Basketball: Hawks lose again

Points Time: Hawks forward Ana Haku heads for the basket during today's loss to the Canterbury Rams. Photo/Paul Taylor

The Canterbury Rams added more misery to the Bay Hawks NBL season with a 106-89 win in Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena today.

The Hawks, who have recorded just one win in seven outings this season, made a slick start. However the Rams kept in touch with their fast break.

A three pointer from Hawks forward Joshua Fox gave the hosts a 10-7 lead with 7m15s to go. After occasions when the score was 12-all and 20-all the Rams finished the first quarter 25-20 ahead after a mediocre second half of the quarter from the Hawks.

Numerous missed shots and a lack of respect for the ball in broken play let the Hawks down at the start of the second quarter. With her troops trailing 33-22 with 7m36s remaining in the second quarter Hawks coach Kirstin Daly-Taylor called a time out.

Things didn't improve for the hosts and plenty of magic from the likes of imported guard Jeremy Kendle and forward Marcel Jones had the Rams ahead 40-25 with 4m38s remaining before halftime. The Rams started the third quarter with a 52-34 lead.

The pain continued for the long-suffereing Hawks fans when imported centre Amir Williams went down with what appeared to be a serious eye injury early in the third quarter. However he returned to the court with 2m25s left before the final quarter.

The Rams domination continued and it took a three pointer from Hawks forward Ana Haku to have the hosts trailing 61-41 with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter. Hawks co-captain Jarrod Kenny gave the home crowd something to cheer about when he sunk a long range three pointer on the buzzer at the end of the third quarter to have his team trailing 76-58.

Rams head coach Mark Dickel had obviously set some serious goals for the game.

"Stay to our rules," he yelled at his troops with 3m52s remaining in the game.

He wanted the visitors to maintain their intensity until the final buzzer. Intensity and urgency were missing from the Hawks effort for virtually all of the game but the first few minutes.

Scorers:
Canterbury Rams 106 (Marcel Jones 39, Jeremy Kendle 27, Ethan Rusbatch 20), Bay Hawks 89 (Joshua Fox 21, Jarrod Kenny 14, Ana Haku 12). HT: 52-34.