Basketball: Auckland off colour in win

Auckland continued their winning ways in the NBL with an 89-79 victory over Otago at Unitec Stadium last night, despite playing one of their worst games of the season.

The home side held a good lead for most of the game, although they did lose the second quarter 21-18.

Import Casey Frank was Auckland's leading scorer with 21. Lindsay Tait scored 20. For Otago, Mike Pegues top-scored with 39 and Hayden Allen had another excellent game with 25 points.

Today Auckland are away to Taranaki and Otago play at North Harbour this afternoon.

In last night's other game, Manawatu beat Canterbury 96-82 in Palmerston North.

Taranaki are in financial strife and will drop out next season unless attendances improve. Around 1400 saw their return to the top division after a long break but it was an unfortunate start, losing 147-77 to champs Waikato. Crowds have since dwindled despite three home wins and a mid-spot on the competition ladder.

Pero Cameron was a surprise starter for Waikato as they held on to a big halftime lead to slip home 84-80 against a faster-finishing Saints in Wellington on Thursday night.

It sets up a great contest for tomorrow's first live-on-TV game on TV2.

Cameron scored 13 and Iona Enosa 16.