Basketball: Sharks storm into NBL final

Southland Sharks coach Paul Henare. Photo / Glen Taylor

The Southland Sharks have stormed into the National Basketball League final in record-setting form.

A brilliant display from Tai Wesley was matched by excellent defence as the Sharks picked up their 15th win on the trot with a 95-80 win over the Supercity Rangers.

The win tied the NBL record for consecutive wins set by the Waikato Pistons in 2001, and they got it done on the back of a superb offensive showing by Wesley, who was impossible to contain in the post all night long.

Wesley had 16 points in first half alone, going 6/6 from the field and 4/4 from the line as his presence down low caused all sorts of problems for the Rangers.

The Jeff Green-coached side were forced to double Wesley regularly, and the Guam international's nifty passing led to open looks for the likes of Adrian Majstrovich, Todd Blanchfield and Duane Bailey.

Rangers shooting guard Reuben Te Rangi was matching Wesley point for point however, with 15 first-half points including three triples. With Tom Garlepp hitting tough shots and Jason Cadee attacking well, the Rangers were doing enough to stay in the contest, with the Sharks leading 49-44 at the half.

The Sharks looked to stretch out their lead in the third period but Te Rangi kept the Rangers in it with a mix of triples and effective off-the-dribble attacking, keeping the deficit within double digits for the entirety of the third quarter.

Foul trouble struck the Sharks in the fourth, with Todd Blanchfield, Tai Wesley and Adrian Majstrovich all on four fouls during the final quarter, but the Rangers couldn't take advantage, with lockdown Southland defence shutting down Ranger sets.

A Blanchfield pull-up and Bailey and-one gave the Sharks their first double-digit lead with five minutes remaining, and from there they coasted home.

Wesley ended with 24 points and nine rebounds, Majstrovich had 18 points and 16 rebounds, Kevin Braswell went 10/10 from the line to notch 23 points and Bailey had 14 points and eight rebounds.

For the Rangers, Te Rangi had 22 points and nine rebounds, while Cadee and Garlepp added 15 apiece.

The Sharks will take on the winner of the second semifinal between the Nelson Giants and Wellington Saints in the final tomorrow at 7.00pm.

Niall Anderson is staying in Wellington courtesy of Bay Plaza Hotel