Basketball: Hawks shy against beast on boards

Josh Duinker (Nelson) and Suleiman Braimoh (Hawks) battle it out. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

The word is Mika Vukona was a beast on the boards last night in Nelson.

Enough said, after the IMS Payroll Hawks lost 103-82 to the playoffs-bound Mike Pero Nelson Giants at Saxton Stadium.

"With the rebounding stats favouring the Giants 43-31 we're not going to win too many games, especially off the offensive boards," lamented Hawks assistant coach George Galanopoulos.

"It just goes to show the level you have to be at to make the top-four playoffs," Galanopoulos said after the Hawks kept in touch (18-20) in the first quarter but could not keep up in the next spell, 29-18, to go into halftime lagging behind 49-36.

The hosts, second on the Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL) ladder, won 29-24 in the third quarter and finished off the last spell 25-22.

US imports DeRonn Scott (26pts) and McKenzie Moore (21) spearheaded Nelson to their 13th win of the season, which put them half a game ahead of the Wellington Saints who lost 107-99 against the Canterbury Rams last night.

"We allowed them to get into a rhythm after a good start. When DeRonn got going he was too hot," Galanopoulos said, revealing Nelson were rotating and swinging with conviction.

Tall Black captain Vukona's double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds was pivotal in the Giants' intent.

Galanopoulos felt the problem lay with the Hawks losing their composure after their inability to keep their shape following double shots. Inconsistency, the American said, was the anthem of their season. The Jarrod Kenny-skippered side had shown glimpses of playoff fortitude, even against top sides, but, like last night, the opposition showed more hunger.

"As a team you've got to say enough is enough and start bringing guys out so you have to start building at the start of the year and we didn't do that."

Galanopoulos said the Hawks matched the Giants in the field-goal and three-point stats but the latter got more look-ins and shots at the hoop for their first cleansweep since 2007 as the former plunged to their 11th loss of the season.

US imports Suleiman Braimoh (15 points, seven rebounds) and Zack Atkinson (14pts) led the way but coach Paora Winitana opted to give bench players more minutes.

Galanopoulos said everyone was fit, despite a few cuts and bruises, to take on Final Four-bound James Blond Supercity Rangers today at 7pm.

"Hopefully we'll finish the season a high note."

The Southland Sharks have won their first regular title by virtue of finishing at the top of the ladder.