Saints grab nailbiting win over Sharks
Advantage just.
The Southland Sharks and Wellington Saints have largely been tipped as the two leading contenders in the 2017 New Zealand National Basketball League and it is the Saints who have taken the early season honours.
They claimed a thrilling 88-86 round two win at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill last night.
The two teams squared off last year in one of the all-time great NBL fixtures when the Saints ousted the Sharks narrowly in the playoffs.
Fast forward to 2017 and it was again the Saints in the winners circle; although those in the Sharks camp wouldn’t have walked away all that dejected.
The Sharks started best through a red-hot Reuben Te Rangi who has found his groove through early in the season.
The Sharks went out to a 43-35 lead at one stage. Through Leon Henry and Corey Webster the Saints scoreboard kept ticking over and by halftime Southland led by just four at 46-42.
The Saints grabbed a 65-64 lead with two minutes to play in the third quarter as the lead bounced back and forth. By the end of the quarter, the scores were locked up at 69-69, setting up a thrilling final quarter.
The Saints took an eight-point lead early in the quarter but with 55 seconds to play the scores were yet again locked up at 86-86.
Henry put up a long shot for the Saints but hit the rim and the Sharks gathered the rebound.
Then Henry got a second crack soon after when the Sharks fouled and he was handed two free throws.
He missed both but the Sharks turned the ball over and a quick pass down court to Henry who made the basket this time.
The Sharks had 1.5sec to manufacture something but missed the rushed shot, meaning Wellington claimed the 88-86 win. Wellington Saints –