Franchise best for Hawks
The IMS Payroll Hawks have ended the regular season with 98-87 win over the OceanaGold Nuggets to win their second ever regular season and finish with a franchise best 83.3% winning percentage.
Finishing top is also a good omen for the Hawks coach Tab Baldwin, who went on to win the championship four times out of five when the Auckland Stars won the regular season.
The Hawks regular season record of 15 wins and three losses beats the previous best of 13-3 in 2012, ironically coached by Paul Henare, who will be in charge of the Zerofees Sharks who will face them in the first semi-final.
Again, it was a collective performance from the Hawks, who had six players score over double-digits as the home side won the first three quarters to seal the win.
It was a tough way to end the season for the Nuggets, who a couple of weeks ago looked like they could snatch a playoff spot. But injuries to key players hurt them as they have lost their last for games.
Brandon Bowdry top scored for the visitors with 23, Sam King had 21, and Micah Lepaio, who has had a very solid season, added 17.
In Christchurch, the Canterbury Rams have ended their season on a high note with a 90-87 win over the Sharks.
After leading by double-digits in the fourth quarter, the Rams defensively struggled in the fourth period as the Sharks scored 32 points and tied the ball game at 85 all from a Dan Peck three with under a minute to go.
But Canterbury player Ethan Rusbatch was again clutch down the stretch, scoring on the next possession to put them up two.
Southland would miss on the following possession and would have to foul the Rams who would make enough free throws to secure their sixth win of the season, finishing ninth.
Marcel Jones scored a game high 22 points, Richie Edwards had 20, and Rusbatch collected a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Peck scored 18 in his first start for Southland, in place of Kevin Braswell who sat out tonight’s contest. Luke Martin added 16 and captain James Paringatai chipped in with 12.
The Sharks won’t be phased that they have dropped two straight, as they were in a similar predicament last year when they lost to the Giants and Saints, before going on to beat them both in the playoffs to win their first ever title.
Tomorrow the regular season concludes with the Advice First Pistons playing the Pacific Jewellers Saints in Hamilton and the James Blond Supercity Rangers host the Breakers Manawatu Jets in Auckland.
Saturday, May 27
IMS Payroll Hawks 98 (Kareem Johnson 19, Paora Winitana 17, Marco Alexander 13, Dustin Scott 13) OceanaGold Nuggets 87 (Brandon Bowdry 23, Sam King 21, Micah Lepaio 17), Final
Canterbury Rams 90 (Marcel Jones 22, Richie Edwards 20, Ethan Rusbatch 19) Zerofees Sharks 87 (Dan Peck 18, Luke Martin 16, James Paringatai 12), Final
Friday, June 27
At TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Pacific Jewellers Saints 98 (Brandon Bowman 19, Bryan Davis 18, Benny Anthony Jr 12) The Good Home Mountainairs 79 (Suleiman Braimoh 40, Aaron Bailey-Nowell 15, Kaye McKee 11), Final
Fico Finance Giants 101 (Jamal Boykin 29, Josh Pace 23, Phill Jones 21) Zerofees Sharks 89 (Brian Conklin 23, Tai Wesley 16, Kevin Braswell 15), Final
Breakers Manawatu Jets 106 (Paul Jones 23, Brandon Jenkins 21, Alonzo Burton 19) OceanaGold Nuggets 97 (Warren Carter 25, Brandon Bowdry 23, Tony Tolovae 22), Final
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