Basketball New Zealand

Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/vhosts/basketball.org.nz/httpdocs/resources/uploads/2008/03/damonrampton-web.thumbnail.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/bbnz/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /home/bbnz/domains/tallblacks.org.nz/public_html/wp-includes/post.php on line 3943

Dynamos forward Damon Rampton (Photosport)

A 30-point fourth quarter pushed Devon Dynamos Taranaki to an upset 99-96 road win over the Easy LPG Bay Hawks in Taradale on a busy Thursday night to start round four of the Dominion Finance NBL.

The Waikato Pistons had too much firepower for the struggling Manawatu OzJets 99-61 in Hamilton, while league-leading Youthtown Auckland Stars downed the feisty Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 92-82 in the Sky TV game in Auckland.

American import Keith Salscheider scored a game-high 29 points, including the last five points in a 17-4 run that put Taranaki ahead for good, as the visitors rallied from an eight-point halftime and six-point three-quarter deficit to stun the Pettigrew Green Arena faithful.

Salscheider finished 10-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-6 on three-pointers, while Tony Rampton added 12 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season, forward Link Abrams had 21 and Aaron Nowell 15 points.

The Dynamos trailed by five, 82-77, with 6:23 to play but went on a 17-4 run to take their first lead of the game and led by eight points with 2.30 remaining.

A Kevin Smith basket with 28sec to play pulled the hometown Hawks within two points, but Taranaki point guard Ben Jeffrey made one-of-two free throws, then Aidan Daly missed a three with 16sec remaining to send the game into overtime and the Dynamos ran out the clock and improved to 2-2.

Paora Winitana top-scored for the Hawks, who drop to 1-2 with the loss, with 24 points, while big American Kareem Johnson had 22 and Paul Henare 16 points.

The Stars got all they could handle from the winless Nuggets, eventually stretching the margin to double digits in the final two minutes.

With just over four minutes to play, the Nuggets trailed 84-81 but went scoreless on their next four trips down the floor, featuring two great defensive plays from ex-Tall Black Dillon Boucher, first a block on Jason Greig near the hoop and a crucial steal from new Otago import Lemar Gayle, which led to a basket.

Adrian Majstrovich led the Stars with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Casey Frank, who capped the Stars 8-1 run in the final two minutes with a thunderous dunk, ended with 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Dylan Perfect-Tait kept Auckland out in front in the second and third quarters with his 15 points, including five-of-six from distance.

Every time the Nuggets looked out, staring at double-digit deficits, the put in a run and trailed by just one point, 82-81 with five minutes to go.

Gayle, who arrived on Monday to replace centre Rashaan Smith, finished with a team-high 20 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals, while fellow American Jay Anderson had 18 and seven boards and Brent Charleton 17 points and seven rebounds.

It was a bad return to Hamilton for former Waikato coach Tim McTamney and former import Kantrail Horton as the Jets were out-classed by the Pistons.

Pistons guard Brian Wethers top-scored with 22 points as seven Pistons scored in double figures. Jason Crowe finished with 13 points and 12 assists, after having 11 assists at halftime before sitting out much of the second half as coach Murray McMahon gave the end of his bench some action.

Keith Davis led Manawatu with 15 points, while Horton was held to single digit points.

At Pettigrew Green Arena, Taradale
Devon Dynamos Taranaki 99 (Keith Salscheider 29, Link Abrams 21, Aaron Nowell 15, Tony Rampton 12, Ben Jeffrey 12) Easy LPG Bay Hawks 96 (Paora Winitana 24, Kareem Johnson 22, Paul Henare 16, Kevin Smith 15, Callum Baynes 10). HT: 41-49
Hawks vs Dynamos Box Score (21KB html)

At Hamilton City Stadium, Hamilton
Waikato Pistons 99 (Brian Wethers 22, Jason Crowe 13, Mike Homik 13, Jamie Barnett 12, Ike Smith 11, Ray Cameron 10, Puke Lenden 10) Manawatu OzJets 61 (Keith Davis 15, James Paringatai 10). HT: 53-24
Pistons vs OzJets Box Score (22KB html)

At ASB Stadium, Auckland
Youthtown Auckland Stars 92 (Adrian Majstrovich 25, Casey Frank 23, Dylan Perfect-Tait 15, Larry Bratcher 12) Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 82 (Lemar Gayle 20, Jay Anderson 18, Brent Charleton 17, Nat Connell 10). HT: 53-44
Stars vs Nuggets Box Score (20KB html)