Tasman in form

Tasman finally hit winning form with a 71-65 win over Northland’s Te Tai Tokerau on day two of the national under-19 boys basketball championships in Nelson.

Tasman lost every game to finish bottom at last year’s tournament and after heavy opening day losses this week to Auckland Counties 1 and Wellington, Tasman recovered from a 40-36 halftime deficit to eventually edge Te Tai Tokerau in their final pool game on Thursday at Saxton Stadium.

Tasman had led 22-17 after the first quarter in which Jordan Lindbom contributed 12 points, before a 17-12 second quarter surge gave Te Tai Tokerau their halftime lead.

Tasman consolidated in the second half with two free throws by Corbin McMillan sealing the win. Lindbom and Riley Bensemann each finished with 22 points and Sam Seelen with 13.

Tasman’s win placed them third in their pool and were due to contest the ninth to 12th place semifinals on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Tasman boys backed up an opening day win and loss with a massive 84-40 win over Taranaki on day two of the national under-15 tournament in Wellington. They couldn’t complete a second day sweep, losing 104-95 to Hawke’s Bay for a two-win, two-loss record in pool play.

The Tasman girls had also split Wednesday’s two pool matches and began Thursday with a heavy 87-28 loss to Waikato. The margin was closer in their second clash but they still lost 64-47 to Otago.