Unbeaten Saints to face Sharks in final

The Southland Sharks remain as the last team standing between the Wellington Saints and National Basketball League history.

The Sharks have advanced to tonight’s final against the Saints after demolishing the Supercity Rangers 106- 67 in Tauranga last night.

Now, they face arguably their toughest test in franchise history, having to overcome the 19- 0 Wellington Saints.

They’ve tried and failed to topple the Saints three times already this season, falling 109- 94, 111- 93 and 88- 86.

That 88- 86 contest is where the Sharks’ hopes lie.

While the Saints were shorthanded and on a tough road back- toback, the Sharks were missing key centre Alex Pledger, and gave the Saints their biggest challenge of the season.

Sharks coach Judd Flavell knows his side will need to be at their best to topple the Saints.

“They can score and hurt you in a number of ways, we just have to make sure we’re locked in defensively.

“I expect them to get out and run, for us it will important to make sure we keep them in the halfcourt and just be solid with the basketball and make good decisions to get the shots that we want.”

Based on their evisceration of the embarrassing Rangers, as well as their relatively impressive regular season, the Sharks provide a chance of a close final.

The Sharks produced the goods when playing up- tempo, and also utilised their three- headed rebounding monster to good effect to dominate the glass when the contest slowed.

Pledger ( 24 points, 12 rebounds), Nick Kay ( 11 points, seven rebounds, eight assists) and James Hunter ( 11 points, 11 rebounds) were dominant as the Sharks won the rebounding battle 51- 39 to create an overwhelming advantage.

The Rangers were only in with a shout for half a quarter, managing to successfully run in transition as the game opened at frantic pace.

It was 18- 18 after five minutes, but a 13- 0 run quickly gave the Sharks some breathing room, which they soon compounded into an unassailable lead.

Reuben Te Rangi was the offensive standout for the Sharks with 19 points, as Southland shot 53 per cent from the field, and restricted the Rangers to 35 per cent with an excellent defensive display.

“I think we were as locked in as we ever have been,” said Flavell.

“We dictated the terms of how the game was played. Our guards did a great job [ defensively] and the bigs were there as rim protectors. I couldn’t ask for it to be better.”

The lead got as big as 46 before the Sharks gave their starters a rest for the mammoth challenge which awaits them in the finale.