They say defense wins championships and the HBS Bank Hawks are now one game away from getting their second title after pulling off a 95-86 upset over the Waikato Pistons.

 Pistons were arguably the hottest of hot favourites coming into the game with an eleven winning streak, but the Hawks took no notice of the past, as they played to their style of play which is tough defense and offensive execution.

It was a well balanced performance for the Hawks with six players in double figures, Josh Pace and Paora Winitana each leading the Hawks with eighteen points.

Waikato playing catch up multiple times down by double digits in the second half. Trailing 83-71 with four minutes left the Pistons called a time out.

Waikato scored the next six points, but the Hawks regrouped with field goals from Jarrod Kenny and Galen Young pushing the gap to ten with a little over one minute remaining.

The Pistons having to foul on every possession, Hawks doing enough to go to the grand final for the fifth time in franchise history.

Hayden Allen was the leading scorer for the Pistons with twenty three, Thomas Abercrombie the next best with seventeen.

After committing eight turnovers in the first quarter, the Hawks would only turn it over a two times in the last three quarters combined.

Friday, July 15

At TSB Bank Arena Wellington

Semi Final: Game One

Waikato Pistons 86 (Hayden Allen 23, Thomas Abercrombie 17, Alex Pledger 15) HBS Bank Hawks 95 (Paora Winitana 18, Josh Pace 18, Galen Young 17) Final

Referees – Tim Brown, Melony Wealleans, Gavin Whiu
Live Webcast
Pistons v Hawks Box Score

The Exodus Saints have exorcised their demons finally ending their poor run at TSB Arena against the Fico Finance Nelson Giants 103-82

It was arguably the Saints best effort of the season playing on both ends of the court, with six players reaching double figures.

Lindsay Tait his mercurial self with fourteen points and thirteen assists, while his back court partner Corey Webster to lead all Saints scorers in his first playoff win with nineteen.

Rod Grizzard arguably the Giants best player with twenty five points, Darryl Dora with a double-double of eleven points and fourteen rebounds.

Wellington came out to a flyer winning the opening quarter 28-15, bench playing a crucial role with Erron Maxey and Troy McLean combining for 19 of the twenty eight scored.

Giants unable to get within single digits, closest being twelve at the end of the third when Giants scored the last five points to end the period.

But Wellington started the fourth on a 24-8 run which extended their lead to twenty eight, which would be too many for the Giants to come back from.

Giants Mika Vukona and Mike Fitchett limited in their minutes due to early foul trouble which did not help Nelson’s cause.

Vukona still put up a good stat line of fifteen points, eight rebounds and six assists, while veteran Phill Jones had to really work for his nineteen.

Today was exactly twenty seven year’s since the Saints won their first title in 1984, and now they are into the final for the third time in the last four year’s

Sunday should be a cracker when the Saints play the HBS Bank Hawks at 6pm live on Sky Sport Three.

Semi Final: Game Two

Exodus Saints 103 (Corey Webster 19, Erron Maxey 18, Kareem Johnson 17) Fico Finance Nelson Giants 82 (Rod Grizzard 25, Phill Jones 19, Mika Vukona 15) , Final

Referees – Dallas Pickering, Raewyn Willocks, Sean Cronin
Live Webcast
Saints v Giants Box Score