Basketball New Zealand

Burger King Northside

Burger King Northside were the big movers in round three of the Conference Basketball League (CBL) Northern Conference play.

Northside, powered by strong performances from David Clarke and Corey Webster, defeated previously unbeaten Counties/Te Wananga 95-73 in Mangere on Saturday and chased it with a 100-89 win over AUT on Sunday afternoon, lifting them to fifth at 3-1.

Clarke had 27 points and Webster 19 points as Northside shot 67 percent from the field in the win over Counties, who managed to keep the game close for three quarters and were led by 27 points from Joe Jackson.

Clarke again top-scored in the win over AUT, recording 30 points, five assists and three steals in a stand-out performance, while Webster had 25 points, Ryan Patterson 17 points, Dan Barritt 14 points unday, and Warrick Siddall 10 rebounds.

Northside trailed by eight points entering the final period and needed a 36-17 fourth quarter to pull away, a 39-15 bench points and 24-13 points off turnovers proving the difference. Houston O’Riley top-scored for AUT with 26 points.

The Western Bay Suns, leaders after round one, moved back into the top-four with twin wins in round three, easily accounting for the Taupo Volcanoes on the road 107-57 on Saturday and surviving for a 77-71 home win over the JTB/Breakers squad on Sunday.

Canadian import Mike King had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Suns, who improved to 4-1 at the weekend, while former Harbour NBL player Sasho Tasevski added 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

A strong third quarter from Western Bay turned a tie game at halftime into a nine-point game after three periods and the JTB/Breakers were unable to close in the fourth, despite 20 points from Adam Rainbird.

Jeff Green and the defending champion Waikato Titans earned early bragging rights in the Battle of Waikato, defeating the Pistons Development side 92-82 in Hamilton on Saturday, Robson Tauita scoring 23 points for the Titans and Pistons NBL bench player Muka Silver finishing with 21 points.

The Mexicali Fresh Harbour Heat Reserves remained undefeated atop the standings at 5-0, following an 87-79 win over Auckland on Saturday, getting 35 points and nine rebounds from Heat NBL player Dan Ryan.

West Ballaz Massey remained second, two points back of the Heat Reserves, with an 86-74 win over Eastern Bays at the Massey YMCA, getting 21 points from Mattie Yukich and 19 from Nick Thompson.

Auckland did end their three-game losing streak to start the season, getting a round-high 37 points from Nikola Lakatus to take a 98-62 win over Tai Tokerau away from Kamo on Sunday.

AUT also kept Tai Tokerau winless, at 0-5 level with the Volcanoes for the basement spot, with an 86-56 win on Saturday. Northland guard Travis McIlroy top-scored in both losses, with back-to-back 24-point games.

The JTB/Breakers split their round three double-header, knocking off the previously unbeaten Counties/Te Wanaga, who dropped back to sixth with two losses, 77-59 on Friday night, with Rainbird leading the way with 17 points.

Northern Conference Round Three Results

Friday, May 16
JTB/Breakers 77 (Adam Rainbird 17) Counties/Te Wananga 59 (Joe Jackson 14)
Saturday, May 17
Northside 95 (David Clarke 27) Counties/Te Wananga 73 (Joe Jackson 27)
Waikato Titans 92 (Robson Tauita 23) Waikato Pistons Development 82 (Muka Silver 21)
Harbour Heat Reserves 87 (Dan Ryan 35) Auckland 79 (Daniel Kral 20)
West Ballaz Massey 86 (Mattie Yukich 21) Eastern Bays 74 (Matt Apati 21)
Western Bay Suns 107 (Sasho Tasevski 28) Taupo Volcanoes 57 (Kereti Rautangata 13)
AUT University 86 (Houston O’Riley 18) Tai Tokerau 56 (Travis McIlroy 24)
Sunday, May 18
Western Bay Suns 77 (Mike King 25) JTB/Breakers 71 (Adam Rainbird 20)
Northside 100 (David Clarke 30) AUT University 89 (Houston O’Riley 26)
Auckland 98 (Nikola Lakatus 37) Tai Tokerau 62 (Travis McIlroy 24)