Basketball: Nelson and Southland pick up victories

Nelson edged out Taranaki 87-83 in Nelson while in Invercargill, Southland routed Otago 100-58 in National Basketball League matches played tonight.

Taranaki trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, but fought back in the third quarter when they went on a 13-2 run to take a five point lead.

The lead changed hand several times until Nelson finally gained some distance when a couple of free throws from Phill Jones put their lead to five with just over one minute remaining.

Zane Meehl with a free throw and then a Marcus Campbell field goal got Taranaki to within two, with 47 seconds left.

A Rod Grizzard steal on Jack Leasure, followed by a foul, led to two free throws for Nelson that Grizzard sank to seal the game for his side.
Grizzard ended the game with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while his fellow import Darryl Dora led Nelson with 26 points.

Marcus Campbell made 23 points for Taranaki while Link Abrams came off the bench to score 18 after sinking all eight of his field goal attempts.

Taranaki have now lost all three straight on the road and next take on top of the table Waikato at home next week.

A 26-6 opening quarter by Invercargill proved too much for Otago to overcome as the home side notched their biggest winning margin of 42 points in the NBL.

Invercargill won every quarter against a struggling Otago with Kaniel Dickens shooting a game high 27 points.

New import Mike Rose had 20 points while Mark Dickel compiled 17 points and 10 assists.

Otago's soothing accurace was just 31 percent from the field leaving Craig Bradshaw their top scorer with 13 points.

Invercargill have now notched five wins and five losses, putting them fifth in the standings with the same win loss record as Nelson and Manawatu.

- NZPA