Ethan Rusbatch looks for support. Photo Paul Taylor
Ethan Rusbatch looks for support. Photo Paul Taylor
By Thomas Airey
The Taylor Hawks took an essential step towards the National Basketball League playoffs on Sunday evening by defeating the Manawatū Jets 106-70 at Pettigrew Green Arena.
The win put them into fifth on the table, meaning another win in their final home game next week will secure a place in the Final 6 series the following week.
Centre Jack Salt set the tone for the game immediately by winning the tip and getting free for a layup just seven seconds in.
Hawke's Bay were creating good looks from three-point range early as well with Ethan Rusbatch hitting two in the first quarter.
Young Hawks fans make a noise. Photo / Paul Taylor
Back from Tall Blacks duty, mobile big man Jordan Hunt came off the bench and scored seven points in the first period as the Hawks carried a 23-14 lead into the second.
Hawke's Bay turned up the defence in the second quarter, forcing plenty of Jets turnovers and misses that, in turn, led to easy offence on the other end.
With point guard Derone Raukawa out injured, Jarrod Kenny assumed the bulk of the playmaking responsibility and the veteran racked up nine assists in the first half.
The Hawks extended their lead to 13 by halftime against a Jets team missing two key imports through sickness and injury.
They caught fire from three in the third with Hunt dropping another three long bombs in about two minutes of play.
His team-high 17 points in 21 minutes helped put the result beyond doubt with the score 72-48 at the end of three quarters.
Rusbatch, who had his best shooting night of the season hitting five of nine three-pointers, also had 17 in a typically balanced scoring attack for the Hawks.
The comfortable lead meant coach Mick Downer could empty the bench in the final minutes and get his key players some rest.
Hawke's Bay have one more game in the round robin – at Pettigrew Green Arena against the Canterbury Rams.
The Hawks have now won three of their eight home games this season.
