Basketball: Win proves elusive for Hawks at home

Hawks forward Arthur Trousdell tries to make a pass with Sharks player Anamata Haku breathing down his neck. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

The Indigo Hawks will have to see if their luck changes on the road in the next round after coming up shy against the Southland Sharks in Napier tonight.

The SIT Zerofees Sharks beat the Hawks 101-87 to claim their second victory over the hosts in the NBL this season.

The Hawks remain winless and will have to see if the league is kinder to them on the road.

The visitors brought some hustle in the third quarter to lead the Hawks 77-58 in what proved to be decisive in the game although the Hawks won the final spell 29-24.

The hosts came back from 25-14 first-quarter deficit to trail by 47-40 to the at halftime.

However, in the third spell the visitors went into overdrive with a 30-18 statement that the Hawks had few answers for.

US import forward Kareem Johnson top scored for the Hawks with 21 points while Hawks Bay-born forward Arthur Trousdell offered 18 points and collected six rebounds.

Trousdell gave the Pettigrew-Green Arena faithful something to cheer about when he turned around to drop a basket under pressure from the Sharks defenders on the halftime buzzer.

Matt Te Huna scored 14 points and made three assists while fellow guard Willie Stinnett added seven.

The Hawks won the second quarter 36-22.

For the Southerners, Australian import swingman Nick Kay has registered a double-double 29 points and a dozen rebounds, seven defensively.

Point guard Derone Raukawa offered 24 points, Bay-born Everard Bartlett added 20 points and provided seven assists while imposing centre Alex Pledger added 13pts and 8 rebs.

The Hawks started the spell slowly but coach Kirstin Daly-Taylor made some changes from the bench to provide some movement and impetus to their cause as they trailed 11-15 deep into the spell.

However, Sharks coach Judd Flavell had a chat with Raukawa to run away with a 25-14 lead at the buzzer.

Sharks import guard Jordair Jett is out injured but watching from the bench and so is Hawks counterpart and co-captain Chris Porter.

Hawks guard Paora Winitana, again, didn't play because of his religious beliefs.