Win, loss for Otago teams

A WIN and a loss opened Otago's 3x3 campaigns last night.

The Otago Nuggets claimed a 2112 win over the Manawatu Jets in the National Basketball League's 3x3 men's tournament in Invercargill.

However, the Otago Gold Rush came unstuck 215 against a classy Harbour Breeze team in the women's competition.

The Nuggets were among the most impressive teams on opening night.

They took the lead straight away as Sam Timmins asserted his dominance. The side played through him in the post and the big man both showed his ability to score down low and find shooters on the perimeter.

After holding a 95 lead, the Jets hit back as Timmins took a break. The Nuggets' scoring dried up and the Jets pulled back to 118.

But Timmins returned and Josh Aitcheson went on a minirun to pull away. He finished through contact and made a free throw, before hitting two consecutive twopointers to make it 1811 on the way to a comfortable win.

The Gold Rush struggled against a completely dominant

Breeze team.

After trailing 51 early, a Tara Clement twopointer followed by a Zoe Richards postup pulled the Gold Rush to within one.

But from there it was all Harbour. The Gold Rush was unable to get its offence going and was completely smothered by a Harbour team that cruised to victory.

The starstudded Southland Sharks side snuck by a young Canterbury Rams team 2117.

Alex Pledger was key inside early as the Sharks held a narrow lead, before a handful of shots from the Rams tied the score at 1616.

However, the Sharks regained momentum, shutting down the Rams shooters.

The sides play three games each today.

The Nuggets face the Taranaki Mountainairs, Hawke's Bay Hawks and Tasman Suns at 12.51pm, 6.47pm and 9.03pm respectively.

Following each, the Gold Rush play the Waikato Wizards, Capital Swish and Taranaki Thunder at 1.08pm, 7.04pm and 9.20pm.

The Sharks follow the Gold Rush against New Zealand Select, Auckland Huskies and Franklin Bulls at 1.25pm, 7.21pm and 9.37pm.