Basketball: Rams - all show, but no throw

The Canterbury Rams proved they still could not match their on-court displays with the off-court promotion as they lost 62-73 to Auckland in the national league in Christchurch yesterday.

Another healthy crowd went home disappointed after the Rams lost a winnable encounter at the WestpacTrust Centre.

A lack of offensive fluency and the inability to consistently net free throws cost the side dearly.

Auckland coach Tab Baldwin, having to stitch together the threads of a changed line-up, had his predominantly youthful squad combining better after their 59-62 loss to Nelson the previous night.

"They have a history of winning and we haven't," lamented Canterbury coach Matt Ruscoe about the Auckland side who Baldwin has guided to five titles in six seasons.

"We are a better team than this, yet can't seem to put it all together consistently enough on the floor."

Baldwin was delighted to come away with one win from the demanding South Island double-header.

He praised American seven-footer Ben Pepper, Tall Blacks guard Paul Henare and flu-ridden Daryl Cartwright, each of whom played nearly the entire 40-minute match.

Henare's ball control and distribution was a key element in Auckland generally having the better of Canterbury's pressure tactics.

He made only two of 13 shots, but nailed eight of 10 free throws.

Pepper shaded Canterbury import John Whorton in the battle of the tall timber around the boards.

Big Ben scored a game-high 26 points and took 12 rebounds. Horton also took 12 rebounds, but scored only 16 points.

The Rams had Auckland back-pedalling in the third quarter when a half-court press forced the visitors into a succession of turnovers and trimmed the deficit to 44-47.

Auckland re-grouped and led 68-58 with just over a minute remaining.

Canterbury had a sniff trailing 62-69 and going to the free throw line with a minute left, but were unable to convert free throws.

In other results at the weekend, Wellington beat North Harbour 78-70 and Hawkes Bay thrashed bottom side Otago 93-76.

- NZPA