The game looked like a mismatch early on with the Heat leading by 17 inside the opening quarter but a run of 14 unanswered points by the Nuggets closed the game up again and put the Heat on notice.

It was to be a familiar pattern in front of an enthusiastic first game crowd at the NSEC as the Heat would establish a good advantage, only to allow the Nuggets back into the game.

The Heat were led on the night by Dillon Boucher who came up just 2 assists short of a triple double (12 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists) while point guard Corey Webster led all scorers with 34 points, including 6 of 10 from outside the arc. Rick Rickert was another to impress with his own double double of 18 points and 10 boards.

Heat Coach Judd Flavell was pleased with the start but is not getting carried away.

“It was a bit nerve wracking at times with the big leads we gave up on too many occasions for my liking. But there is plenty of improvement left in this side so that is encouraging and with the addition of Kavossy we certainly have an exciting roster.

“However when we were good we were good and will be a match up for any side in the league, we just need to find that consistency throughout games and continue to take good options.”

Best for the Nuggets was import Antoine Tisby with 32 points and a game high 19 rebounds. It was largely down to Tisby and Tyler Amaya (25 points) that the Nuggets kept coming back into the contest.

Harbour Heat 99

C Webster 34 points; Rick Rickert 18 points 10 rebounds; BJ Anthony 13 points, 5 rebounds; Dillon Boucher 12 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists

Otago Nuggets 82

A Tisby 32 points, 19 rebounds; T Amaya 25 points, 7 assists