Basketball: Hawks vow to 'learn from this'

Aidan Daly of Hawke's Bay loses control of the ball during the NBL final against Wellington. Photo / Getty Images

As Wellington Saints coach Pero Cameron cut the net down from the hoop, about five metres away a well-known Hawke's Bay parent, beaming from ear to ear, played with his child.

Paora Winitana extended his arms in front of his chest in the shape of a hoop as his son, Mana, celebrating his third birthday, deftly sunk the ball with dead accuracy before yelping with delight.

That's all the action Winitana, a Mormon bishop, saw last night as the HBS Bank Hawks stumbled at the last hurdle of their Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL) campaign in Wellington.

The hosts and defending champions were in commanding form in the grand final at the capacity TSB Bank Arena, claiming the bragging rights with a resounding 106-97.

Tall Black point guard Lindsay Tait was in a class of his own, claiming a game-high 28 points with five rebounds and six assists for the champions.

Wellington guard Corey Webster chimed in with 22 points while last season's Hawks destroyer, Leon Henry, contributed 19.

While it was unfortunate the Hawks lost, Winitana said they had to salute the Saints for their performance.

"I don't want to comment on that [playing on a Sunday] because I don't want to take anything away from Wellington's great win.

"Lindsay just orchestrated things tonight and his MVP [the second year in a row] was well deserved," he said, adding Wellington's shooters were unstoppable.

"He's our No1 point guard in the country and for the Tall Blacks so he is great - a great friend and a great player so I'm really happy for him," the former Tall Black guard said.

Winitana said everyone knew what he brought to the team but swingman Chris Daniel stepped up with aplomb.

Hawks power forward Galen Young top scored with 20 points, fellow US import Josh Pace added 17, bench point guard Aidan Daniel 16 and Daniel 15.

Young forward Morgan Natanahira won kudos from Winitana as the one to watch in the future.

"The key for us whole season was that we didn't rely on individuals but the whole team so that's been our strength," he said, adding rookie coach Paul Henare and assistant Kirstin Taylor laid the platform but they couldn't execute it in the last game.

Winitana laughed when asked if there was always next year, emphasising he battled with injuries for three years but this season played through without any hiccups.

"I played every game, bar the Sundays, and if I'm healthy I can always help," he said, revealing he had signed for two years with the Hawks.

"The nucleus of this team is awesome ... I love Paulie like a brother and he's one of the best coaches in this country already.

"We've got to remember the feeling from tonight and come back to do things better next year," Winitana said.

Hawks franchise owner Rod Earnshaw didn't mince words, saying the timing of the play-offs in Wellington was nothing short of "political" considering they had banked on a Friday/Saturday series.

"It was changed because Sky TV could only cover [the grand final] on a Sunday and that had an immediate impact on us," Earnshaw said.

"I'm not a sore loser but I just didn't agree with the decision on Sky.

"I mean if you take the top man out of any team you're going to struggle," Hawks to 'learn from this', he lamented, lauding Winitana for standing by his religious beliefs and stance but feeling the code should accommodate for such commitment.

Skipper Jarrod Kenny said the Hawks were proud of having made the grand final.

"It's hard to take but we'll learn from this and congratulations to Wellington ... and, hopefully, we'll be back next year in the grand final again," he said, putting it down to "that's basketball and sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't so you have to live with it".

While they missed Winitana, Kenny lauded swingman Daniel and back-up point guard Aidan Daly.

"We all talked about how Paora wasn't going to be there and we all had to chip in to try to make up for what he brings," he said, adding it was more than just adopting defensive and offensive systems.

Kenny, as Winitana did, thanked the fans and the sponsors for backing them all the way.

A dejected Pace said it was a tough game against a better team.

"We couldn't pull it out but I'm proud of my guys. We had a good year and made the championships.

"I always want to win but it's a pretty good year," Pace said, saluting Tait and emphasising the Saints were defending champs for a reason.

Asked if he was keen to return next year, playermaker Pace said he would take a look around, talk to some people, think about it and "you never know".

Former Hawk forward Kareem Johnson now has three titles with as many franchises - Auckland, the Hawks and now the Saints.

"They are all great titles but this team is a great bunch of guys," the 30-year-old American forward said, he had already left for New Zealand this year and found out en route the Saints wanted to sign him up.

"I was going to be with New Zealand greats - Lindsay, Casey and Troy McLean - and I was like besides myself with Pero [Cameron] as the coach," Johnson said, keen to keep coming back as a rebounder and team player.

He took his hat off to the Hawks for a great season.

"The difference was we came out aggressive tonight and the guys were knocking down the shots," he said, adding Wellington upped the tempo and the Hawks got into foul trouble.

"Definitely, they [the Hawks] missed the Bishop. It's always good to have Paroa on and they could have used him tonight," Johnson said, signing off with "hello, the Bay".

The game promised high-octane action as Tait and Trousdell questioned each other's pedigree early.

Hawks forward Benny Hill failed to find traction with his three-pointers while the hosts piled it on, surging to a 17-10 lead.

The Saints marched on to 24-16 before Hill eventually found love with a three and Daniel nailed two off the charity line, 24-21, with 3.7 seconds left.

A Webster error saw Natanahira relay the ball off the baseline to Daly, who bobbed and weaved his into the Wellington half before sinking from deep off the arc to tie score, 24-24, much to the smattering of Bay fans' delight.

But the next 10 minutes belonged to Wellington who piled clusters of unanswered baskets for a don't-argue 29-17.

As Henare lost his rag on the sideline, referee Tim Brown told the rookie coach to zip it up after he disagreed with a battering offensive foul call on Natanahira.

In the changing room, Winitana impressed on the Hawks not to let the "bigs" slow that ball down.

Both Galen Young and Winitana urged them not to watch on defence but also rebound.

"Everybody leave the refs alone, including me, because you'll only get their backs up," he said, emphasising twice this year the Saints shot ahead before letting the Hawks back into the game.

To the tune of "20 minutes to the championship, boys" Hawks returned but Wellington were relentless.

They Hawks fought tooth and nail but lost the third quarter 26-23 although they did clinch the last spell 33-27 but it was of little consolation. It was simply too little, too late.

Air shots and passes crept into the catch-up stages.

Daly bravely cuffed Frank from behind amid laughter but the Saints started celebrating, showing two fingers (titles) with 1min 30sec to go.

Erron Maxey brought up Wellington's 100 as the game went through its motions before the Saints high-fived and hugged to the tune of Freddy Mercury's We Are The Champions amid a passing shower of confetti.