The Fico Finance Nelson Giants have edged the HBS Bank Hawks in nail biter, final score 88-86. Giants survive against HBS Bank Hawks Josh Pace made clutch plays down the stretch for the Giants which included a go ahead basket with seconds remaining in the contest. Pace ended the game with 32 points, nine rebounds and four assists as the Giants return to third place with 11 wins and four losses. After being plagued with an ankle injury for the past few weeks, Everard Bartlett returned with a strong game, scoring 17, but unfortunately missed the game winning three. Nelson came out strong in the first half, leading by double digits, but the Hawks put together a strong third quarter, outscoring the Giants 24-10. The Hawks led by five in the final period, but behind Pace the Giants regrouped and took the lead with under four minutes to play. The home side would never regain the lead, but had a prime opportunity to do so, when point guard Jarrod Kenny missed a relatively easy lay up with eleven second to play. But in the end Pace would hurt his former team, with a tremendous spin move into a floater for the win. Mika Vukona put together a sold game tallying 14 points, ten rebounds and five assists. Work horse import Brian Greene led the Hawks with 19, and centre Darko Cohaderevic added 14. The loss now puts the Hawks to 4-11, and are currently at seventh position. In New Plymouth Jack Leasure has exploded for 33 points, leading The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs to a 114-93 win over the James Blond Super City Rangers. Playing in the retro 1990s New Plymouth Bears uniform, the home side won every quarter, ending their two game losing streak. Kenny Gabriel had a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, and young players Ethan Rusbatch and Brad Anderson each added 16, taking the Airs win/loss record to 5-10. It was the fourth straight loss for the Rangers, who are stuck at the bottom of the table with two wins and 13 losses. Duane Bailey returned after missing one game, to top score for the Rangers with 23, guards Houston O’Riley and Carl Buck added 18. Tomorrow Round Eleven of the Bartercard NBL concludes, with a top of the table clash between the OceanaGold Nuggets and the Wellington Saints, and in Hamilton the Zerofees Southland Sharks will try to return to third spot when they play the Advice First Waikato Pistons. Saturday, June 29 At TSB Stadium, New Plymouth The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs 114 (Jack Leasure 33, Kenny Gabriel 22, Ethan Rusbatch 16, Brad Anderson 16) James Blond Super City Rangers 93 (Duane Bailey 23, Houston O’Riley 18, Carl Buck 18), Final Referees – Dallas Pickering, Miguel Gallardo, Ryan Jones 1Q: 29-23 HT: 56-47 (27-24) 3Q: 82-66 (26-19) FT: 114-93 (32-17) Airs v Rangers Box Score At Pettigrew Green Arena, Napier HBS Bank Hawks 86 (Brian Greene 19, Everard Bartlett 17, Darko Cohadarevic 14) Fico Finance Nelson Giants 88 (Josh Pace 32, Mika Vukona 14), Final Referees – Tim Brown, Apai Apai, Gareth Tehan 1Q: 18-24 HT: 44-56 (26-32) 3Q: 68-66 (24-10) FT: 86-88 (18-22)
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 11:14:30 +0000
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