Basketball: Hawks on the road with plans for the playoffs

Hawkes Bay hold the key to the finishing order of the four playoff teams in the National Basketball League, when they play three on the road in the final round this week.

They go to Taranaki on Wednesday, Wellington on Friday night and Nelson on Sunday and if they win all three, could end the regular season as competition leaders, winning home semifinal advantage.

Auckland are the other side that could cement home advantage for the semi between the first and second-placed teams, if they can beat Waikato at the Trusts Stadium in the last regular season game for both sides on Friday night.

The winner of that semi cruises into the final with a week to prepare, while the loser plays the winner of the other semi between teams three and four. Auckland and Waikato have cemented finals places and only an uncanny run of results in round 14 could tip the Hawks or Nelson out of the playoffs.

Biggest hurdle for the Hawks will come in Nelson, the Giants playing consistently well and only two points short of toppling Waikato in Hamilton at the weekend.

The Titans won 80-78 when American Kantrail Horton dropped a jump shot with five seconds remaining. Horton top-scored with 20 and took 12 rebounds. Pero Cameron shows his class in the must-win games and came through for the Titans with 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. The Giants relied heavily on their imports, Jacob Holmes 24, and Tyrone Barley 16.

Auckland's 81-63 demolition of the Heat has sent all teams a warning that the Stars are in form and rolling with considerable momentum. The Heat contained their captain, Casey Frank, to just two points, but the Stars' variation on attack carried them home, with Frank and Dillon Boucher dominating the rebounds, Mike Homik stepping up to score 24 and Lindsay Tait his usual good showing, 19.

"Auckland are the most talented team in the league," said Hawks coach Shawn Dennis, who freely admits to copying some of their methods.

"Friday night's win was a display that tells everyone they're a team looking to repeat [2004's title]," Dennis said. He's hoping the three-on-the-road will build character and spirit in his side.

"It's a great week for us. We looked at it early in the season - it's the sort of tough draw Auckland had going into the playoffs last year and by the time they got there they were the form team and they just belted everyone."

Dennis said the Hawks were "fresh mentally and physically and you could see that when we put 20 points on the Jets".

They won 104-84 with Derek Moore shooting 25, Dusty Rychart 22, A. J. Majstrovich and Paora Winitana 15 and Aidan Daly 12.

In New Plymouth yesterday the Nelson Giants beat the Taranaki Mountain Airs 102-73.