Stags edge Hawkes to stay in touch
The logjam in the middle of the club basketball table continued as Mumba Stags edged the Whanganui Hawkes in the latest round.
Mumba won 68-63 at the Arena on Wednesday night, to keep the pace in behind the competition leaders.
A few teams hadn’t paid their fees last week and so there was a shortened round, but everyone had paid up this week and were all allowed to play.
In the other games, competition leaders Palmerston North Boys’ High School thrashed That’s Us 106-53.
That’s Us are usually one of the top teams, but had a couple of players away and were punished.
Manukura put some breathing space between them and the bottom two sides by beating Mumba Bucks 95-54.
Slow Break were meant to play the Ohakea Pirates, but an administration mix up meant one team was unavailable and there was no game. Unity had the bye. There was only one women’s game this week because players are away at the national under-23 championships and Palmerston North Girls’ High School beat Linton 69-49.
The Manawatu under-23 women’s basketball team were likely to play Porirua for fifth and sixth place at the national championships at Dunedin on Saturday.
Having lost their opening three games of the tournament, Manawatu beat Porirua 65-54 late on Thursday, then lost 69-94 to Tauranga on Friday morning.
It is the first time in a few years Manawatu has entered an under23 team and it is with a view to eventually getting a senior team back in the Women’s Basketball Championship if they can keep the players together.
The Palmerston North Storm pulled out of the national league in 2013 due to a lack of players.