Basketball: Hawks too strong for Stars

Hawkes Bay played with too much energy and accuracy for Auckland at Waitakere's Trusts Stadium last night, winning 92-81 to move straight into the National Basketball League final and sending the defending champions to a knockout game.

The Stars will meet the winners of tomorrow's knockout semifinal between Waikato and Nelson on Friday to decide who take on the Hawks on July 8 in the trophy game.

Stars captain Casey Frank started the scoring last night.

The Hawks caught up then overtook the Stars near the end of the first quarter, but Frank closed the gap to one point, 17-16, at the first break.

Point guard Paul Henare did a good job of cutting up the Auckland defence and the Hawks pushed out to a 10-point lead in the second spell.

The Stars appeared to be in sleep mode, as has been their habit this season. They gifted too many turnovers.

The Hawks led 44-37 at halftime. All the momentum was with the visitors.

The Stars did not do enough to secure the rebounds at either end of the court.

Superior shooting accuracy allowed Hawkes Bay to maintain the gap, with a 67-58 lead at the last break.

The Stars were well led by Frank, with 26 points. Shooter Aaron Olson, who had a broken toe, played 34 minutes and delivered 19 points. But they needed more input from others, including import Kareem Johnson and Dillon Boucher.

The Hawks' attacking options will be hard for any team to stop and they will take great confidence from the win, their seventh on the trot.