Basketball New Zealand

Ram-page!

After a run of near misses, Marley Canterbury Rams coach Bert Knops finally thinks he can see some light at the end of the tunnel … maybe too late for this year’s Dominion Finance NBL, but perhaps a ray of hope for the future.

Knops’ outfit showed its developing self belief with a gutsy 129-125 double overtime road win over Inspire Net Manawatu Jets on Friday night, a performance that suggested the Rams may have turned a corner in this season that was never meant to be.

“I’m really pleased with these guys,” admits Knops. “We’ve had so many close games in recent times, we had gotten to the stage where it was almost ‘we’ve been here before … let’s close one out for a change’.”

Canterbury still did their best to blow what seemed like reasonably likely victory with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, surrendering a 12-point lead and needing a couple of clutch free throws to force an extra period.

Jets import Kantrail Horton capped another dominant outing – 40 points (8/16 3pt), eight rebounds and four assists – with a trey to extend the contest yet another five minutes, but the Rams were not to be denied, jumping on top early in the second overtime and keeping the hoof on the throat this time.

Manawatu’s other import – forward Keith Davis – was even more impressive than Horton with 42 points and 17 rebounds, but they found little support from their homegrown team-mates.

“We figured Kantrail would get his 30 … we weren’t counting on Davis stepping up the way he did,” observed Knops. “Those two were a handful for us, but we were focused on keeping the others under control.

“We knew if we did that, we were in with a chance.”

After hanging tough with the Easy LPG Bay Hawks in Napier the night before, the Rams were particularly determined to avenge an embarrassing home loss to the Jets last month.

Three things helped swing the result back their way …

• In contrast to their opponents, Canterbury spread the scoring load with four players topping 20 points. American Joey Harrell lead the way with 30 points, but Gerard Bowden enjoyed his best touch of the season (29 points, 4/7 3pt) and Jeremy Kench had a Player of the Week-calibre performance – 28 points (11/16 FG), nine rebounds, six assists, six steals, two blocks and (most impressively) zero turnovers.

• Jets centre Miles Pearce, who had toyed with the Rams in Christchurch, missed his second straight game as he and team management explored their creative differences.

• Knops had already stiffened up Canterbury’s interior game by whistling up American centre John Whorton, whose previous stint in the NBL had yielded a scoring crown, two rebounding titles and an Outstanding Forward award, and helped the Rams to their most recent post-season appearance, where they lost to eventual champions Waikato in the 2002 semis.

Whorton seemed a distinctly unhappy camper when he departed New Zealand in 2003, but Knops credits him for helping turn his team around five years later.

“From what I’ve heard, he has mellowed,” chuckles Knops. “He has picked up a lot of experience in Europe since then and is bringing a lot of leadership to us.

“John is often saying the same things I am thinking, so it’s nice to have another voice on the same wavelength.

“It also hasn’t taken long to integrate him into the league. He knows most of the guys he’s playing against and has been to all the towns we’re playing in.”

Whorton sprained his ankle early in his first outing against CPS Nelson Giants and was nowhere near full speed for the home loss to Appliance Shed Harbour Heat the following week. Still, his mere presence seemed to lift those around him and that showed again in Palmerston North, where he compiled 23 points and nine rebounds (including six OR).

He converted the freebies that sent the game into overtime and then provided a three-point play that ultimately sealed victory.

“Since he arrived, we have been able to nullify the opposition’s big men,” says Knops. “With the other teams double and triple-teaming him, our perimeter players have also gotten better looks.”

Canterbury have a tough schedule for the rest of the regular season and their 3-9 record leave them well off playoff pace. Still, they loom as the spoilers in the pack with games against leaders Waikato Pistons (home and away), Devon Dynamos Taranaki (away), Century City Wellington Saints (home) and the Hawks (home).

Firstly, though, the Rams must find a way to win at Cowles Stadium, where they are 0-5 this year.

“We are very much a young team and I am trying to change the culture,” says Knops. “I guess the focus is still on trying to make the playoffs, but it’s not something we talk about.

“We are just trying to win games and with only three so far, we’re still trying to figure out how.”

Dominion Finance NBL Round 10

Thursday, May 1
North Shore Events Centre
Youthtown Auckland Stars 96 (George Baker 21, Adrian Majstrovich 19, Dylan Perfect-Tait 15, Casey Frank 12) Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 81 (Hayden Allen 19, Mika Vukona 18, Oscar Forman 17, Tim Behrendorff 10)
1Q: 17-25
HT: 53-43 (36-18)
3Q: 72-59 (19-16)
FT: 96-81 (24-22)

Pettigrew Green Arena, Napier
Easy LPG Bay Hawks 106 (Paora Winitana 36, Kevin Smith 23) Marley Canterbury Rams 92 (John Whorton 28)
1Q: 33-24
HT: 57-46 (24-22)
3Q: 83-70 (26-24)
FT: 106-92 (23-22)

Friday May 2
Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North
Marley Canterbury Rams 129 (Joe Harrell 30, Gerard Bowden 29, Jeremy Kench 28, John Whorton 23) Inspire Net Manawatu Jets 125 (Keith Davis 42, Kantrail Horton 40, Stacey Lambert 13) 2OT
1Q: 25-20
HT: 48-48 (23-28)
3Q: 85-73 (37-25)
4Q: 104-104 (19-31)
OT: 115-115 (11-11)
2OT: 129-125 (14-10)

Saturday May 3
Hamilton City Stadium
Waikato Pistons 101 (Brian Wethers 42, Jason Crowe 30, Pero Cameron 13) Century City Wellington Saints 89 (Ernest Scott 25, Luke Martin 21, Nick Horvath 11, Kevin Owens 11) OT
1Q: 22-18
HT: 48-41 (26-23)
3Q: 72-60 (24-19)
4Q: 80-80 (8-20)
OT: 101-88 (21-8)

Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
CPS Nelson Giants 96 (Phill Jones 25, Michael Harrison 21, Chris Daniel 17, Jamil Terrell 12) Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 80 (Antonie Tisby 32, Lemar Gayle 26)
1Q: 28-22
HT: 56-39 (28-17)
3Q: 84-61 (28-22)
FT: 96-80 (12-19)

Round 10 games, scores and standings