The Exodus Wellington Saints have won the franchise’s seventh National Basketball League title and repeated as champions.

 Lindsay Tait had 28 points and Corey Webster 22 points as the Saints celebrated back-to-back championships in front of their home fans at TSB Bank Arena with a 106-97 win over the Bay Hawks in the NBL final.

The Saints had too much firepower for a Hawks side playing without their leading scorer Paora Winitana, leading comfortably after a 12-0 run in the second period.

The Hawks were only able to get within seven points once in the third quarter, but as championship teams do they respond which they did extending their lead to fifteen heading into the final quarter.

Wellington’s Tall Blacks point guard Lindsay Tait putting on a show in the third quarter, as he reached 20 points for the game and continued to move the Saints into a winning position.

Hawks managed to put up thirty three points in the final period, but the closest they would to to within was eight point with under ten seconds left.

Saints got off to a hot start in the opening period leading 24-14, before a 10-0 run by the Hawks capped off by a three-pointer at the buzzer from guard Aidan Daly saw his side level the Wellington Saints after the first period.

Hawks did take a brief one point lead to start the second period, but again the Saints would go on an offensive barrage extending their lead to as many as fifteen.

Their ability to get baskets around the basket was a big difference in the first half, seeing them shoot 61 percent from the field, compared to 43 percent for the Hawks. Wellington were also on the right side of a 22-12 rebounding count.

Leon Henry had an efficient nineteen point, converting four from five three pointers.

Hawks Galen Young led the Hawks with twenty, while off the bench Daly hit a few improbable threes for his sixteen.

Josh Pace was his usual self with a handy seventeen, but in the end the inability to slow down the Saints offense was their issue.

Tait was named Finals MVP which is the second straight time he has won this award.

Sunday, July 17

Exodus Saints 106 (Lindsay Tait 28, Corey Webster 22, Leon Henry 19) HBS Bank Hawks 97 (Galen Young 20, Josh Pace 17, Aidan Daly 16), Final

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Referees – Tim Brown, Dallas Pickering, Raewyn Willocks
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Saints v Hawks Box Score