By MURRAY McKINNON
Auckland Stars, semifinalists last season, have nailed their first win of the National Basketball League this year, beating the previously undefeated Hawkes Bay Hawks 101-95.
Player-coach Kenny Stone rose to the occasion, keen to hit the first game on their home Unitec court in winning style. He
combined with Daryl Cartwright, Rob Tuilave and Lindsay Tait for a resounding final quarter, which put them ahead by 12, with two minutes remaining.
The Hawks looked like continuing where they had left off on Friday night in Napier, when they beat North Harbour 90-87.
They dominated the early minutes, leading 7-0 before Stone moved into action with 13 points.
Tight defence by Auckland with some tough match-ups - Stone on Maurice Lietzke, Tait on Paul Henare and Tuilave on Rob Hickey - had the Hawks shooting from the outside during the second quarter, and ahead 53-52 at halftime.
The Hawks started the third quarter like the first, and Hickey's 2.11m frame dominated the post for eight unanswered points. But the Aucklanders responded with a run of 16 straight points, and a further run of 10 in the final quarter kept the Hawks at bay.
Stone, named player of the match with 28 points and five rebounds, was pleased with the result.
"We haven't played well in the first two weeks and lacked confidence," he said. "I called for a consistent effort this game and they gave a good job against a taller lineup.
"We played with intensity, rebounded well and ran them in the fourth quarter, as I thought we would be at an advantage on their second night of play,"
Cartwright led the Auckland side in rebounds with 11 for the game, and contributed 16 points. Tait, who continues to grow in confidence in his new role as point guard, had 11 assists and 17 points.
Hickey came away with 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Henare was successful five times from the three-point line, to score 20.
* Wellington Saints, after losses in the previous two weeks, struck down the Nelson Giants with an upset 87-80 win in Wellington.
Saints' Australian import Lee Barlow was in top form with 35 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Phill Jones was the best for the Giants with 24 points.
The Waikato Titans crushed the Canterbury Rams 134-113 in Hamilton, Dillon Boucher scoring 29 and Brendon Cathie-Pongia 25 for the home side.
In Palmerston North on Friday, Nelson beat the Jets 84-77.
