Basketball: Big city rivals to light the fire

By MURRAY McKINNON

Auckland fans will be hoping for the National League to finally fire into action when North Harbour take on Auckland next Saturday.

The first home court game at North Harbour against Otago was a lacklustre affair, with lack of scoring and only brief glimpses of entertaining basketball as Harbour went on to win 71-58.

Tight defence and with both teams finding their way, it finally took Milos Pejovic to open the scoring from the free throw line for the Poenamo-sponsored Kings over a minute into the game.

Otago were left wanting, taking over 6 minutes to register their first point, also as a free throw, from Andrew Sheppard.

Harbour's new import Brian Gomes was kept active on strike and in defence with Jeff Niwa and Tall Black Brad Riley chiming in with some effective shots.

Andrew Parke led the Otago assault with solid defence, taking 10 rebounds for the game and forcing Harbour to the perimeter where captain Brendon Cathie-Pongia was accurate with three-point goals.

Otago's main scoring came from Hayden Allen and Murray Clarke, with Harbour leading 38-22 at the break.

Cathie-Pongia was equally effective from the three point line in the second half.

Otago had a burst of nine unanswered points in the third quarter, but lack of depth on the bench eventually told.

Cathie-Pongia top-scored with 23 points, Gomes finished with 16 and Riley was on 11. Allen collected 15 for Otago and Clarke, 14.

Harbour coach Tracy Carpenter summed up the performance in simple terms: "A win is a win. We have improved from our loss to Hawks last week, but we were extended by Otago who showed that they are capable of coming back a second night after their loss to Auckland."

After two rounds, the Waikato Titans are the only unbeaten team. Waikato dispatched Hawkes Bay 94-83, led by guard Nat Connell and Clifton Bush, who each scored 19. Waikato head the league table with three wins.

Wellington Saints secured their second win, travelling to Palmerston North to beat the Jets 82-72.

Import Chris Webber scored 24 for the Saints while Peter Pokai, with 11 rebounds, restricted Jets centre Ed Book to 18.

Canterbury squeezed past Nelson 66-65, and Auckland toppled Otago 73-66.