Basketball New Zealand

Hawks David Cooper (Photosport)

At the ASB Stadium in Auckland the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks have beaten the Youthtown Auckland Stars 84-80. The Hawks win puts them in pole position for the 6th play-off spot while the Stars are eliminated from making the 2009 NZCT National Basketball League play-offs.

The Hawks almost conspired to throw the game away after being up by as many as 17 early in the fourth quarter. The game got off to cagey start with the Stars taking a 13-11 lead into the first quarter break as both teams turned the ball over and failed to get offences going. By half time the Hawks had jumped in front 40-36 as the offences began to find there range and the game settled into a rhythm.

A disastrous third quarter for the Stars saw the Hawks lead blow out to 16 by the end of the third. Eight turnovers killed the Stars in the third as there turnover stat climbed to 18 for the game. It was two of the Stars more experienced players, Casey Frank and Dillon Boucher who were guilty giving up three turnovers each in the third quarter.

The Stars showed great heart in the fourth quarter to get back in the game and reduce the Hawks lead to two with .21 seconds to play. Instead of turning the ball over the Stars shooters found there range. Only two turnovers in the quarter, combined with Dylan Perfect-Tait hitting 3/3 and Hayden Allen 3/4 from the three point line allowed the Stars to score 32 points to the Hawks 20 in the fourth to be in with a chance in the dying stages of the game. The Hawks hung in though as Blagoj Yanev had a three point attempt to tie the game up with .4 seconds left on the clock and Hawk, Jarrod Kenny hit a free throw to put the game out of reach as the buzzer sounded.

Hayden Allen had 22 points for the Stars whilst Boucher and Frank hit double doubles, 12 points/ 11 rebounds and 16 points/ 10 rebounds respectively. Both players did have high turnover stats though. For the Hawks, Chuck Bailey had a strong night hitting a game high 25 points. Chris Daniel hit 16 while Jeremy Kench and Jarrod Kenny were the only other Hawks to hit double figures with 11 points each.

Round 13 continues Friday night with the Century City Saints hosting the Waikato Pistons in a repeat of the 2008 finals series. Tip off 7pm at the TSB Bank Arena.

Thursday, May 28

At ASB Stadium, Auckland

Youthtown Auckland Stars 80 (Hayden Allen 24, Casey Frank 16, Dylan Perfect Tait 15) v 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 84 (Chuck Bailey 25, Chris Daniel 16, Jeremy Kench 11), Final

Referees – Gavin Whiu, Tim Brown, Cherryl Crabbe
1Q: 13-11
HT: 36-40 (23-29)
3Q: 48-64 (12-24)
FT: 80-84 (32-20)

Stars v Hawks Boxscore