Basketball: Waikato eye record streak

By MURRAY McKINNON

Making the finals of the national league is a more important challenge for the Waikato Titans than being the first team to go a whole season unbeaten.

Waikato went another step closer to achieving a record winning streak on Saturday, disposing of North Harbour 109-95, after solid opening and third quarters, at the North Shore Events Centre.

It was their 10th victory in as many matches.

Coach Jeff Green said he was delighted with the win.

"It was a great because I have never won in this gym.

"The guys played a poor defensive match in the first half, but knuckled down for the win."

The best unbeaten record is held by Auckland with 13 victories on the trot in 1997, when the competition went for 20 weeks instead of the present 14.

"Being unbeaten really means nothing if you choke at the end and can't secure a place in the semifinals," Green said.

Waikato were out to a 30-20 lead after the first quarter, nine of these points coming from forward David Hopoi, with a three-pointer and three field goals.

Harbour guard Dylan Chase rose to the occasion in the second quarter, with 18 points, to level the scores at one stage to 43-all.

The Titans were forced to the outer perimeter where successive three pointers came from Prem Krishna and Clifton Bush, giving them the lead 57-54 at the break.

Harbour, lacking in height, had to rely on Milos Pejovic in the third quarter for scoring under the post, while on defence, their star rebounder Brian Gomes was sitting on four fouls.

Nat Connell, Pero Cameron and Riki Strother showed the real grit of the Waikato team, hammering the Kings hard with a run of 13 unanswered points, to finish the third quarter ahead 84-70.

Both teams scored 25 points in the final quarter, with Green having the luxury of giving his entire bench an outing.

Bush finished with 28 points and Strother 19. Chase was the best for Harbour with 23. Brad Riley scored 21.

Harbour coach Tracy Carpenter said that usually 95 points in 40 minutes was enough to win.

Wellington, despite being beaten by Canterbury 74-102, remain in second behind Waikato with eight wins.

Nelson, helped by their new American forward, Darnell McCulloch, made Palmerston North's playoff chances more difficult, defeating them 87-82 to secure third spot with seven wins.

Auckland secured a much-needed victory over Hawkes Bay 75-72 to sit in fourth equal position with Canterbury with six successes.