Basketball New Zealand

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Pistons forward Ben Hill (Photosport)

The Waikato Pistons remained undefeated and the Manawatu Jets kept the Marley Canterbury Rams winless at home in Thursday night action in round six of the Dominion Finance NBL.

Forward Ben Hill made four free-throws in the final minute and collected a crucial offensive rebound as the Pistons improved to 5-0 with an 86-82 win over the Easy LPG Bay Hawks in Taradale.

Point guard Kantrail Horton had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Manawatu, who lost their naming rights sponsor earlier in the week, defeated the Rams 104-96 at Cowles Stadium in a frenetic battle.

Hill, who returned from a playing stint in Iceland last week, finished with 15 points and five rebounds, but his offensive board off a Brian Wethers three-point miss was the most important play with time winding down.

After giving Waikato a four-point lead with 48 seconds to play, Hawks swingman Paora Winitana made two free-throws to get within a basket, then Hill corralled the loose ball and calmly made game-clinching freebies.

The Pistons ‘Tandemonium’ of American guards Wethers and Jason Crowe went for 23 and 19 points respectively, while Puke Lenden added 14 points and Mike Homik 10. Crowe had six assists while Tall Black captain Pero Cameron and Lenden led the rebounding with eight.

Waikato trailed by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, before pulling back to level 22-22 at first intermission. They trailed by four early in the final period, before a Hill three got them going.

Import Kevin Smith, a former Piston, led the Bay with a double-double, 18 points and 10 rebounds, with Aidan Daly adding 17 points and Winitana 16. Paul Henare dropped five assists.

In Christchurch, Horton was unstoppable in the third quarter, as the Jets reversed a three-point halftime deficit into a double-digit lead within minutes of the half. A 17-4 run to start the third turned into a 31-13 quarter, the Rams trailing by 15 and facing their fourth straight loss.

Employing a three-quarter court zone press, Canterbury were able to force Jets turnovers in the fourth and closed within two points with two minutes remained on an emphatic Joey Harrell dunk, one of many in the game from both teams.

An important block from Manawatu centre Miles Pearce in the final minute on Tall Black hopeful Jeremy Kench, with a four-point lead, allowed the visitors to close it out from the free-throw line.

Assisting Horton was fellow American Keith Davis with 19 points and 11 rebounds, Pearce with 17 points and eight boards, Kaine Hokianga with 14 and Stacey Lambert with 13.
Imports Harrell and Wilder Auguste led the 1-5 Rams with 19 and 18 points, while Kench had 15 points, four assists and four steals, but shot 6-of-18 from the field on a night the Rams shot 27 percent on three-point attempts.

2008 Dominion Finance NBL Round Six

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
Hawks vs Pistons Box Score (22KB html)

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
Rams vs Jets Box Score (22KB html)