Basketball New Zealand

Calum MacLeod and Demarshay Johnson (Photosport)

Murray Hills, Taranaki Daily News
It’s a mantra that has been repeated thousands of times. “One game at a time,” Taranaki Mountain Airs coach Angelo Hill stressed ahead of tonight’s National Basketball League match against the McDonalds Manawatu Jets in Palmerston North.

“We can’t be thinking of the playoffs. We have to worry about Manawatu. That’s the one we have to focus on, we have to win it. If we lose to Manawatu, we shoot ourselves in the foot.”

Hill said the plan was simple; win against Manawatu and then look at the next game.

“It’s in our hands. We’ve got four games left and need to win three, so it’s one game at a time. We have to do the best we can and, if we do that and make it, then great.”

While the Mountain Airs easily beat the Jets in New Plymouth recently 108-78, Hill is wary of tonight’s game.

“We played good defence in that game to win. But their two imports [Richard Jeter and Darryl Hudson] have both had some crazy games since. We have to contain them and play the best we can.”

Manawatu is coming off a stunning 103-102 overtime win against the Nelson Giants on Saturday night. The scores were locked up 90-all at fulltime before Manawatu edged clear in the extra period.

What makes the result more impressive is that it came in Nelson.

Two results haven’t done the Mountain Airs any favours in the playoff race.

The Southland Sharks upset the Harbour Heat 88-79 in the last game in round 14 and then last Thursday it was the turn of the Christchurch Cougars to beat the Harbour Heat, winning 87-76.

While the Waikato Pistons and Nelson Giants are certain of top-six finishes, there’s a logjam in the middle.

Eighteen points is the likely figure needed to make the playoffs. The Bay Hawks and the Harbour Heat are both on that total, with the scrap for the other spot between Christchurch, Southland and the Mountain Airs – and any one of the three could make it through.

The Cougars are on 16 points, but should go to 18 with a win in their final game against the Otago Nuggets. Southland are on 14 points with four games remaining and Taranaki are on 12 points.

It comes down to who plays who. Taranaki’s final four matches are against Manawatu, the Bay Hawks, Southland and Harbour, while Southland have games against Waikato, Taranaki, Nelson and Manawatu.

Whatever way you look at it, Taranaki need to win three, including the game against Southland.

Hill has everyone available for the Manawatu match.

“Everyone is fit and keen to play. DeMarshay [import DeMarshay Johnson] had a sore back in the last game against the Exodus Saints but is over that,” Hill said.

“We didn’t play as well as we could have against the Saints. We didn’t execute our offence.

“The shots we were taking were not the ones we normally would have. But that’s water under the bridge, Manawatu is all that matters.”

Monday, June 7

At Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North

McDonalds Manawatu Jets v Taranaki Mountain Airs , 6pm

Referees – Melony Wealleans, Sean Cronin, Yalla Edwards