Basketball: Frank the boss in Auckland win

Captain Casey Frank stepped up in the absence of the Lindsay Tait to lead Auckland to a 80-76 win over Waikato in a National Basketball League match in Hamilton last night.

Tait, sidelined with a wrist injury, was replaced in the starting line-up by veteran Judd Flavell, but Frank rose to the occasion with 25 points and 10 rebounds to dominate the game.

Auckland led 24-18 after the opening quarter, but slipped behind 41-42 at halftime.

In the third quarter, they reasserted themselves with a 22-11 run and barely held on to stretch their lead at the top of the league standings to six points.

Americans Josh Nigut and Brock Gillespie scored 17 points each to support Frank, while Ben Hill led Waikato with 16 points.

- NZPA