Loss leaves Tasman in playoff for 11th place

Tasman couldn’t sustain a flying start to eventually lose 76-68 to Auckland Counties 2 on day three of the national under-19 men’s basketball championships in Nelson.

Tasman had looked set to back up Thursday’s 71-65 win over Te Tai Tokerau when they surged to a 25-13 lead over Auckland Counties in their ninth to 12th place semifinal at Saxton Stadium yesterday. But the northerners ground their way back into the contest and by halftime were back on level terms at 38-38.

Auckland had edged Tasman by two (55-53) as the dogfight headed into the final quarter. But Tasman couldn’t release the Aucklanders’ grip to ultimately suffer their third loss from four games at the tournament.

Tasman’s Jordan Lindbom still led all scorers with 24 points, backed up by a 19-point contribution from Riley Bensemann. Tyrone Cooper and Sam Seelen each had 10 points.

It means that Tasman now meet Taranaki in the playoff for 11th and 12th today – already a better result than last season’s performance, also in Nelson, when they lost every game to finish dead last.

In Wellington, the Tasman girls will face Hawke’s Bay in the playoff for 11th and 12th after two narrow losses, going down 68-67 to Hibiscus Coast and 61-56 to Wellington, at the national under-15 championships.

And the Tasman boys meet Canterbury B, also in the playoff for 11th and 12th, after a decisive 99-72 win over Waikato B and a heavy 84-58 loss to Auckland Counties.