Basketball: Auckland loss means away semi to NBL champs

By PETER JESSUP

Auckland lost their shooting accuracy to drop 89-94 to Nelson and concede third place on the NBL table to the Giants.

They also consigned themselves to an away semifinal against the defending champions in Wellington next Sunday.

Hawkes Bay will host the Giants in semifinal one on Saturday night, when the big question will be whether Tall Black point guard Paul Henare will be fit from his knee injury. Henare was sorely missed as sat out Saturday's 69-68 squeak home over lowly Otago.

Adrian Majstrovich remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the competition, leading the Hawks with 26. The visitors went on an 11-0 streak in the last quarter, forcing the home side to call a time-out, after which they rallied to the close win.

For Wellington, the question is which imports to use, but it's likely they will stick with Ben Knight and Marcus Timmons who combined well in a 104-8 6 drubbing of North Harbour. Troy McLean shot 25, Timmons 20 and Knight 16 as Saints cemented a 13-5 win/loss record.

That equalled the Hawks' effort, but some complicated maths gives Saints the lead with plus-110 against Hawkes Bay's plus-106.

The difference between Nelson's and Auckland's free-throw shooting separated them on Saturday night. Each side had 14 shots from the line, but the Giants sank nine to the Stars' six. From the field, the Giants shot 58 per cent to Auckland's 47.

Ed Book continues to impress as he pushes for a spot at Athens: 24 points and 11 rebounds. Darnell McCulloch also got 24, Phill Jones 14 with three of four three-shots. Jones was afterwards named the Giants' player of the year.

Aaron Olson top-scored for the Stars with 29, including six of nine three-shots and Lindsay Tait was kept in check with 19. Casey Frank was also heavily guarded but scored 17 and collected 10 rebounds.

Taranaki slumped 91-112 to Canterbury. The Rams' transplanted Americans were outstanding: Clifton Bush 32 and Kenny Walker 27 plus 18 rebounds. Frank Barr contributed his season's best 21 in his last game for the Airs, Link Abrams 24 and Willie Banks 14.

The Airs are confident of securing Abrams, Banks, Tall Black Michael Tompson and former Tall Black Damon Rampton for next season.

Yesterday, the Titans beat the Ram 95-82.