Ram-Page In H-Town
Tagged in: Competitions, NBL
Just 24 hours after getting housed in New Plymouth, the Marley Canterbury Rams stunned the competition leading Waikato Pistons on their home floor.
Behind 30 points from veteran guard Dave Langrell and 18 points from American centre John Whorton, the Rams handed the Pistons their first home loss 102-97 in round 12 of the Dominion Finance NBL on Saturday night
Langrell shot 8-of-12 from the field, including 6-of-8 on three-point attempts and 8-fo10 from the foul line for his season-high 30 points, as Canterbury held down the stretch, one night after a poorly played 14-point loss to Devon Dynamos Taranaki.
The result was the Rams fourth win of the season, while it was only the third loss for Waikato, who still hold a one-and-a-half game lead atop the standings.
The Rams, who converted 54 percent from the field and 53 percent of three-point attempts, led 48-46 at halftime, gave the lead back early in the third period, but regained it for good at the 6:52 mark and held off Waikato’s back-court import pairing of Jason Crowe and Brian Wethers in the fourth.
Crowe went for his third triple-double of the season, matching Wethers’ 44 points from Wednesday night, to go with 11 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. He shot 16-of-20 from the field and 8-of-11 from distance.
Whorton recorded a double-double with 18 and 11 rebounds, while Gerard Bowden had 17 points, Mark Morrison 14 and point guard Jeremy Kench 11 points.
Waikato pulled within a point three different times in the fourth quarter but the Rams got crucial baskets from a variety of sources in the clutch, Langrell’s three with 31 seconds remaining giving the visitors a five-point lead.
At opposite ends of the country, the Easy LPG Bay Hawks and Youthtown Auckland Stars improved their playoff chances with wins.
The Hawks took care of the Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 86-78 in Dunedin, with American forward Kevin Smith shooting 10-of-15 and going for 24 points and eight rebounds, Paora Winitana 16 points and Kareem Johnson 14 points and six rebounds.
Otago, who stuck close to the Hawks for three quarters, down 66-63, were led by 34 points from American forward Lemar Gayle and 21 points and nine rebounds from centre Antoine Tisby.
Casey Frank top-scored with 23 points, while Jonathon Shepherd, Reece Cassidy and Adrian Majstrovich scored in double-figures as the Stars beat the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 90-81 at ASB Stadium in Auckland.
Trailing after the first quarter, Auckland created space with a 31-20 second quarter, taking a 10-point lead into halftime and holding on to improve to 7-6.
Point guard Kantrail Horton scored a game-high 25 points, while centre Miles Pearce and American forward Keith Davis added 14 points for Manawatu.
Dominion Finance NBL Round 12
At Hamilton City Leisure Centre, Hamilton
Marley Canterbury Rams 102 (Dave Langrell 30, John Whorton 18, Gerard Bowden 17, Mark Morrison 14, Jeremy Kench 11) Waikato Pistons 97 (Jason Crowe 44, Brian Wethers 20, Pero Cameron 10, Puke Lenden 10)
1Q: 23-22
HT: 48-46 (25-24)
3Q: 68-66 (20-20)
FT: 102-97 (34-31)
Pistons vs Rams Box Score (21KB html)
At ASB Stadium, Auckland
Youthtown Auckland Stars 90 (Casey Frank 23, Jonathon Shepherd 17, Reece Cassidy 16, Adrian Majstrovich 14) Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 81 (Kantrail Horton 25, Miles Pearce 14, Keith Davis 14)
1Q: 23-24
HT: 54-44 (31-20)
3Q: 72-61 (18-17)
FT: 90-81 (18-20)
Stars vs Jets Box Score (22KB html)
At Lion Foundation Arena, Dunedin
Easy LPG Bay Hawks 86 (Kevin Smith 24, Paora Winitana 16, Kareem Johnson 14) Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 78 (Lemar Gayle 34, Antoine Tisby 21)
1Q: 19-19
HT: 45-39 (26-20)
3Q: 66-63 (21-24)
FT: 86-78 (20-15)
Nuggets vs Hawks Box Score (21KB html)
