Basketball: Kings grab win in final seconds

By MURRAY McKINNON

The Harbour Kings scored a narrow 79-78 win over the Auckland Stars in their "battle of the bridge" NBL clash at Mt Albert.

With five seconds remaining, 22-year-old point guard Dylan Chase slotted the winning basket from the free throw line to give Harbour the win.

The Kings, who beat Auckland 92-84 last month, can now claim the unofficial "battle of the bridge" title for the season.

Auckland's Robert Tuilave, matched against big John Smith of the Kings, and their player coach Kenny Stone, matched against Brad Riley, contained Harbour's scoring towards the end of the first quarter, which the Stars won 22-17.

Stone almost single-handedly carried the Auckland team, with 20 points for the game as well as 16 rebounds and six blocks.

But Aaron Olson and Chase were able to penetrate the Stars' defence and Harbour moved out to a 30-28 lead midway through the second quarter.

The teams then matched baskets to draw 37-37 at the break.

Import Casey Frank, who had a game high of 19 points, was solid under the post for Auckland, but Kings captain Olson responded at the other end and Harbour led 63-60 going into the final quarter.

With 1m 24s remaining, Auckland had the upper hand with a 78-75 lead, but this changed when Olson, out in the open and on his own, was able to shoot a three pointer.

Time-outs were called by both teams in the final 40 seconds, but Auckland were unable to get their shots to connect and left Chase to clinch the game.

Olson came away with 26 points; Smith and Chase both had 13.

Kings coach Tracy Carpenter said it was a clutch performance from his team.

"It was a must-win game for us," he said. "We are still in the hunt for the fourth playoff spot."

Carpenter was pleased with the effort from former Tall Black Brad Riley, who scored 12 points.

"He's not 100 per cent yet after his wrist injury, but he did show some of his old form tonight," Carpenter said.

The assistant coach of Auckland, Adrian Boyd, said: "Kenny does it all. They need to help him out and hustle."

The weekend upset came in Nelson, where the Manawatu Jets delivered the Nelson Giants their second defeat this season, 106-98.

The Jets were down 54-44 at the break, but top-scoring Kent Mori and Stacey Lambert helped then to win the third quarter 39-13.

Nelson were without centre Ed Book, out with a calf injury.

Mori scored 29 points and Phill Jones had 26 for the Giants.

The Waikato Titans showed they will be hard to beat in the final, easily disposing of Hawkes Bay 112-86, after leading 59-36 at halftime.

The Wellington Saints, after being beaten by the Canterbury Rams 78-76 on Friday, bounced back to head Otago 88-78 in Dunedin.

For Wellington, Mark Dickel scored 19 and former NBA forward Kevin Brooks 21.