Christchurch Cougars keep their playoffs alive with a huge 87-76 road win over the struggling Harbour Heat.

The Cougars franchise remain unbeaten over Harbour beating them for the fifth consecutive time. It was a team effort from the visitors with five players scoring double figures including Paora Winitana who returned for the first time since April 17th to top score with 16 off the bench.

Cougars also did a fine job defensively on the home side, in particular on the back court of Corey Webster and Kavossy Franklin who combined to shoot 9/36 from the field. Again big man Beny Anthony failing to get decent court time against the Cougars fouling out in 12 minutes.

Veteran Dillon Boucher did not play due to an ankle injury against the Nuggets, also having twin daughters earlier in the week.

The visitors set the tone in the first quarter holding the Heat to 12 points, Dan Peck and Trent Wurtz both scoring eight each and making both their three point attempts to give them a twelve point lead.

In the second the Cougars led by as many as 19 thanks to Winitana who scored 12 in the period to give the Cougars a 15 point lead heading into the break.

After the break the visitors extended the lead to 23, but an 8-0 run by the Heat cut the deficit back to 15 going into the final quarter.

Heat put a lot of defensive pressure on the Cougars, eventually cutting the lead to five when Reece Cassidy scored five quick points.

With under two minutes remaining an Anthony free throw put the Cougars lead to only four, but that would be the closest they would get missing their remaining seven shots.

Cougars only made one field goal in the fourth, but after only shooting five three throws in the first three quarters they shot a staggering 24 three throws making 17.

The Heat struggled from beyond the arc shooting a horrible 3/20 and also 38% from the field. Rick Rickert the only bright spot for the Heat scoring a game high 18.

After starting the season 7-0 the Heat have struggled of late losing seven of their last nine. Their remaining games are against the Fico Finance Nelson Giants and the Taranaki Mountain Airs which could possibly put them at 9 wins and 9 losses seriously jeopardising their chances of making the playoffs.

Cougars are now likely to finish the season at 9 wins and 9 losses, also having the tie break advantage over the Heat which may prove pivotal.

North Shore Events Centre, North Shore

Harbour Heat 76 (Rick Rickert 18, Corey Webster 16, Kavossy Franklin 11) Christchurch Cougars 87 (Paora Winitana 16, Trent Wurtz 16, Tim Beherendorff 12, Jeremy Kench 10)

Final

Referees - Dallas Pickering, Kelly McLeod, Cheryll Crabbe
1Q: 14-26
HT: 34-49 (20-23)
3Q: 53-68 (19-19)
FT: 76-87 (13-19)
Heat v Cougars Boxscore (24 KB html)