HBS Bank Hawks defeat Otago in an Average Game
The HBS Bank Hawks have made it 6-0 thanks to a strong second half to defeat the OceanaGold Nuggets 99-76.
With the scores level at 53-all in the third period, the Hawks turned it up in the last sixteen minutes to outscore the visitors 46-23.
Hawks’ forward Morgan Natanahira continued to be the most improved player in the league with 19 points (8/12 FG), which included nine in the third period, when the Bay started to pull away.
Veteran Paora Winitana was the high scorer for the Hawks with 20, 14 of which came in the second half.
Again the Nuggets were heavily reliant on their three leading scorers Antoine Tisby (28 points), Akeem Wright (19) and Mark Dickel (15) to remain competitive, but with the rest of the team managing only 14 points it was going to be difficult to beat the Hawks who had all 12 players on the score sheet.
Three point shooting has been an issue for the Nuggets, currently last in the league at 25%, and it was no different tonight as they only converted on one of fifteen attempts (7%).
The Hawks came out hot to start shooting 71% from the field to take a 28-21 lead at quarter time. The Nuggets were still lucky not to trail by more, despite Wright shooting 2/10 in the period.
In the second quarter, Nuggets Wright, Tisby and Dickel combined for 18 of their 22 points shooting 7/10 from the field to close within five at the break.
But as the game wore on, the high minutes on the Nuggets’ main players took its toll as their team shooting percentages dropped significantly.
Both teams will meet again this Friday down in Dunedin, as the Hawks will play the tough double header of the Nuggets (3-4) and then the Southland Sharks (2-6) the following night.
Monday, April 9
At Pettigrew Green Arena, Taradale
HBS Bank Hawks 99 (Paora Winitana 20, Morgan Natanahira 19, Everard Bartlett 15) OceanaGold Nuggets 76 (Antoine Tisby 28, Akeem Wright 19, Mark Dickel 15), Final
Referees – Sean Cronin, Apai Apai, Gareth Tehan
1Q 29-21
HT: 48-43 (19-22)
3Q: 75-63 (27-20)
FT: 99-76 (24-13)
Live Stats
Hawks v Nuggets Box Score
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