HEAT SURVIVE DOUBLE OVERTIME TO DOWN THE JETS
Harbour Heat kept their unbeaten start to the Bartercard National Basketball League season alive, but only just in a double overtime thriller in Palmerston North against the winless Jets.
The Heat finally prevailed 123 – 120 after the Jets promised the upset of the season in front of their home fans, only to fall short at the final hurdle and allow the Heat to further consolidate first position on the Bartercard NBL ladder with a Harbour record 7th win on the trot, the last two on the road on consecutive nights.
Head Coach Judd Flavell admits his side might have been suffering something of a figurative hangover from the big win over the Hawks the night before but is nonetheless pleased with the fight shown in his side as another game went down to the wire.
The Heat almost blew their perfect start to the season with a sloppy third quarter when the home side came back from 7 down at the halftime break to lead by 1 going into the final quarter.
New signing Daryl Hudson made an immediate impact for his new Jets team after leaving the Saints during the week with a game high 44 points but it was the consistency of the Heat that ultimately made the difference with Corey Webster (34) receiving good support from Kavossy Franklin (21) and BJ Anthony (19) in scoring.
The draw is no kinder to the Heat next week with another road double header, this time against the Waikato Pistons on Thursday and a trip to Taranaki on the Saturday night.
For now though, the Heat return home to the North Shore for a week of reflection on their first away games of the season, one an impressive dismantling of the Bay Hawks, the other a more circumspect victory over a gutsy Jets outfit that showed tonight their first win is not far away.
McDonalds Manawatu Jets 120
(Darryl Hudson 44, Calum MacLeod 18, Richard Jeter 16, Chris Reay 16)
Harbour Heat 123
(Corey Webster 34, Kavossy Franklin 21, BJ Anthony 19)
Final OT (2)
Referees - Andy Thackray, Sean Cronin, Yalla Edwards
1Q: 25-26
HT: 48-55 (23-29)
3Q: 69-68 (21-13)
4Q: 94-94 (25-26)
OT (1): 108-108 (14-14)
OT (2): 120-123 (12-15)
For full box score, please visit www.basketball.org.nz
For further information contact:
Judd Flavell
Harbour Heat Head Coach
021 669 199
(please note this is Dillon Boucher’s mobile, use this contact for the team in the next 24 hours)
Next home game
Harbour Heat v Waikato Pistons
May 8th
7pm tip off
North Shore Events Centre
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