Basketball: NZ NBL wins for Sharks, Rangers and Saints

Rangers' Eric Devendorf in a NBL Basketball Match. Photo / Photosport

The Southland Sharks, Super City Rangers and the Wellington Saints have all notched up wins in the NZ NBL.

Corey Webster made his debut for the Rangers with 29 points off the bench and league leading scorer Eric Devendorf had 24 in the 99-88 win over the Indigo Hawks.

It is ninth straight loss for the Hawks, but to their credit they fought hard against the Rangers, winning the opening quarter by three and trailing by only six with under a minute to go in the third.

But the offensive fire power of the Rangers proved too much for the Hawks in the fourth quarter, extending their lead to as many as 19, sealing their fifth win and now moving into the top four at the expense of the Rams.

Kareem Johnson grabbed a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, and both Arthur Trousdell and Luke Aston each added 12 for the Hawks who will host Taranaki on Sunday and then the Rangers again the next day.

In New Plymouth, the SIT Zerofees Sharks have edged the Augusta Airs 86-82. Taranaki held an 82-81 lead with under two minutes ago, but a field goal by centre Alex Pledger put the Sharks back up one and they were able to get key defensive stops down the stretch to hold onto the win.

Pledger ended the game with 23 points and 14 rebounds, Everard Bartlett had 17 and Derone Raukawa scored 13 for Southland who have now won three in a row and move to the top of the table with seven wins and four losses.

It was a tough week for the Airs after the suspension of point guard Houston O'Riley, but they showed fight after they came back from a 16 point second quarter deficit to take a lead in the third and extend it to five with under six minutes to play.

Jordan Ngatai led the Airs with 25 points and Marcus Johnson had 21 for Taranaki who drop to 4-4.

In Wellington, the Saints have defeated the Mike Pero Nelson Giants 101-75 to get their sixth win of the season. Both Shea Ili and Tai Wesley scored 20, BJ Anthony had 18 and small forward Torrey Craig had 19 points, 15 rebounds and six assists while restricting the second leading scorer in the league, Ray Cowells, to nine points.

Ben Strong was the pick of the Giants with 18 points and seven rebounds, Finn Delany was the only other notable scorer with 15. It is the third straight loss for the Giants (6-5), who are now in must win mode to remain in the top four when they host the Canterbury on Anzac Monday.