Basketball: Driven Kings pile on pressure to fell Giants

By MURRAY McKINNON

Brendon Cathie-Pongia, motivated to do better after missing out on the Tall Blacks' pre-Olympic tour to Australia, helped his North Harbour team to down national basketball leaders Nelson Giants.

The Harbour Kings came back with power play in the fourth quarter to beat the home side 97-90, after Nelson had led by 10 points at the three-quarters.

Kings captain Cathie-Pongia said that James Hamilton was the Nelson player they targeted in the final 12 minutes.

"He scored 34 and we picked up our defence and went for zone on him," said Cathie-Pongia.

Robert Wilson had an outstanding match for Harbour, helping to turn the tide. Harbour took five steals in the final quarter, which gave them the lead.

Both teams had players away with the Tall Blacks - Nelson four and Harbour two.

"They had young players on the court and we put pressure on them and they cracked," Cathie-Pongia said.

Purnell Perry top-scored for Harbour with 31. Wilson got 23 and Cathie-Pongia 18.

Harbour, Nelson and Waikato head the points table with 12.

After being locked at 51-51 at the break, league champions Auckland had to go into overdrive to beat Hawks 107-100. Bryan Christiansen, with 26 points, and Simon Mesritz on 15 staged a determined attack in the final minute of play.

The Otago Nuggets had the Canterbury Rams struggling in the final two minutes to win 95-90 in Dunedin, while Wellington Saints kept their playoff chances alive, beating Palmerston North Jets 101-89.