JTBs Exit Opens Up Spot
Tagged in: CBL, Competitions
The Junior Tall Blacks/Breakers withdrawal from the Conference Basketball League (CBL) Nationals has ignited one final playoff race in the Northern Conference.
The JTB/Breakers, who finished their regular season on July 26, lost their long-time Conference lead in round 15 on Saturday, just days after they confirmed to Basketball New Zealand they would not attend the national tournament later this month, despite earning one of the Northern’s five berths.
With the Northern Conference’s five reps – including the Western Bay Suns, Waikato Titans, Harbour Heat Reserves and Northside – previously confirmed, the JTBs omission has opened up the last nationals spot to the sixth-placed team, with Auckland and AUT University fighting for the right.
Auckland put one hand on the CBL Nationals berth with a 91-65 bonus point win over AUT on Saturday, creating a six-point buffer between sixth and seventh.
Auckland Stars guard Josh Clark top-scored with 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Canterbury Rams centre Mike Townsend had 25 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks as Auckland took control early and were in control up 20 points midway through the third period.
Auckland, who had seven players with six or more rebounds, completely dominated the boards, 60-28 but only managed 14 points from 21 offensive rebounds. Harbour Heat guard Jarrod Kenny led AUT with 19 points.
Auckland travel to Counties/Te Wananga in their final regular season game on Saturday, a win guaranteeing their place for Wellington, while a loss could throw the door open to AUT, who have games remaining against Tai Tokerau, Waikato Pistons and Waikato Titans.
The top of the Northern Conference remains a bottle-neck, with first to fourth separated by two points.
Behind 21 points from guard Whare Bidois and double-digit games from Sam Walker, Ike Smith and Eru Wills, the Suns of Western Bay re-took the Conference lead with a 90-63 bonus-point win over Waikato Pistons Development.
The Suns, coached by Alex Stojkovic, now have 45 points, with the JTBs second on 44, defending CBL champion Titans and Heat Reserves, who still own the best win-loss record of any team, in third on 43 points.
With three games remaining – against Counties/Te Wananga, West Ballaz Massey and AUT – the Titans, who defeated the Taupo Volcanes 91-71 on Saturday, remain favourites to win the Northern regular season title, while the Suns could put pressure on them with a bonus point win over Eastern Bays in round 16.
Despite playing without the CBL’s leading scorer Dan Ryan, the Heat Reserves were able to make up ground with two wins, a seven-point win over Counties and a 86-75 result over the Pistons Development.
Tall Black Corey Webster produced a round-high 41 points on 16-of-30 shooting as Northside needed every one of those points, outlasting Massey 96-88 on Saturday.
Webster, who hit five threes, went just short of a triple-double, adding nine rebound and eight assists, while Warrick Siddall had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Northside, canceling double-doubles from Mattie Yukich and Kevin Smith for Massey. Yukich provided 35 points and 12 rebounds and Smith 33 points and 13 boards.
The “winless” tag that has been stapled to Tai Tokerau all season was removed in emphatic style in round 15, a 20-game losing streak over as Tai Tokerau defeated fellow strugglers Eastern Bays 118-67 in Whangarei, behind 38 points and 13 rebounds from guard Travis McIlroy and 23 points from Kelly Wheto.
Northern Conference - Round 15
Friday, August 8
West Ballaz Massey 101 (Kevin Smith 28) Tai Tokerau 80 (Travis McIlroy 31)
Saturday, August 9
Auckland 91 (Josh Clark 28) AUT University 65 (Jarrod Kenny 19)
Northside 96 (Corey Webster 41) West Ballaz Massey 88 (Mattie Yukich 35)
Tai Tokerau 118 (Travis McIlroy 38) Eastern Bays 67 (Trent Iuli 23)
Waikato Titans 91 (Puke Lenden 30) Taupo Volcanoes 71 (Michael Wells 17)
Western Bay Suns 90 (Whare Bidois 21) Pistons Development 63 (Muka Silver 28)
Counties/Te Wananga vs Harbour Heat Reserves, Manurewa High School, 12pm
Sunday, August 10
Heat Reserves 86 (Karl Noyer 19, Reece Beardsall 19) Pistons Development 75 (Muka Silver 21)
