KEY POINTS:
Nick Horvath showed just how much the Wellington Saints will miss him when he spearheaded their 92-80 win over Canterbury in the National Basketball League yesterday.
Horvath, in his final game before taking a month off to marry former New Zealand hockey international Sheree Phillips, scored 28 points and took 13 rebounds. Fellow American Marquis Webb scored 22 points as the Saints improved to three wins and two losses.
"We're going to see if we can get him over to [Las] Vegas for one of those 10-minute drive-through weddings and get him right back," joked Saints coach Doug Marty. "But I think he might have other plans."
Horvath will be replaced by American Kevin Owens.
He dominated the first half with 21 points and seven boards as Wellington led by 11 points.
The Saints then struggled to find rhythm in the face of Canterbury's press defence, with regular point guard Luke Martin starting from the bench and playing only 14 minutes.
"It's hard to find a rhythm when you're switching point guards. We were really never in sync from the point guard spot but individually they all contributed in some big spots," Marty said.
"I give a lot of credit to Canterbury. They never gave up and I thought their defensive changes were tough for us. We didn't adjust to their half-court press and their intensity."
Webb extended the lead to nine points early in the fourth quarter with a three, but as shots stopped falling for the home side, Canterbury clawed back, a Gerard Bowden three levelling the scores at 76-76 with 4min 39sec to play.
Spurred by a crowd of 1500, Saints outscored the Rams 16-4 from that point with back-to-back threes from Luke Martin and Troy McLean giving them breathing space and making free-throws to close it out.
Along with his 22 points, Webb had seven rebounds, six assists and two steals, while Troy McLean and Terrence Lewis had 13 points each.
Point guard Jeremy Kench top-scored for Canterbury with 18 points, but had eight turnovers, while American Joey Harrell had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Gerard Bowden 13 points.
Round four featured two upsets. Taranaki beat Bay Hawks 99-96 after overcoming a six-point three-quarter time deficit, and Manawatu recording their first win this season, 87-78 over Taranaki.
Waikato remained unbeaten with a 99-61 rout of Manawatu on Thursday with Brian Wethers scoring 22 points and Jason Crowe finishing with 13 points and 12 assists. The Auckland Stars continued to lead the league after winning their fourth consecutive game on Thursday, 92-82 over Otago.
- NZPA
