The HBS Bank Hawks remain unbeaten and return to the top of the table defeating the Auckland Pirates 87-72 in Auckland. Josh Pace leading the way 18 points and 9 rebounds.

 

Down by as many as 22 in the third quarter the Pirates made a comeback getting within nine points, after young talent Brad Anderson scored eight straight points, including two three point plays.

Anderson led the Pirates with 18 points, most of which was scored in the second stanza, but the Pirates really struggled offensively shooting 2/13 from the outside.

Import Raheim Brown and Kevin Mickens held to five points apiece, Micken plagued with foul trouble for the duration of the contest.

The Hawks again started the game well, dominating the offensive boards, leading by as many as 14 in the first period. Pirates very sloppy with the ball turning it over four times in the first part of the period.

Experienced campaigner Dillon Boucher provided instant hustle off the bench to get the Pirates back in the contest down cutting the Hawks lead to nine.

But in the second the Hawks would put together their best offensive quarter scoring thirty one points, leading by as much as twenty one. Arthur Trousdell bringing up his 1000th point off a driving shot.

Trousdell would collect another double double of twelve points and ten rebounds.

Pace doing the bulk of his scoring in the first half with fourteen, Galen Young also having his best offensive game of the season scoring eight of his twelve in the half.

Young would be a beast inside with ten rebounds, also dishing out five assists.

After the break the visitors held a large lead for the first part of the third, but Pirates got back into the game through their defensive pressure. The home side could of cut the Hawks lead even more, but would miss crucial shots and commit sloppy turnovers.

Ben Hill making the Pirates pay with two long bombs in the end of the third maintaining the Hawks double digit lead.

Hawks began the fourth scoring the first four points, never letting the Pirates get to within single digits in the period. An Anderson breakaway dunk, looked like the Pirates could make another run at the Hawks cutting their lead to ten.

But they would resort to trying to get back in the game shooting three’s which they missed six of seven in the period.

Hawks will be happy to have five players in double digits, knocking the Exodus Saints off the top of the table with a points differential of plus four.

The Saints do have an opportunity to return to the top when they host the Fico Finance Nelson Giants tomorrow in Wellington, but it will not be easy for them as they have lost five straight to the Giants.

The Pirates meanwhile drop to two wins and four losses, but remain in fifth position for now.

Wednesday, May 18

At ASB Stadium, Auckland

Auckland Pirates 72 (Brad Anderson 18, Luke Martin 13, Everard Bartlett 13) HBS Bank Hawks 87 (Josh Pace 18, Paora Winitana 15, Galen Young 12), Final

Live on Sky Sport Three
Referees – Dallas Pickering, Cherryl Crabbe, Miguel Gallardo
Live Stats Click Here

2011 NBL Standings

 

Team	P	W	L	Win %	GB	Pts	H	A	PF	PA	L5	Strk	PD
HBS Bank Hawks	8	8	0	100	0	16	2-0	6-0	685	571	5-0	W8	114
Exodus Saints	9	8	1	89	0.5	16	4-1	4-0	892	788	4-1	L1	104
Waikato Pistons	7	4	3	57	3.5	8	2-2	2-1	598	545	3-2	W2	53
McDonalds Manawatu Jets	6	3	3	50	4	6	1-3	2-0	531	546	3-2	L1	-15
Auckland Pirates	6	2	4	33	5	4	1-2	1-2	492	522	1-4	L1	-30
Fico Finance Nelson Giants	6	2	4	33	5	4	1-2	1-2	510	541	2-3	W1	-31
Zerofees Southland Sharks	6	2	4	33	5	4	0-2	2-2	456	516	1-4	L1	-60
Taranaki Mountain Airs	6	1	5	17	6	2	1-3	0-2	497	558	1-4	L3	-61
OceanaGold Nuggets	6	0	6	0	7	0	0-3	0-3	482	556	0-5	L6	-74