Webster announces arrival for the Bulls

It was back to business for veteran Corey Webster when he returned to the National Basketball League on Saturday night.

Webster, a 83-time Tall Black who hadn’t played in the New Zealand domestic league for five years, was in cracking form as he scored 31 points for the Franklin Bulls when they upset the Nelson Giants 77-69 at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson.

Webster, who had previously been playing in the Egyptian Basketball League, last played in the NBL for Wellington Saints in 2017.

The Giants remain in contention for the title, but coach Mike Fitchett would have hoped his team was able to continue its momentum in the final quarter after leading 57-56.

The Bulls beat the Canterbury Rams 88-67 in their second game of the round in Christchurch. Webster again starred by scoring a game-high 24 points.

The Taranaki Airs shocked the Auckland Tuatara by beating them 88-86 in New Plymouth.

Anthony Hilliard was immense for the Airs, scoring 34 points.

The Tuatara led 48-40 at halftime, but the Airs prevailed as they notched up their fourth win of the season.

One of the highlights for the Tuatara was the way teenager Dontae Russo-Nance remained composed, finishing with 19 points and four steals.

Wellington Saints defeated the Southland Sharks 96-86 for a second consecutive home win, with imports Mike Smith and Xavier Cooks contributing 30 and 24 points respectively.

The Sharks, who had lost 107-92 to the Hawke’s Bay Hawks two days earlier, were without the injured Mojave King and are now sitting near the basement of the competition table.

If they are to qualify for the playoffs, they need to start stitching together wins. That challenge begins against the Manawatū Jets this weekend.

The Jets, meanwhile, upset the high-flying Tuatara 92-91 in Palmerston North yesterday.

After trailing at the end of the first three quarters, the Jets stormed home in the final period. Zane Najdawi topscored for the Jets with 31 points.