Basketball: Otago extinguished as the lights go out

BY MURRAY McKINNON

Youngsters playing outside the Unitec Stadium in Mt Albert literally pulled the plug on an Otago comeback against Auckland in the National Basketball League last night.

Otago were fighting back in the third quarter when the lights went out and officials had to wait 10 minutes for the system to warm up again.

When play resumed the fire had gone out of the Otago effort and Auckland held on to win 73-66.

In a scrappy game, defending champions Auckland led through the first quarter 22-14 and were ahead 43-30 at the break.

As expected, Ben Pepper dominated the scoring in the first half and was outstanding from the free-throw line, taking nine points from nine attempts.

Forward Murray Clarke led the Otago fightback to within striking distance. But Auckland, with guard Paul Henare directing play and taking six points in the final two minutes, held on.

Auckland 73 (Ben Pepper 23, Mason LePou 16, Paul Henare 16) Otago 66 (Murray Clarke 23, Paul Saker-Norris 10)