Basketball: Airs import deflated after poor showings

By PETER JESSUP

Big American Frank Barr had a miserable introduction to the New Zealand league at the weekend, taking time to find his feet with Taranaki as they were dumped by Auckland on Saturday then sneaked home in overtime against North Harbour yesterday.

The Harbour Heat produced a much-improved performance under new coach Ollie Bryce to lead for most of regular time against the Taranaki Mountain Airs before conceding fouls to drop 107-110 to last-gasp free-throws.

They had chances at the other end, but poor execution cost them, the accuracy rate 41 from 86 to Taranaki's 35 of 68 from the field. The Airs sank 35 of 42 free shots, the Heat 16 of 24.

Resident American Willie Banks stole yesterday's game at the North Shore Events Centre with two steals, fouled both times as he rose to the basket, taking all four free-throws.

Banks' commitment and the way he runs a game attracted the attention of Breakers coach Frank Arsego, who was enthused more about him than Barr after watching the Airs twice in two days.

"Some of the Australian teams have one or two resident Americans plus two imports . . . it would give us some balance," Arsego said.

The 33-year-old Banks will be watched more in future, being told afterwards that Arsego was "appreciative of his game".

The coach said interest in Banks did not rule out Lindsay Tait as back-up point guard. "It gives us other options."

Barr, trialling for a Breakers contract, shot only four from 13 from the field against Auckland on Saturday night. Casey Frank led all scorers with 26, Dillon Boucher 19, Lindsay Tait 16 and Aaron Olson 14 in a spread the Airs couldn't match.

At North Harbour yesterday, the 2.13m power forward played only 17 minutes, missed all six field goal attempts and dropped two turnovers, leaving the court with a shake of his head. Airs coach Warren Osborne removed him from the game at crucial stages, seeking the unity of his established starters, and Arsego had no problem with that given the closeness of the game.

Mike Tompson was again good for Taranaki, contributing 22 points at vital stages. Link Abrams had a game-high 33.

Purnell Perry was Harbour's best and top-scorer with 23, but there were vastly improved performances from Judd Flavell, 17, and Axel Dench, 22, with Rob Tuilave his consistent self scoring 16, and lots of promise from Valance McCarthy, who has improved more than anyone else at the Heat this season.

A measure of their improved commitment came with wrestling on the floor for the loose balls.

Bryce was philosophical about the loss. "What do you expect me to be able to do in a few days?" he said of his two games with the team since taking over from Colin Driscoll.

The crowd size was a measure of how North Shore fans have rated the effort so far, fewer than 400 at the events centre yesterday, and that included junior players and dancers who performed at the breaks. But if the Heat play as they did they will better their record of two from 10.

The Canterbury Rams earned their second win of the season, thanks to captain Rewi Manahi, 24 points with 11 of 14 field goals in an 88-80 victory over the Manawatu Jets. Veteran Clifton Bush returned 15 points and 10 rebounds. Canterbury profited from a quick start, out 29-13 after the first quarter, the only period of the game they won.

Wellington Saints handed Hawkes Bay Hawks their third consecutive loss, 96-91.

Import Gary Boodnikoff top-scored twice for the Hawks with 23 in Wellington and 34 backing up against the Nelson Giants, but again that wasn't enough, the home team winning 107-106 in overtime.

The visitors protested against a shot scored by Phill Jones on the buzzer of halftime, but given the game went to 95-all and extra time the NBL will not act.

Ed Book led the Giants with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Lance Baker shot the winner, Boodnikoff missing two shots that would have been game-winners in the final seconds.

The weekend's ninth of 14 rounds leaves Auckland, Nelson and Waikato tied at the top with the Titans and Stars meeting in the best match-up and televised game next Sunday. The Heat have the chance to reinforce new team spirit on a road trip away to the Hawks on Wednesday and Manawatu on Thursday. The Airs host Manawatu on Wednesday and go to Nelson on Friday.

The Saints also have an away double-header with Canterbury on Friday and Otago on Saturday.

* A torn ankle kept Tall Black Mark Dickel out of the finals when his Turkish league team Fenerbache were eliminated. He is expected to be in a cast for three weeks.