Basketball New Zealand

Giants Jarryd Loyd (Photosport)

The ecogise Nelson Giants have beaten the Century City Saints 79-70 at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson tonight. The Giants win extends their unbeaten streak to seven and takes them to top of the NZCT National Basketball League table at the conclusion of round 9.

The game ebbed and flowed throughout the first quarter with eight lead changes and then with time running out on the clock Luke Martin hit a three to give the Saints a 19-13 lead at the first quarter break. The Saints had the lead out to 14 midway through the second quarter after a Lindsay Tait dunk. That lead was reduced through a couple of crucial threes to Tony Rampton and Darryl Jones and by the half time buzzer the Giants were within two of the Saints, down 34-32.

The second half began in the same manner as the first, very tight, with the lead changing four times in the first five minutes of the third quarter. In a low scoring quarter Leon Henry hit a three with 1:51 to play. Again the Giants reduced the lead on the back of a Luke Martin turnover and then a Tony Rampton dunk. Going into the fourth the Saints held a slender 53-50 lead.

The Saints had the better of the early exchanges in the fourth getting the lead out to eight but the Giants tied the game up through another Tony Rampton dunk with 5:11 to play. Nearly two minutes later the game was tied up again for the last time 64-64 and then with 2:32 to play a Jarryd Lloyd dunk put the Giants ahead, a lead that would not be lost. The Giants held their nerve down the stretch as the Saints lost theirs with the likes of Mike Efevberha missing a lay up. The Giants shot 9 from 10 from the free throw line in the last minute of the game as the Saints were left with the desperate option of fouling.

The Giants win was largely based around an excellent defensive effort that kept one of the leagues leading scorer’s Mike Efevberha to 12 points for the game and not a single point in the fourth quarter. The Saints will not be happy with 73.7% from the free throw line or 20% from the three point with the scorer’s they possess. Lindsay Tait provided the bulk of the scoring for the Saints with 19.

For the Giants Jarryd Lloyd lead all scorer’s with 24 and Phil Jones showed his usual touch in reaching 21 which included 6/6 from the free throw line. Tony Rampton was a monster in the paint again taking the games only double double with 13 points and 12 boards.

Saturday, May 23

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

ecogise Nelson Giants 79 (Jarryd Loyd 24, Phil Jones 21, Darryl Jones 13, Tony Rampton 13) Century City Saints 70 (Lindsay Tait 19, Mike Efevberha 12, Leon Henry 11) , Final

Referees - Gavin Whiu, James Campion, Brendan Hodgson
1Q: 13-19
HT: 32-34 (19-15)
3Q: 50-53 (18-19)
FT: 79-70 (29-17)

Giants v Saints Boxscore (html 22KB)