Saints lose none of old swagger
Normal service has resumed, it seems, as the Wellington Saints returned to the NBL in style on opening night in Dunedin.
Having been one of three teams to opt out of last year’s Covid-19 induced Showdown competition, the perennial heavyweights were back to business in fine fashion on Saturday, downing the Otago Nuggets 95-73 at the Edgar Centre.
Having claimed four titles, and been runners-up twice, in the six seasons before 2020 – including going a perfect 20-0 in 2019 – the Saints, even with a largely newlook squad, were quick to stamp their mark and put the Nuggets feel-good story from 2020 well in the past.
Led by 31 points from captain Dion Prewster (11 of 19 shooting, along with five rebounds and a game-high seven assists), who was back in Saints colours for the first time in five years, the visitors would also be buoyed by the debut of American import Kerwin Roach (19 points).
For the Nuggets, skipper Sam Timmins was easily their best, back with Otago for the first time since debuting as a 15-year-old in 2013, and fetching 18 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while American import Isaiah Moss collected 20 points in a losing cause.
Timmins was immense earlydoors, in what was a free-scoring first quarter (33 per cent of the game’s points), as both teams traded three-pointers to open the contest, and the hosts’ captain followed up an early dunk with two treys from his two efforts beyond the arc.
But the Saints were enjoying dealing in triples as well, nailing no fewer than five in the opening quarter, from five different players – one of those being (Isaiah Moss 20, Sam Timmins 18, Joshua Aitcheson 14) (Dion Prewster 31, Kerwin Roach 19).
57-38
80-54. 31-24 41-year-old veteran Troy Mclean, who made an immediate impact off the bench by sinking from deep with his first touch to help the visitors open up a six-point gap late in the opening stanza.
Taking a 31-24 lead to quartertime, the Saints extended their margin to double digits early in the second period, as Kenneth Tuffin also got in on the threepoint fun, Tohi Smith-milner and Prewster laid up in quick succession, then Taane Samuel drained from deep, and all of a sudden it was 43-28.
Timmins did his best to inspire the Nuggets, and the home crowd, with a two-hand throwdown and behind-the-back slick flick, though Kael Robinson, new on the court, and new on the scene, brought a bit of swagger from the Saints too, getting on the board with a reverse layup to bring up the half century well before halftime.
A beautiful three from Mclean made it a 17-point lead with two minutes to play and the Nuggets called a desperation stoppage. Two Saints free throws was the only scoring to add before halftime, and the visitors went to the big break ahead 57-38, well in control.
The Saints’ other American import, Romaro Gill, all 2.18m of him, made his presence felt in the third quarter, putting on two big plays in quick succession, with a slam then a big bat down at the other end.
A Prewster three then sent the lead out to 21, and from 80-54 at three-quarter-time, the Saints thenmarched their way home.
The Mainland Tactix’ ANZ Premiership season has hit early turbulence.
Widely touted as competition favourites before the season, the Tactix remain winless after two rounds, losing to the Northern Stars 57-43 in Papakura yesterday.
It’s a different story for the Stars, who made it two wins from two to begin the competition and look every bit early title contenders.
After an 18-goal thumping by the Steel in week one, it was another worrying performance from the Tactix – regularly coughing up possession and battling to move the ball through court.
They were outscored 34-23 in the second half after trailing by three at halftime 23-20, committing 27 turnovers and having 15 less attempts at goal than the Stars.
The Stars’ victory was the perfect way to celebrate wing attack Gina Crampton’s 100th national league match.
Silver Ferns standout Crampton was an excellent off-season addition for the Stars, having spent the first nine years of her career with the Steel.
Crampton had amemorable outing, sending some fine ball into Stars’ captain and goal shoot Maia Wilson, who landed 40 from 45.
While the Stars are riding high at 2-0, the Tactix have plenty to stew over.
Life doesn’t get any easier for the red-and-blacks, who are again on the road in week three against the Mystics in Auckland next Monday.
The Tactix will be counting down until Silver Ferns shooter Te Paea Selby-rickit is able to return from an ankle injury, suffered at the premiership pre-season tournament.
Selby-rickit’s absence at goal attack has been felt by the Tactix, who have battled in their attack end – missing her calm presence and experience.
Holding a 23-20 halftime buffer, the Stars took control of the contest early in the second half.
A clinical opening to the third quarter, when they moved the ball through the court smoothly and punished the Tactix’s turnovers, allowed the Stars to push out to a nine-goal advantage.
The Stars made a 7-3 beginning to the second half, signalling alarm bells for the Tactix, who couldn’t stop the ball flying down towilson.
By the end of the third quarter, the Stars were in the driver’s seat, taking a deserved 39-31 advantage into the last 15minutes.
The Tactix had a scare early in the second quarter when goal shoot Ellie Bird landed heavily at the top of the shooting circle while tangling for possession with Mila ReueluBuchanan.
Bird was slow to get up and left the court, but returned several minutes later.
With Selby-rickit already missing, it would have been the last thing coach Marianne Delaney-hoshek wanted to see.
It was a rough day for the Tactix shooters with Jess Prosser also
Saints 95
Nuggets 73
Quarter scores: 1Q: 3Q:
HT: