Basketball: Avenging Auckland seize Challenge

By Murray McKinnon

Auckland came back with a vengeance,after suffering back-to-back losses in the south last weekend, to win the inaugural New Zealand Basketball Challenge Cup at Unitec Mt Albert on Saturday.

Auckland were devastating in the second half, beating league champions Nelson Giants 83-66.

Peter Pokai's size and accurate shooting gave Nelson an edge in the first half, Pokai scoring 11 points within seven minutes of play.

This led to a time out by Auckland's coach Tab Baldwin and the Rebel Sport team were quickly into action with Daryl Cartwright, Prem Krishna and Simon Mesritz scoring successive baskets, Auckland going to the break just ahead 37-36.

Auckland played a defensive second half, forcing Nelson into foul trouble. Forward JD Huleen was the only Nelson player able to forge through under the basket and he scored nine points in the final half, while Judd Flavell exploited the outside, finishing with 15 points for the game.

As in the semifinal against Waikato, Scott Benson was dynamic for Auckland, top scoring with 26, which included four three-pointers and an emphatic slam dunk in the final seconds.

Paul Henare directed play well for 11, with captain Pero Cameron holding back at times with a strained calf muscle, also on 11.

Mesritz was named player of the game, contributing nine points, seven defensive rebounds and four assists.

"We played great defence, kept the tempo up and wore them down," said Mesritz.

Nelson coach Nenad Vucinic suffered a double blow, losing the cup and key player Ralph Lattimore for the next three league games after being banned for an on-court altercation with Palmerston North player Willie Burton on June 25.

Meanwhile, in the only league game over the weekend, Taranaki came from behind to pip Canterbury on the final buzzer 100-99.

Michael Foster with 30 and Kent Mori on 21 did the damage, moving Taranaki ahead of Canterbury to fourth place on the league table.