Saints Punch Playoff Ticket
Tagged in: Competitions, NBL
One team booked their playoff berth while another saw their chances further diminish in the Dominion Finance NBL on Friday night.
The Century City Wellington Saints became the second team, after the Waikato Pistons, to book a place in the new-look six-team postseason with a 108-77 rout over the Marley Canterbury Rams in Christchurch.
On Auckland’s North Shore, the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat moved within a win of the playoffs with their 10th W, a 90-69 result over Devon Dynamos Taranaki, who with back-to-back losses went to the brink of elimination.
American forward Ernest Scott top-scored with 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting as the Saints (11-4) made short work of the Rams (4-12), stretching their lead out to 12 points at halftime and streaking away in the second half in the most lopsided game of the season.
The Saints never trailed in the game and lead by 10 points or more from the 4:30 mark of the second period as they moved within two points and a half-game of the Pistons at the top of the standings.
Tall Black guard Lindsay Tait, in his second game returning from injury, had a flurry of points late in the fourth quarter to finish with 18 points, while shooting guard Troy McLean had 15 points, four assists and three steals.
Centre Nick Horvath recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards, Arthur Trousdell had 12 points, American centre Kevin Owens 11 rebounds and point guard Luke Martin had 10 assists.
American forward Joey Harrell top-scored for Canterbury with 22 points, while point guard Jeremy Kench had 16 points and seven steals.
Guard Hayden Allen scored a game-high 23 points for Harbour (10-6), who welcomed back Australian forward Oscar Forman, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, plus four assists.
The Heat looked to have the game well in control when back-up guard Dan Ryan scored the last seven points of the half to take a 54-34 lead.
But Taranaki (7-8) surged back in the third period, trying to save their playoff dreams, out-scoring Harbour 26-12 to get within six points on the back of solid play from import Keith Salscheider and centre Tony Rampton.
They could not continue the run in the fourth, as Harbour took control, scoring the first six points to take a 12-point lead and turning the game into a blow-out.
Australian centre Tim Behrendorff had 20 points and nine rebounds, Ryan continued his scoring resurgence with 15 points, while Tall Blacks forward Mika Vukona pulled down 10 boards and point guard Jarrod Kenny put up solid numbers with seven points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Salscheider led the way for Taranaki with 20 points, while Link Abrams added 14 points and Rampton had nine points and nine rebounds.
Dominion Finance NBL Round 13
At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch
Century City Wellington Saints 108 (Ernest Scott 27, Lindsay Tait 18, Troy McLean 15, Arthur Trousdell 12, Nick Horvath 11) Marley Canterbury Rams 77 (Joey Harrell 22, Jeremy Kench 16, Mike Townsend 11, John Whorton 10)
1Q: 26-21
HT: 47-35 (21-14)
3Q: 76-50 (29-15)
FT: 108-77 (32-27)
Rams vs Saints Box Score (21KB html)
At The Furnace, North Shore
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 90 (Hayden Allen 23, Tim Behrendorff 20, Dan Ryan 15, Oscar Forman 10) Devon Dynamos Taranaki 69 (Keith Salscheider 20, Link Abrams 14, Aaron Nowell 12)
1Q: 27-17
HT: 54-34 (27-17)
3Q: 66-60 (12-26)
FT: 90-69 (24-9)
Heat vs Dynamos Box Score (19KB html)
