Basketball New Zealand

The Waikato Pistons have beaten a valiant Bartercard Christchurch Cougars 96-89 in NZCT National Basketball League semi final action tonight to set a best of three grand final series with the ecogise Nelson Giants.

The first half was a tight affair with scores tied up 26-26 at the first quarter break and by half time the Pistons held a slender two point lead, 50-48. Offence dominated defence in the first spell with the Pistons shooting 63% and the Cougars 61% from the field and Tim Behrendorff leading all scorers with 18 in the first 20 minutes.

Whatever Pistons coach Dean Vickerman said at half time it resulted in a far tougher defensive display that saw the Pistons win the third quarter 28-18 to be ahead by 12 going into the fourth. The Pistons had lead by as many as 16 in the third with a three minute blast that started with Michael Fitchett three, followed by an intentional foul on Justin Bailey with the free throws hit and the resulting in bound securing another two free throws and punctuated by a Thomas Abercrombie dunk. Tim Behrendorff collected two fouls to take a seat with four to his name in that period and with just under five to play in the third it looked like the Cougars were heading for a hiding. The Pistons got sloppy over the remaining minutes of the quarter to let the lead slip under 10 before a Fitchett three in the dying seconds.

The Cougars came out with their own defensive intensity in the fourth that saw them chip away at the Pistons lead to have it fluctuate between four and two points during the middles stages of the fourth. Just when it looked like the game was heading for a thrilling finish as was seen in Nelson the night before the Cougars came up with a poor offence and in the resulting play Abercrombie hit a sweet jumper to put the lead back out to eight with less than two minutes to play. Trenton Wurtz hit a couple of big threes to keep the pressure on but with the Cougars needing to foul the Pistons hit 4/5 from the free throw line in the last :40 seconds to seal the win.

The Pistons will now have the chance at back to back titles as they take on the Giants in the best of three grand final series next week. The schedule for the final series is as follows, all games live on Sky Sport 3.

Tuesday, June 23
At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson. Tip Off 7.10pm
ecogise Nelson Giants v Waikato Pistons

Thursday, June 25
At Te Awamutu Event Centre. Tip Off 7.10pm
Waikato Pistons v ecogise Nelson Giants

Friday, June 26
At Te Awamutu Event Centre. Tip Off 7.10pm
Waikato Pistons v ecogise Nelson Giants

Friday, June 19

At Te Awamutu Event Centre, Te Awamutu

Waikato Pistons 96 (Michael Fitchett 24, Thomas Abercrombie 23, Justin Bailey 21) v Bartercard Christchurch Cougars 89 (Tim Behrendorff 25, Trenton Wurtz 21, Winitana & Henare 17), FT

Live on Sky Sport 3
Referees - Tim Brown, Dallas Pickering, Melony Wealleans
1Q: 26-26
HT: 50-48 (24-22)
3Q: 78-66 (28-18)
FT: 96-89 (18-23)

Pistons v Cougars Boxscore (html 22KB)