Basketball: Probe into NBL match timing

By Peter Jessup

The National Basketball League is conducting an inquiry into the confusing overtime finish to the Auckland-Nelson game at the weekend after accepting evidence that the last session was too long.

Fortunately, the extra seconds played out after referee Sean Cronin refused Auckland's claim that time was up had no effect on the outcome, with the home side going from 96-95 to 99-95.

But that was because they took a steal from the Giants after Kenny Stone was fouled and sent to the free-throw line.

The Auckland team lodged a complaint because of the possible outcome had Nelson retained possession and scored, said coach Tab Baldwin.

"We're upset that a ref's error put the result in doubt," he said.

League manager Mark Cameron has called for videotape, the referee's report and the match report but even he was unsure what score would stand if indeed it was found that the game went on too long.

"Our main aim is to ensure it doesn't happen again," Cameron said of the fiasco that left a full house of fans mystified as argument over those final seconds went on for several minutes.

Meanwhile, Auckland's preparation for the finals weekend in a fortnight has been seriously disrupted after burglars relieved Baldwin of video gear and tapes from the past two seasons.

The coach returned from Unitec after the previous weekend's game against Palmerston Jets to find his rented Te Atatu house stripped.

The thieves took unopened wedding presents, his wife, Raewyn's, jewellery, and the basketball material.

Baldwin was not dismissing a basketball connection as he believes the job was timed while he was on court for a specified period on the Saturday night.

Auckland go to the North Shore on Sunday for the game of the round.

Both sides will be without star players who are away with the New Zealand team in Taiwan.

Auckland will miss captain Pero Cameron and guard Paul Henare in organisation as much as North Harbour do the league's top shooter, Kirk Penney, and former Auckland player Andrew Parke in the front line.

Nelson have to beat Waikato in Hamilton in order to stay in contention.