Basketball: Willie free to retire in peace

Auckland stars 69 Bay Hawks 84

This was big Willie Burton's last stand. At 44-years-young and lacing up his boots in anger for the last time, Burton was facing his 21st attempt at an NBL Championship.

It was not an opportunity his team-mates were going to let slip by. Paul Henare, Paora Winitana, Kareem Johnson and Field Williams were outstanding yesterday, blasting the Hawks into an early lead and never letting the Auckland Stars gain any purchase as they attempted one of their now-familiar comebacks.

You could see how much winning meant to the Hawks; every time there was a loose ball you could almost guarantee it was the team in white that would emerge with the prize. Considering they were playing a team led by Dillon Boucher, the king of the loose ball, it was some feat.

You could see how much winning for Willie meant too. He was on court for the final hooter and when it went, Paul Henare embraced him with a hug that seemed to last an eternity. His team-mates soon joined him in a mass public display of affection for the sport's gentle giant.

"I told him I loved him," an emotional Henare said. "In my rookie year in the league, he was playing at the Hawks back in '95. He took me under his wing, helped me grow as a player and showed me the ropes. To finally get one just means so much.

"It means everything [to send him out a winner]. We wanted to do it for him and we wanted to do it for all the people of the Hawke's Bay who have been involved."

The incredible thing was that it was never really in doubt. The Hawks led by six at the quarter, eight at the half and 13 at the final break, outscoring the Stars in every quarter. They killed them on the boards too, securing 48 rebounds to Auckland's 37.

Shooting guard Field Williams led all scorers with 32, while centre Kareem Johnson added 17. For the Stars, Casey Frank led the way with 15 but foul trouble negated his influence.

Burton started on the bench and played eight-and-a-half minutes but made sure he had an impact.

His first act was to land an elbow on Dillon Boucher's chops, then quickly go on to nab two steals and drop a free throw.

"I'm happy," he said. "I don't think it's hit just yet what we've achieved. What I like about it is, this is my third final and every final I've been in I've faced Auckland so I figured it's third time lucky.

"Good things come to those who wait and I've waited my time."

His time has taken him through such basketball outposts as New Plymouth, Palmerston North and now Napier. He has, he said, loved every step of it but isn't reneging on the retirement issue. "This is it. I'm gone."

Burton said the memory of last year, where they lost to the Stars by a point in their own gym, played a large part in the motivation.

But the pain of that loss also meant coach Shawn Dennis refused to relax in the knowledge that victory was secured, until there was just three minutes to go.

"When we got to the last three minutes I knew there was no way we were going to get caught," he said.

So did Burton.

You couldn't have wiped the smile off his face if you'd tried.