Basketball New Zealand

Josh Pace and Dillon Boucher (Photosport)

Quarter Final action continues tonight when the Harbour Heat play the 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks for the second ever time in a playoff game.

The first time they met in the playoff was in 2007 when the Hawks upset the Heat 85-76 in the semi final which was played at the North Shore Events Centre.

There are only two players left from the 07 Hawks team that play for them this season (Everard Bartlett & Paul Henare), while one from the Heat remain (Darryl Cartwright).

Hawks player’s Nat Connell and Jarrod Kenny ironically played for the Heat in that game. Connell top scored with 16 while Bartlett top scored for the Hawks with 18.

Hawks will be disappointed they lost in overtime to the McDonalds Manawatu Jets last week, which moved them from third to fifth which cost them a home quarter final.

Harbour Heat who looked all but certain to finish fifth now play at home in where they have a six win three loss record.

One of those losses at home was to the Bay Hawks who beat them in a high scoring 102-97 game. The game was a scoring duel from guards Josh Pace and Corey Webster who both had season highs of 38 and 40 points respectively.

Another player to join the 300 club this season was Dillon Boucher who has missed the Heats last three games because of an ankle injury. The Heat desperately need the experience of Boucher who has played 29 career playoff games compared to the rest of the team who have played a combined 25.

Hawks who are playing in their sixth consecutive year in the playoffs have a wealth of experience with seven players in their roster playing over 100 career NBL games.

Both teams are evenly matched in team averages in points (Heat 91.7, Hawks 88.8), rebounds (Heat 44.2, Hawks 42.2) and field goal percentage (Heat 48.0, Hawks 47.6).

After starting the season with seven wins in a row the Heat had a tough middle stretch where they lost seven of nine. But winning three of their last four could be what they need to spark their season back to life.

Wednesday, June 23

Quarter Final Two

At North Shore Events Centre, North Shore

Harbour Heat 77 (Rick Rickert 30, Beny Anthony 17, Reece Cassidy 12) 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 82 (Josh Pace 28, Three Tied 9), Final

Referees – Dallas Pickering, Andy Thackray, Jamie Hickey
Heat v Hawks Boxscore (24 kb html)