees Southland Sharks have proven why they should be in the top six thrashing the McDonalds Manawatu Jets 89-59 in Invercargill.

Sharks Rene Rougeau had a double double of 25 points and 10 rebounds and also grabbing 7 steals, while Mike Helms had impressive game with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Sharks put the defensive clamps on the Jets holding them to 28% from the field, 20% beyond the arc and commited 23 turnovers.

The Jets had five players score 10 points, but no one stepped up for the visitors who have now lost 10 on the trot this season.

Jets Darryl Hudson who was averaging over 30 for the Jets was held down to 10 shooting 1/12 from the field. Jets other import Richard Jeter did not score only playing 14 minutes.

In his third game for the Sharks, Arthur Trousdell had 14 points off the bench giving the Sharks win number six and more importantly back in the top six.

In the Shore the Harbour Heat have suffered their fourth loss in a row going down to the 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks who blitzed the home side in the fourth scoring 36 points for their 102-97 win.

In a game that came to life only in fits and starts, Hawke’s Bay held on in the dying seconds as Harbour’s Corey Webster, who had a game-high 40 points, threatened to take the game away.

The opening quarter was defined by turnovers and missed opportunities for Harbour as they struggled to find any rhythm, allowing Hawke’s Bay to lead by nine on the back of a flawless shooting display from import Josh Pace who went seven from seven from the floor in the first half.

Harbour closed with a burst of scoring from Webster and two quick technical fouls called on the Hawke’s Bay bench, bringing the score back to a two-point deficit at the break.

The script was the same in the second half. Harbour got close but could never quite stay with Hawke’s Bay.

Every time the visitors appeared in trouble Chris Daniel (22 points) and Ben Hill (14 points) would step up with a three.

With time almost up on the clock, Harbour finally found an edge and again it was Webster leading the way with a brace of threes to close the gap to one point with 18 seconds to play.

But Hill kept his cool from the line though, as did Everard Bartlett, to seal the win for Hawke’s Bay.

Friday, May 21

At North Shore Events Centre, North Shore

Harbour Heat 97 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 102, Final

Referees – Dallas Pickering, Miguel Gallardo, Cherryl Crabbe
1Q: 20-29
HT: 43-45 (23-16)
3Q: 61-66 (18-21)
FT: 97-102 (36-36)
Heat v Hawks Boxscore (24 KB html)

At TSB Arena, Wellington

Exodus Saints 65 (Casey Frank 14, Leon Henry 11, Nick Horvath 11) Fico Finance Nelson Giants 80 (Phill Jones 24, Darryl Jones 13, Tony Rampton 12, Mike Fitchett 12), Final

Referees – Andy Thackray, Sean Cronin, Yalla Edwards
1Q: 15-22
HT: 35-41 (20-19)
3Q: 52-58 (17-17)
FT: 65-80 (13-22)
Saints v Giants Boxscore (24 KB html)

At Southland Stadium, Invercargill

Zerofees Southland Sharks 89 (Rene Rougeau 25, Mike Helms 18, Arthur Trousdell 14) McDonalds Manawatu Jets 59 (Five Tied 10) , Final

Referees – Gavin Whiu, Raelene Forde, Bevan Maslin
1Q: 19-13
HT: 50-31 (31-18)
3Q: 68-51 (18-20)
FT: 89-59 (21-18)
Sharks v Jets Boxscore (24 KB html)