BASKETBALL: Referee calls foul on Hawks stars

Hamish Bidwell
If that's hometown reffing, you can have it.
For weeks, Hawke's Bay referees Shane Nikora and Apai Apai have been on the receiving end of criticism from visiting Primo NBL coaches, who perceive them to be making calls in the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks' favour.
So what happened when the Taranaki Mountain Airs hit Pettigrew-Green Arena last night? They were given carte blanche to manhandle the Hawks.
Adrian Majstrovich, in particular, got the rag-doll treatment as big Link Abrams threw his weight around inside.
The Hawks couldn't buy a call their way as they found themselves in foul trouble for the first time this season.
Willie Burton, in an NBL match that doubled as his benefit game, fouled out, while Majstrovich, and Kareem Johnson both picked up four and Callum Baynes got pinged for three in just six minutes of court time.
That they rose above it to win 94-78 without picking up a technical foul for complaining, was testament to the discipline coach Shawn Dennis has infused in them.
Dennis took a vow of silence where referees were concerned a long time ago and wasn't about to break it last night.
"I thought that was good and patches of the match were fantastic," said Dennis.
"The thing that we're trying to build to, though, is that when we get the foot on the opposition's throat, we don't let it off. So if there was something we didn't do well tonight, it was that. We had a big 15 point lead in the second quarter and let it get back to six and I think that's where we're at right now.
"Overall, it was pleasing to see us close it out, but to take the next step, we've got to learn not to take the foot off the throat. One of the things we talked about when we had our half-yearly review was having the killer instinct and I think we're not quite there yet and I think over the remaining three games that's the thing we have to do.
"Sometimes it's tough when you play a team that's got nothing to lose and you can be dragged down to their level.
We did some fantastic things at times and then at others we were terrible. It's those times when we get rushes of blood and get a little bit excited."
To be fair, though, with foul trouble dictating that the players had to be regularly rotated, it's little wonder the cohesion occasionally suffered. Ten Hawks played in excess of six minutes and that's plenty.
Field Williams continued his outstanding shooting from behind the arc, hitting five from nine on his way to 20 points, Paora Winitana made three of four in his 22 points and Majstrovich had 20 as well. But the night, and the halftime entertainment, belonged to Burton.
Named honorary captain, he started the match, before having the crowd in stitches in his guise as an "Apprentice Maori Warrior."
Led by a local cultural group, Burton's bit of taiaha-wielding was worth the price of admission on its own.
The Hawks took their record to 12-3, ahead of their last home match of the regular season against the Canterbury Rams on Friday.