Sharks end Saints’ long winning streak

THE Southland Sharks have ended the Wellington Saints’ National Basketball League winning streak at 24.

The Sharks toppled Wellington last night 113108, just 24 hours after losing their seasonopener against Hawke’s Bay in Napier.

It was Wellington’s first outing in the 2018 season and its first loss in the NBL since May 22, 2016.

Wellington went through its 20 games in 2017 unbeaten and is searching for its third title in a row this year.

The Kevin Braswellcoach Saints are at sort odds for that third title but Southland’s away victory in week one of the competition has suggested it will not be all oneway traffic.

Wellington led 3127 after the first quarter before Southland took over in the second quarter in a high scoring fixture.

The Sharks led 5755 at the halftime break and 8381 at the end of the third quarter, before running out 113108 victors.

After a disappointing loss for Southland against Hawke’s Bay in their competition opener, it was Australian Jarrad Weeks who led the much better showing against Wellington.

The new Breakers signing scored 29 points, and in the process showed he is likely to be a handful in the New Zealand league this season.

Fellow import Orlando Coleman chipped in with 19 points while, as usual, Alex Pledger led the rebounding stats with eight.

Seven of the Sharks players reached double figures, showing the side is not reliant on just one or two scoring options.

Former Shark Shea Ili stood out for Wellington with a 32point haul, while Jordan Ngatai contributed 26.

Southland’s next outing will be against Canterbury on Friday night, before it travels to play Nelson in Nelson the next day.