Harbour Heat continued their poor recent run and lost for the first time at home in going down 78-71 against a fired up Waikato Pistons side in the Bartercard National Basketball League tonight.

The loss is the fourth in five games for the Heat and leaves their record at 8 and 4 and in danger of being swallowed up by the play off chasers as the season nears its final weeks heading into the play offs.

The game was won and lost in the second quarter when the Pistons turned an 8 point deficit into a 14 point lead at the half time break. The Heat started strongly with BJ Anthony instrumental on offense with 8 quick points while for the visitors it seemed no one could find their range. But the roles were reversed in the second quarter as Tom Abercombie and Tony Ronaldson led the fight back.

If the situation was a poor one at halftime with the home side trailing by 14, it was verging on dire at three quarter time with the lead for the Pistons out to 18, that despite import Carl Krauser and Ronaldson sitting on 3 fouls at halftime.

Pistons coach Dean Vickerman got good output from his bench (16 points) but it was the all court game of Abercrombie that inspired his side. The swingman played 38:23 of the game and led all scorers with 21 points and an impressive 13 boards and 2 blocked shots. The Breakers player and Tall Black had good support from veteran Ronaldson (16 points and 7 boards) while Hayden Allen and Roy Cameron provided some vital three point shooting.

For the Heat it was a scrappy effort, improved only by a strong finish to the game that at one point had the home fans believing in a fighting comeback. But it was a consolation effort only as the Heat came up short for the first time at home this season.

Head Coach Judd Flavell will look to lift his sides confidence for the closing stretch in the regular season, knowing that home advantage could yet be crucial come play off time.

Harbour Heat 71

Corey Webster 15, BJ Anthony 15, Rick Rickert 12

Waikato Pistons 78

Tom Abercrombie 21, Tony Ronaldson 16, Hayden Allen 15

HT 34 – 48

Box score will be available at www.basketball.org.nz along with other results and league table