NZL - Hawks win thriller in Wellington

WELLINGTON (NZNBL) - The Bay Hawks, coached by recently retired New Zealand international Paul Henare, have reclaimed first place in the NZNBL with a thrilling 100-99 victory over the defending champion Wellington Saints.

Led by 25 points from one-time Milwaukee Bucks draftee Galen Young, 21 points from import Josh Pace and 15 points from 2002 FIBA World Championship representative Paora Winitana, the Hawks outscored the home team 27-18 in the final term to claim victory on a Young two-point basket with four seconds remaining.

The Saints were led by New Zealand Tall Blacks trio Corey Webster (20 points, 4 assists), Casey Frank (20 points, 4 rebounds) and Lindsay Tait (13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists).

In other standout performances in round eight of the NZNBL:

-    National team star Mika Vukona had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists as his Nelson Giants defeated the Auckland Pirates 91-73

-    Tall Blacks centre Craig Bradshaw's 24 points and 7 rebounds led Otago to their second win in two seasons, defeating Taranaki 92-88 despite 32 points from import Jack Leasure

-    Mark Dickel wound back the clock with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists as Southland defeated Taranaki 97-95

-    Nelson stunned the Bay Hawks 73-59 thanks to 20 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists from import Rod Grizzard

In round seven, 216cm Alex Pledger was the star of the show with 24 points on 12/13 shooting, 15 rebounds and 6 blocks as Waikato defeated Auckland 89-77 to move into third place. 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship star Brook Ruscoe had 14 points in 20 minutes for the Pirates.

In the game of the round, Wellington pipped arch rivals Nelson in an 85-83 classic, with Tall Blacks guards Tait (18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and Webster (18 points) leading the way.

Imports Daryl Dora (22 points) and Grizzard (15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists), and Tall Blacks Vukona (14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) and Phill Jones (17 points, 4 rebounds) were Nelson's best.

In other results:

-    Kiwi young gun Brad Anderson scored 20 points on 8/10 shooting, but Auckland fell 99-101 to Taranaki thanks to 27 points from import Leasure

-    25 points from former international Brendon Polyblank was not enough as the Southland Sharks fell 87-71 to Waikato, led by international star Tom Abercrombie with 28 points and 12 rebounds

-    Tall Blacks BJ Anthony (21 points) and Abercrombie (20 points), and impressive Louisville graduate Jerry Smith (20 points, 8 rebounds) led Waikato to an easy 100-58 win over Otago

-    Import Darryl Hudson's 23 points led the Manawatu Jets to an upset 84-74 win over the previously undefeated Hawks.

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA