Stars Advance To Semifinals
Tagged in: Competitions, NBL
Two days after being out, the Youthtown Auckland Stars moved on in the Dominion Finance NBL Playoffs on Wednesday.
The Stars rode hot shooting from forward Adrian Majstrovich, import George Baker and back-up guard Reece Cassidy in an impressive 94-84 win over the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat in the second quarterfinal at the North Shore Events Centre on Wednesday night.
The Stars, who were deemed ineligible for the playoffs by Basketball New Zealand on Monday but reinstated on Tuesday after lawyers got involved, advance to Friday night’s semifinal against the second-ranked Waikato Pistons, while Harbour were left to contemplate another playoff elimination at home.
Majstrovich and Baker both finished with 24 points, while Cassidy played a crucial role with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Majstrovich pulled down 11 rebounds for a double-double while Baker added seven boards and six assists.
The Stars were emphatic, trailing for only one stretch, the first 65 seconds of the game, and not letting the hometown Heat any closer than seven points after the first period.
“Our guys stepped up when they did make some runs,” Stars coach Kenny Stone said.
“They made baskets when they needed to and executed when they needed to . . . we played a good defensive game, I felt like we knew what they were going to do. Oscar Forman got some open looks but other than that we did a good job.
“It’s been a challenge to say the least and I’m really proud of the guys, we did it on the court.”
Shooting percentages told the only story that needed telling.
Auckland converted 58.3 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent on three-point attempts while Harbour, who did make a flurry of threes in the final minutes to close within 10 points, dropped 35.6 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from outside the perimeter.
Australian forward Oscar Forman hit five treys, including three in the last quarter, for his game-high 26 points, while Australian centre Tim Behrendorff had 16 points and Tall Black Mika Vukona a 13-point and 10-rebound double-double for the Heat.
Trailing by 11 points at the main break, Harbour pulled within seven points in the opening minute of the third, but, as Dillon Boucher went out with his fourth personal foul, the Stars put in an 8-0 run on four straight close-range shots or lay-ups to extend the margin back to 15 points.
The Heat were ice-cold in the second period, shooting at 28.6 percent from the field at one stage as the Auckland took a 17-point lead at 40-23 at the 5:24 mark. Neither team lit it up from the floor, as 15-12 period, enabling the Heat to pull within eight points.
With nothing to lose, the Stars came out firing in the opening minutes, making five of their first six shots as they jumped out to a 12-5 lead, with Majstrovich firing early. Majstrovich and Baker had 11 points by the end of the first quarter, with Auckland stretching their lead into double figures and leading 30-18.
Dominion Finance NBL Playoffs
Quarterfinal (3rd vs 6th)
At North Shore Events Centre, North Shore
Youthtown Auckland Stars 94 (Adrian Majstrovich 24, George Baker 24, Reece Cassidy 18, Jonathon Shepherd 10) Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 84 (Oscar Forman 26, Tim Behrendorff 16, Mika Vukona 13, Jarrod Kenny 12)
1Q: 33-19
HT: 45-34 (12-15)
3Q: 65-51 (20-17)
FT: 94-84 (29-33)
Heat vs Stars Box Score (21KB html)
