Basketball New Zealand

Cougars Guard Paul Henare (Photosport)

Round Eleven of the NZCT National Basketball League will be the return home for Paul Henare and Paora Winitana when the Bartercard Christchurch Cougars head to Pettigrew Green Arena to take on the 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks.

The game will be full of emotion with both Henare and Winitana together amassing 269 games for the Hawks club which included a championship back in the 2006 season. Hopefully the Cougars will have Winitana back after he broke his wrist in round seven. Cougars sorely missed the offence of Winitana in the 77-68 loss against the Century City Saints last week.

Both Winitana and Henare have given the Cougars leadership both on and off the court leading the franchise to an 8-4 record and a playoff berth in their debut season. Cougars will be eyeing to move into home semi final advantage with the easiest draw heading into the playoffs which includes three of four at home.

The Hawks will be desperate for a win having lost four on the trot, but showed a gutsy display last week just falling short on the road to the Waikato Pistons 77-73. The Hawks only played with one import against the Pistons after the release of John Thomas early last week, but that spot should be filled for the Cougars game.

A six game winning streak will be on the line when the ecogise Nelson Giants host the Century City Saints Saturday night. The Giants are still unbeaten at home after surviving a 77-75 win against the slumping Youthtown Auckland Stars, but this will be the toughest home game yet for the Giants with the Saints boasting an unbeaten record on the road.

Head to Head may play a pivotal role when it comes to a home semi final and at present the Giants hold a five point lead after defeating the Saints 98-93 back in round two. In that game the Giants were without Tony Rampton who has been rock solid for the Giants averaging 16.5 points and 9 rebounds per game.

The Saints have a new look side since that game with the additions of Lindsay Tait, Leon Henry and Brendon Polyblank who will be looking to return back on the court after suffering tendonitis in the knee.

Round Eleven will begin with cross town rivals the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat and the Youthtown Auckland Stars going head to head at the Furnace on Thursday night.

The Heat is coming off a two game winning streak which included a 51 point thrashing of the McDonalds Manawatu Jets at home. Unfortunately for the Stars they did have the same result the night before losing 83-81 to the Jets.

The two teams met back in the opening round and it was the Heat who beat the Stars 93-81. This game will be pivotal for the Stars if they have any chance of making the top six and they will need to find a way to stop leading scorer of the league Corey Webster who scored 33 points in their first meeting.

New import for the Heat Mike Bell has made an instant impact for his team averaging 19.3 points and 10.7 rebounds in three games. Also Ben Anthony Jnr has started to play well averaging 10 points and seven rebounds giving the Heat much needed offence off the bench.

On Friday the Waikato Pistons will travel down to New Plymouth to play the winless Devon Dynamos Taranaki who played well last round against the Heat, but just coming up short 76-84.

Pistons had a little scare in the game against the Hawks but this season they have shown dominance in 9 wins beating their opponents on average by 15.8 points. The Dynamos have been opposite on the spectrum losing 12 games by an average of 18.1 points.

For League Stats up to Round 10 Click here

Thursday, May 21

At North Shore Event Centre

Appliance Shed Harbour Heat v Youthtown Auckland Stars, 7pm

Referees – Tim Brown, Gavin Whiu, Kieran Udy

Friday, May 22

At TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Devon Dynamos Taranaki v Waikato Pistons, 7pm

Referees – Dallas Pickering, Colin Dowling, Tony Eldershaw

At Pettigrew Green Arena, Taradale

0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks v Bartercard Christchurch Cougars, 7pm

Referees – Andy Thackray, Apai Apai, Wayne Start

Saturday, May 23

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

ecogise Nelson Giants v Century City Saints, 7pm

Referees – Alan Godden, James Campion, Brendan Hodgson