It is the same semi final teams as last year, as the HBS Bank Hawks defeated the Zerofees Southland Sharks 89-75 , while The Fico Finance Nelson Giants have defeated the McDonalds Manawatu Jets 89-76

 

Paora Winitana led the way with game high twenty five points as the Hawks, who trailed by as many as eleven, stormed their way back in the third period winning it 35-19 to take a ten point buffer in the final quarter.

Southland did not give in though as they began the period with two three pointers and another field goal to get within four points with plenty of time left in the game.

But a couple of Josh Pace field goals and five straight point by Hawks other import Galen Young quickly built back their double digit lead with under five minutes remaining.

Both Hawks imports would notch up double-doubles, Pace with nineteen points and eleven rebounds, while Young with ten and ten.

Sharks unable to close the gap to single digits for the remainder of the game, as they would miss twelve of their last thirteen field goal attempts.

Offense again the issue for Southland as they would have only three players notch up double figures, but all shooting below par percentages.

Sylvester Spicer the pick of the Sharks with twenty two points and fourteen rebounds. Sharks other import Mike Rose plagued with foul trouble limited to only twenty one minutes for seven points.

It was a promising start for the visitors as they came out the gates quickly to lead 13-2, by attacking the hoop and offensive glass.

Hawks allowing the Sharks to score twenty seven in the quarter, which would be the only quarter that they would allow them to score over twenty points.

Southland would lead for the whole first half, but were never able to get away from the Hawks, who managed to be down only by six at the half, considering they only scored a total of thirty four.

Hawks scored more points in the third quarter alone, thanks to Winitana who scored the first five points to open the period and twelve for the quarter.

Three point shooting poor on both sides, shooting a combined 13/52. Sharks Mark Dickel hitting four of the Sharks seven made three pointers, ending the game with fourteen points, six assists and four steals.

Sharks will be disappointed their season could not turn around as they lost their last three games and were plagued with injuries though their season in particular to their big import signings of Kaniel Dickens and Kevin Braswell.

Road wins also a problem that needs to be addressed finishing the season with only two wins from nine games.

The Hawks meanwhile are looking strong winning their last three games, and will not be afraid of going on the road where they have only lost once this year.

This is the second straight season the Hawks have made the semi finals, and will look to end the Waikato Pistons who have won eleven on the trot.

If there is a team that can compete with the Pistons it is the Hawks, who have prided themselves in defense, being arguably the best in the league this season.

After being held to six points in the twenty point loss to the Jets, Giants big man Darryl Dora stepped up big with a game high twenty six points as the Giants won every quarter to head to the semis for the seventh straight season.

Dora also grabbed a team high thirteen rebounds, while last weeks player of the week Rod Grizzard added twenty two.

In his thirty third playoff game, Phill Jones had twenty three points, which puts him under sixty away from 6,000 career points.

Former Giants Jeremiah Trueman led the Jets in scoring with twenty three, not missing a single shot in the first half.

Darryl Hudson and Nick Horvath the only other Jets to score over double digits with sixteen and ten respectively.

Giants will be pleased with their defensive effort in particular on live wire guard Chris Hagan who torched them for thirty two in their last meeting. Hagan was held to seven points from three of thirteen shooting.

It was a competitive opening quarter, with the Giants biggest lead only six, before the Jets levelled the scores at twenty three points apiece.

Giants taking a slim two point lead at the end of the first, thanks to a couple of Jones free throws.

Jets would get their first lead of the contest, through a Matt Te Huna field goal early in the second.

Giants quickly replying with seven unanswered points to regain their lead, only to lose it again in the latter stages of the period.

Down 38-36, the Giants went on a 10-0 run, Dora scoring seven straight, which was finally ended when Hudson hit a three at the end of the first half, Giants leading 46-41.

After the break Nelson would push their lead to twelve, Manawatu not throwing the towel in just yet going on a 10-2 spurt which cut the deficit to three with a little over two minutes left in the third.

Giants would regroup to end the third up eight points, which quickly went back up to double digits in the fourth from a Grizzard three.

The closest Manawatu would get to within was seven in the final quarter, but a playoff proven team like the Giants knows how to finish the game, which they did outscoring the visitors 14-8 to end the game.

It was going to be a tough ask for the visitors to win in Trafalgar Centre, considering the Giants have only lost once in the last five year’s they have held playoff games.

They will now move on to Wellington, to play the hosts the Exodus Saints who will be nervous considering the Giants have beaten them six in the last seven games and have won three straight at TSB Bank Arena which will be home for the TAB Final Four.

Make sure you get you tickets for the Final Four which begins this Friday. Click link below to purchase tickets from Ticketek

Final Four Tickets

Tuesday, July 12

Quarter Final One

At Pettigrew Green Arena, Taradale

HBS Bank Hawks 89 (Paora Winitana 25, Josh Pace 19, Arthur Trousdell 13) Zerofees Southland Sharks 75 (Sylvester Spicer 22, Brendon Polyblank 17, Mark Dickel 14), Final

Referees – Raewyn Willocks, Tim Brown, Miguel Gallardo
Live Webcast
Hawks v Sharks Box Score

Quarter Final Two

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Fico Finance Nelson Giants 89 (Darryl Dora 26, Phill Jones 23, Rod Grizzard 22) McDonalds Manawatu Jets 76 (Jeremiah Trueman 23, Darryl Hudson 16, Nick Horvath 13), Final

Referees – Melony Wealleans, Dallas Pickering, Yalla Edwards
Live Webcast
Giants v Jets Box Score