Kenny pointed out they had only one offensive rebound in the second spell so it was letter to the law for coach Tab Baldwin as his troops have regsitered three wins at home from four matches and are in the top-four position of the Bartercard National Basketball League ladder.
"We ended up rebounding well and pushing the tempo," he said, mindful the visitors didn't have a bench too deep at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale.
They also realised Rangers US import guard Eric Devendorf was their go-to man so shutting him out was imperative in the second half.
Kenny said the team mantra for the Hawks was sound with no players looking for their shots but trying to locate the best person on the floor to knock them in.
"If someone scored 22 then good for them but it's a team game and our stats show that."
US import power forward Dustin Scott again showed his worth with a double-double 22 points, 12 rebounds and four steals while shooting guard Everard Bartlett emulated his feat with 22 points.
Home-based import Kareem Johnson scored 16 points and was two shy on the rebounds for a double-double.
Conversely, Waitakere coach Aik Ho and assistant Dillon Boucher will take heart from Bailey's game-high 34 points and 12 rebounds and Devendorf's 27 points and three assists but as a network they failed to find traction.
The visitors' scrambling defence lacked structure as the Paoara Winitana-skippered Hawks opened lanes of attack time and again.
Lying on the floor, stretching, with physio Vieran Parbhu close by, Devendorf said every game was going to be a battle for the Rangers.
"We've got a young team so we have to learn in every game so I know it's been a struggle but we'll have to regroup and come back," he said as Waitakere host Nelson Giants tomorrow.
"We have talent but that doesn't mean anything if you can't put it together to play as a team," Devendorf lamented.
Asked if Waitakere relied on him too much, 36:07 court-time Devendorf replied: "I can't say that because that's what they brought me here for so I've got to expect that."
The former Syracuse University player hailed Bailey for working out with him, singling him out as another young guy who showed what he had in store in his tool box last night.
The Hawks were an athletic unit, he said, giving him "open looks" in the first half but shutting shop in the final 20 minutes.
"It's not always you have to work for everything so they did a good job of it tonight."
Kenny said the focus would now be on bogey team Manawatu Jets-- who lost 96-81 to Southland Sharks last night in Palmerston North -- on Monday with a 3pm tip off again at the PG Arena.
"They've only played one game [before last night] so we don't have too much footage on them but we know their personnel and what their strengths are.
"It's a grudge match ... from the last three or four seasons that I've been with the Hawks Palmy is a team we always want to beat," he said of the Jets who have former Hawks guard Alonzo Burton, the son of NBL stlawart Willie, of Napier.
Burton last night top scored for the home team with 16 points.
With three minutes left on the clock in the first quarter, Scott's dunk took the score to 12-10 but, more importantly, reflected the hosts' dominance.
The visitors started slowly and heavy reliance on Devendorf to turn on the magic meant they were left chancing their arms on lucky dips from outside the arc but found little love from the rim.
A stolen basket from Bartlett half way through the third quarter personified the one-way traffic.
With 3:11 to go, an irate Boucher bounced out of his chair and yelled: "Hey, [expletive] start playing."
Aussie import Daryl Corletto could have done more for the Rangers.
In the silly minutes of the final spell, Scott and Wintana watched from the bench as guard Ravi Mani got his first court time as a Hawk in his debut season.
The Giants thumped Taranaki Mountainairs 92-76 in New Plymouth last night.
On Thursday, leaders Wellington Saints thumped defending champions Southland Sharks 97-76 in the capital city.
