Manawatu guard Knight on fire

Manawatu¯ Jets guard Daishon Knight had himself a big weekend in the National Basketball League, helping his team claim a mighty scalp.

With 45 points and an assist on the game-winning three-pointer against the Southland Sharks yesterday, the American import led the last-placed Jets to their third win of the season.

Knight’s 45-point effort in the 94-91 win at Ballroom Arena in Manawatu followed a 47-point display on Friday as the Jets lost to the Canterbury Rams in Christchurch.

The Sharks’ loss will have crushed their dreams of catching the Wellington Saints and finishing top but they remain well-ensconced inside the top four, who are headed for a showdown in the capital on the first weekend of August.

Nelson Giants moved past the Sharks into second place with their 12th win of the season, 97-82 over SuperCity Rangers at Waitakere yesterday.

Damon Heuir was deadly from long range, hitting six of his 10 three-point attempts for a 30-point haul, while captain Kyle Adnam contributed 24 points and Mika Vukona had 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Giants. Marcel Jones’ 23 points led the way for the hosts.

In the opening match of the round on Thursday, the Hawke’s Bay Hawks gave their top four hopes a massive boost as they accounted for the Rams, their rivals for the fourth and final spot in the playoffs.

On the back of a 22-point outing from Dion Prewster, they got up 84-78 at Pettigrew Green Arena in Napier. Winston Shepard III had a rare triple-double – 10 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds, for the Cantabrians, whose scoring was led by Julian Williams-Washburn and his 28 points.

The Rams kept touch with the Hawks by bouncing back with a win at their Cowles Stadium home on Friday night but they needed double overtime to down the plucky Jets.