KEY POINTS:
Waikato showed good timing to rediscover their winning form in the National Basketball League against Auckland last night.
Behind a combined 56 points from their American back court of Brian Wethers and Jason Crowe, Waikato rebounded from three successive losses to book a home semifinal with a 94-79 win in Auckland.
Wethers scored a game-high 30 points and added eight rebounds and four steals, while Crowe had 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
The turning point came when Auckland forward and leading scorer Casey Frank fouled out with three minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the third period, with Waikato leading by three points.
Not realising Frank had been whistled for a technical foul along with his third personal foul, giving him four fouls, earlier in the third period, coach Kenny Stone sent him back into the game and immediately picked up his fifth and disqualifying foul seconds later.
Auckland were able to keep Waikato within three points until early in the final quarter, when the lead quickly blew out to double figures as Waikato fast-breaked their way to an easy win in the closing minutes.
With two late three-pointers Auckland point guard Tyrone Davey finished with 16 points, the same as Dylan Perfect-Tait, who had 13 of his 16 points in the first half, while Dillon Boucher added 10 points and nine boards.
- NZPA
