Basketball New Zealand

Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/vhosts/basketball.org.nz/httpdocs/resources/uploads/2008/04/lemargayle-web.thumbnail.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/bbnz/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /home/bbnz/domains/tallblacks.org.nz/public_html/wp-includes/post.php on line 3943

Nuggets guard Lemar Gayle (Photosport)

In breaking news just to hand: the Waikato Pistons are good. Real good.

If anyone needed more proof the Pistons were the goods, they got it in round six of the Dominion Finance NBL, extending their undefeated start of the season to six games and taking sole possession of the top spot.

On Thursday night, Waikato went into Taradale’s Pettigrew-Green Arena – one of the toughest venues for road teams – and left with a 86-82 win over the Easy LPG Bay Hawks, then followed it with a 88-67 victory over the previously League-leading Youthtown Auckland Stars back home in Hamilton.

Saturday night’s win – the Pistons third 20-plus point win this season – gave them a two-point lead over the Century City Wellington Saints and Stars in the standings, with the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat, CPS Nelson Giants and Devon Dynamos Taranaki filling out the top-six a further two points back.

The Pistons did it in ruthless style at Hamilton City Stadium against a Stars line-up missing two starters in second-leading scorer Adrian Majstrovich and forward Reece Cassidy, taking a double-digit lead late in the first quarter and only letting it dip back into single figures twice early in the third period.

Waikato’s all-star American guards Brian Wethers and Jason Crowe continue to dominate the League – Wethers averaging 23.5 points and 9.0 rebounds and Crowe 20.5 points and 6.5 assists in round six – while coach Murray McMahon continues to get key contributions from Pero Cameron, Mike Homik, Ben Hill, Puke Lenden and Ray Cameron.

“I think the big thing about them is that they’re probably the least changed side from last year and they made the semifinals,” said Hawks coach Shawn Dennis, who was more than pleased with his side’s performance on Thursday despite falling to seventh at 2-3.

“They bring in a guy the caliber of Brian Wethers and he’s the only real change.

“You look at their back-court and it’s probably the best back-court pairing that there has been playing in New Zealand, certainly since I’ve been here. They only really lost Luke Martin and he played a lesser role when Jason came in anyway.”

Waikato may be the prohibitive favourites but Dennis said don’t hand them the champions medals just yet, saying big improvements could be expected from teams like the Saints, Hawks, Giants and Stars and the Pistons depth at guard if either Wethers or Crowe missed significant time due to injury was questionable.

The Pistons face a true test of their championship chops in round seven, away to the Giants and Saints in their first road double-header.

Round six promised much and delivered even more: a wildly entertaining TV game, two overtime thrillers on Friday night, the competition leaders remaining undefeated with two wins, the League’s basement boys getting their first win and a late fourth-quarter comeback and last seconds winning basket in Nelson.

Double-doubles from American imports Lemar Gayle (25 points and 15 rebounds) and Jay Anderson (20 points and 10 rebounds) saw the Cartridge World Otago Nuggets end a 10-game losing streak dating back to last May with a 76-69 win over the Manawatu Jets in Timaru on Saturday night.

The Nuggets previous win came against the Jets, 82-76, in Dunedin on May 19 last season.

In Nelson, the Giants lost a double-digit lead for the second straight round, this time a 10-point advantage with 3:02 to play, eventually losing to the Heat 68-67 on a Tim Behrendorff basket with four seconds remaining.

The Heat almost stole a win in Wellington on Friday night, coming from 10 points down with five minutes to play to lead before hometown hero Troy McLean hit the overtime-forcing three as time expired, then scored eight points in the extra period as the Saints held on 105-100.

The Stars got a vital road win over the Dynamos in New Plymouth, 93-90 in overtime, while the Jets kept the Marley Canterbury Rams winless at home with 104-96 result on Sky Sport on Thursday night.

Dominion Finance NBL Round Six

Thursday, April 3
At Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale
Waikato Pistons 86 (Brian Wethers 23, Jason Crowe 19, Ben Hill 15, Puke Lenden 14, Mike Homik 10) Easy LPG Bay Hawks 82 (Kevin Smith 18, Aidan Daly 17, Paora Winitana 16, Kareem Johnson 10). HT: 45-41

At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch
Manawatu Jets 104 (Kantrail Horton 32, Keith Davis 19, Miles Pearce 17, Kaine Hokianga 14, Stacey Lambert 13) Marley Canterbury Rams 96 (Joey Harrell 19, Wilder Auguste 18, Jeremy Kench 15, Dave Langrell 13, Mark Morrison 10). HT: 48-51

Friday, April 4
At TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Century City Wellington Saints 105 (Ernest Scott 27, Troy McLean 22, Leon Henry 17, Luke Martin 13, Kevin Owens 10) Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 100 (Hayden Allen 26, Oscar Forman 21, Tim Behrendorff 17, Jarrod Kenny 15, Mika Vukona 13) in OT. HT: 49-43, FT: 89-89

At TSB Stadium, New Plymouth
Youthtown Auckland Stars 93 (Casey Frank 26, Tyrone Davey 16, Larry Bratcher 16) Devon Dynamos Taranaki 90 (Tony Rampton 21, Link Abrams 23, Ben Jeffrey 15) in OT. HT: 46-44, FT: 85-85

Saturday, April 5
At Hamilton City Stadium, Hamilton
Waikato Pistons 88 (Brian Wethers 24, Jason Crowe 22, Ben Hill 18, Ray Cameron 10) Youthtown Auckland Stars 67 (Casey Frank 20, Tyrone Davey 13, Josh Clark 11, Larry Bratcher 10). HT: 51-40

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 68 (Tim Behrendorff 21, Oscar Forman 14, Hayden Allen 10) CPS Nelson Giants 67 (Chris Daniel 18, Phill Jones 16, Michael Harrison 16). HT: 42-37

At SBS Events Centre, Timaru
Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 76 (Lemar Gayle 25, Jay Anderson 20, Brent Charleton 12, Nat Connell 11) Manawatu Jets 69 (Keith Davis 19, Kantrail Horton 14, Miles Pearce 13, Stacey Lambert 10). HT: 40-33

2008 Dominion Finance NBL Round Six Results

2008 Dominion Finance NBL Round Six Standings (9KB pdf)