The Auckland Stars completed a road double over Canterbury and Otago to hit the lead in the National Basketball League during a weekend of hard-fought games, three of which went to overtime.
Waikato Pistons were the losers in two of those, slumping 95-87 in Palmerston North then 88-87 in New
Plymouth.
Hawkes Bay beat Wellington 77-71 in overtime and they have a six-one record, one behind the Stars but having played one game less. Approaching the half-way stage of the competition, the Stars and Hawks still look the likely finalists.
Four players fouled out in Otago on Saturday night: Stars captain Casey Frank and forward Dillon Boucher and the Nuggets' Matt Gillan and new import Bradon Morris.
Morris, a point guard from Wisconsin Green Bay, arrived on Wednesday to replace Keith Darden.
The Nuggets had good returns from their other new import, Branduinn Fullove, with 23 points, and former Tall Black Miles Pearce continues to dominate the rebounding stats with a 16 points, 14 rebounds double-double.
Stars point man Lindsay Tait was top-scorer for them in both games with 20 in Christchurch and 19 in Dunedin but it is the all-round contribution to points-scoring that makes the Stars so dangerous. On Saturday, bench man Daryl Cartwright delivered 17.
The Rams guard Jeremy Kench, 22, continued to deliver with 30 points against Auckland. Arthur Trousdell, back from the United States, will boost their stocks.
A.J. Majstrovich returned from injury to score 12 against Saints. The visitors suffered the loss of their import Jamal Livingstone at the end of the first quarter. They were up eight points in the last quarter but only just hung in for a 67-all result at the end of regular time. Terrence Lewis top-scored with 22 and Mike Tompson shot 17 but, again, the Hawks' wider scoring contribution was the winner.
Waikato star forward Ben Hill might have won one of their double for them had he landed two late free-throws against Taranaki on Saturday. Hill top-scored again for the Pistons with 22 and took 16 rebounds but the visitors fell to a home team playing without imports, American resident Link Abrams leading the Airs with 33 and 13 rebounds and Tall Black centre Tony Rampton contributing 18 points and 16 rebounds.
On Friday night, the Pistons led the Jets to the end of three-quarter time, Hill scoring 19 and Luke Martin 20. But with Aussie Brad Davidson scoring 18 for the Jets, Ryan Randle 17 and Clifton Bush and Stacey Lambert 13, depth and variation on offence was once again the telling factor.
The Harbour Heat are in trouble after going down 95-86 in Nelson on Saturday and 74-63 in Wellington yesterday. Troy McLean scored 21 and Brent Charleton 23 in Nelson, shooting 12 of 23 three-pointers between them.
Giants import Josh Pace top-scored with 28, local Mike Fitchett continues to improve with 20 points and Breakers forward Mika Vukona had a 15/11 double-double.
Harbour's shooting accuracy was an abysmal 34 per cent yesterday. McLean landed just three of 17 shots. They picked up five of nine free-throws yesterday while the Saints enjoyed sinking 25 of 27, clinching the game.
The Heat's Hayden Allen was their top-scorer with 12 and although the points contribution was well spread they lack a go-to guy.
Dillon Boucher of the Stars. Picture / Hawke's Bay Today
The Auckland Stars completed a road double over Canterbury and Otago to hit the lead in the National Basketball League during a weekend of hard-fought games, three of which went to overtime.
Waikato Pistons were the losers in two of those, slumping 95-87 in Palmerston North then 88-87 in New
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