In an unbelievable turn of events the Harbour Heat had to play tonights game without two of their three leading scorers Corey Webster and Kavossy Franklin for disciplinary reasons. Rick Rickert lead his side with a game high 30 points, while Beny Anthony had 17 and Reece Cassidy added 12 just coming up short of what would of been an unbelievable upset.

There was no surprise for the visitors who stepped up to the plate and that man was Josh Pace who had 28 points in which 13 of them was scored in the final period.

After trailing the whole second half and down as many as eleven the Heat mustered all they could tying the game 60 all at the 7:41 mark. From there on it would be a battle with the Hawks constantly having to hold off the Heat until the two minutes left when Rickert hit a three to give the homeside their first lead since halfway through the second quarter.

As per normal when it comes to tight games Ben Hill hit a huge three to put the lead back to three. Hill would not have one of his best shooting games shooting 2/10 from the field for five points, but he hit the shot that counted.

Anthony would be called for a travel in the next possession and then Pace made a field goal to put the lead up to five with 47 seconds left. Anthony would make amends on the next possesion with a score and with 15 seconds left the Heat would have a game tying opportunity in which Rickert would miss. Pace hit the final shot to nail the coffin for a Heat side that was up against too much adversity.

A special mention has to go out to the Heat’s efforts in the first quarter when they went on a 9-0 run to end the quarter up 24-15. Young Junior Tall Black guard Brad Anderson who was rarely played during the regular season stepped up big in Webster’s absence scoring ten points from 4/5 shooting.

After trailing by nine the Hawks came to life in the second quarter finishing the half on a 20-6 run, led by Pace who had 13 in the quarter. Experience of the Hawks showing forcing the Heat to turnover the ball five times and veteran Paul Henare scoring all of his six points in the second period.

The third quarter would be scrappy with both teams unable to score over 18 points in the quarter, Anthony keeping his side in the game with seven points and five rebounds in the period.

Hawks will be pleased to have only had to play one player over the thirty minute mark, while spreading decent minutes amoung eight players who played at least 15 minutes. Again their import Jon Rogers was plagued with foul trouble only playing 15 minutes for nine points.

They now will travel to Wellington where they play the Exodus Saints who went 1-1 with them during the regular season, Saints winning 103-91 at TSB Arena back in Round 11.

Wednesday, June 23

Quarter Final Two

At North Shore Events Centre, North Shore

Harbour Heat 77 (Rick Rickert 30, Beny Anthony 17, Reece Cassidy 12) 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 82 (Josh Pace 28, three players 9), Final

Referees - Dallas Pickering, Andy Thackray, Jamie Hickey
Heat v Hawks Boxscore (24 kb html)

(24 kb html)