Basketball New Zealand

In NZCT National Basketball League action tonight the ecogise Nelson Giants have been beaten 75-76 by the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat in Nelson, the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks made light work of the Devon Dynamos Taranaki in Napier winning 92-64 and in Christchurch the Bartercard Cougars have been beaten by the Youthtown Auckland Stars 91-101.

In Nelson, the Giants dominated the first half to be ahead by 17 at the half time break, leading 24-14 at the first quarter break and then 46-29 at the end of the second. The Heat had a much stronger third quarter offensively and also applied greater defensive pressure to get back in the game and take the third 27-16 and reduce the Giants lead to 6 going into the fourth. Midway through the fourth the Heat took the lead for the first time in the game with a Mike Bell dunk. With :55 second to play the game was tied up for the first time 74-74. Corey Webster nailed to free throws with 25 seconds to play and with 7 seconds to play Tony Rampton only made one of his free throws to hand the game to the Heat.

In Napier, the Hawks cruised passed the Dynamos and now leave the Dynamos to play the Jets tomorrow night and try and get their first win of the season. The Hawks jumped out to a 10 point lead 28-18 by the end of the first quarter. The Dynamos won the second quarter 19-15 to reduce the Hawks lead to 6 points, 43-37 at half time. The Dynamos were unable to build on the momentum created before half time and the Hawks piled on the points in the third while restricting the Dynamos to a miserly 11 points. With a 21 point, 69-48 lead going into the fourth the Hawks maintained there professionalism throughout the fourth quarter to take it 23-16 and register a 28 point winning margin.

In Christchurch, the Youthtown Auckland Stars have finished there NBL season on a high beating the Bartercard Cougars 101-91 thanks to game high 37 from Blagoj Janev. The Stars lead 30-20 at the first quarter break only to lose their way in the second quarter and allow the Cougars back into the game. At halftime the teams were tied 48-48. Instead of folding as the Stars have done during the season they rallied in the third to narrowly edge it 26-25 and take a one point, 74-73 lead into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was all the Stars as they took it in a canter 27-18, though the Cougars were left chasing the game and gave up plenty of free throw attempts to the Aucklanders in the dying stages of the game.

The results of tomorrow nights game between the Century City saints and the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat are now irrelevant to final seedings for the play-offs. The top six is confirmed as follows.

1. Waikato Pistons
2. ecogise Nelson Giants
3. Century City Saints
4. Bartercard Christchurch Cougars
5. Appliance Shed Harbour Heat
6. 0800 Easy LPG Hawks

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, June 16

At TSB Bank Arena, Wellington. Tip Off 7pm Live on Sky Sport 3
Century City Saints v 0800 Easy LPG Hawks

Wednesday, June 17

At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch. Tip Off 7pm Live on Sky Sport 3
Bartercard Christchurch Cougars v Applinace Shed Harbour Heat

Semifinals

Thursday, June 18

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson. Tip Off 7pm Live on Sky Sport 3
ecogise Nelson Giants v (Saints or Hawks)

Friday, June 19

At Te Awamutu Events Centre. Tip Off 7pm Live on Sky Sport 3
Waikato Pistons v (Cougars or Heat)

Friday, June 12

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

ecogise Nelson Giants 75 (Phil Jones 22, Tony Rampton 19, John Barber 11) v Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 76 (Corey Webster 19, Mike Bell 19, Mychal Green 15), FT

Referees - Melony Wealleans, James Campion, Brendan Hodgson
1Q: 24-14
HT: 46-29 (22-15)
3Q: 62-56 (16-27)
FT: 75-76 (13-20)

Giants v Heat Boxscore (html 22KB)

At Pettigrew Green Arena, Taradale

0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 92 (Charles Bailey 17, Jeremy Kench 16, 10 Multiple) v Devon Dynamos Taranaki 64 (Phillip Gilbert 13, James paringatai 13, Aaron bailey-Nowell 13), FT

Referees - Gavin Whiu, Shane Nikora, Wayne Start
1Q: 28-18
HT: 43-37 (15-19)
3Q: 69-48 (26-11)
FT: 92-64 (23-16)

Hawks v Dynamos Boxscore (html 22KB)

At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch

Bartercard Christchurch Cougars 91 (Tim Behrendorff 18Gerard Bowden 15, Poara Winitana 15) v Youthtown Auckland Stars 101 (Janev Blagoj 37, Casey Frank 22, Hayden Allen 20), FT

Referees - Raewyn Willocks, Gavin Zimmerman, Hayden Pipe
1Q: 20-30
HT: 48-48 (28-18)
3Q: 73-74 (25-26)
FT: 91-101 (18-27)

Cougars v Stars Boxscore (html 22KB)