Basketball New Zealand

Lindsay Tait (Photosport)

The Exodus Saints have won the regular season winning in a 78-74 thriller to the Waikato Pistons in Hamilton Boys High.

Lindsay Tait led the way with a game high 22 also adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Tait scored 10 in the final quarter making big plays down the stretch including two threes and three assists.

In what was a furious finish to the game both teams were taking their best shots on one another and with under two minutes remaining a Tait field goal gave the visitors a two point lead and then a Casey Frank buzzer beater took the lead to four within under a minute left.

Hayden Allen (15 points) fresh off a three pointer on the buzzer to take them into an overtime win against the Sharks, hit a very deep three with the shot clock going down to cut the deficit to one with 36 seconds left.

On the next possession Leon Henry (10 points) was fouled making one of two free throws. Puke Lendon missed a possible game tying three, Allen then fouling Tait who would make both his free throws to clinch the regular season and the Murray McMahon Trophy.

Pistons will be kicking themselves leading by as many as 15 in the third quarter and seven in the fourth. But they could not stop the Saints offense which scored 48 points compared to the Pistons 32.

The opening quarter the Pistons looked sharp starting the game 8-0, but Saints would get back into the game only down 16-15 at the end of the first.

In the second quarter the game would be low scoring, Saints taking their first lead 28-26 after a scuffle between the teams when Thomas Abercrombie (12 points 7 assists) fouled Tait hard going for a lay up.

The mini brawl between the teams fired the home side up as they would end the half on 15-2 run leading 42-30. Tony Ronaldson scoring 9 of his 14 in the half.

Erron Maxey was a spark off the bench scoring 16 in 19 minutes, while Pistons import Rashad Tucker only played 10 minutes for three points.

This is the fourth time the Saints have won the regular season, winning it in 1988, 2004 & 2008. Pistons can still take some positives from the game for the fact they were without league leading rebounder Alex Pledger who is still getting over a concussion.

Now it will be a wait to see what possible teams the two sides will be playing in the semi.

Thursday, June 17

At Hamilton Boys High, Hamilton

Waikato Pistons 74 (Hayden Allen 15, Tony Ronaldson 14, Thomas Abercrombie 12) Exodus Saints 78 (Lindsay Tait 22, Erron Maxey 16, Nick Horvath 12), Final

Referees – Tim Brown, Dallas Pickering, Cherryl Crabbe
1Q: 16-15
HT: 42-30 (26-15)
3Q: 60-54 (18-24)
FT: 74-78 (14-24)
Pistons v Saints Boxscore (24 Kb html)