The HBS Bank Hawks Lose Second on the Road
The Wellington Saints handed the previous National Basketball League leading Bay Hawks their second-straight loss with a 88-73 win tonight.
Casey Frank scored a game-high 23 points and added eight rebounds as the home town Saints got a much needed win, putting them back in the thick of the playoffs hunt.
With two weeks remaining in the season, the Saints sit at 6-6, just outside the top-four, with four teams essentially chasing two berths.
The Auckland Pirates took over the top spot in the NBL standings with a 101-81 win over the Otago Nuggets in Dunedin tonight, while the Manawatu Jets bolstered their Final Four hopes with a 83-71 home win over the Harbour Heat.
A Frank three with 5mins remaining, which put the Saints 15 points, signaled the end, although the Hawks did close within nine points late.
Point guard Jason Crowe also had 22 points as all five Saints starters scored in double digits.
Everard Bartlett led the Hawks with 15 points and seven boards, while Paora Winitana added 14 points and Morgan Natanahira 13 points and seven rebounds.
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