The TARANAKI MOUNTAIN AIRS keep their slim play off hopes alive at the expense of theAUCKLAND PIRATES, thanks to a hugeJACK LEASURE three, final score 96-92.The Airs win also means that the ZEROFEES SOUTHLAND SHARKS and the FICO FINANCE NELSON GIANTS have clinched playoff spots

 

Leasure had a game high thirty one points, which included a three with twenty six seconds left putting the visitors up 94-92.

MARCUS CAMPBELL was again too much inside for the Pirates inside, with another double-double of twenty one points and twelve rebounds.

Campbell also hit two big free throws with five seconds left, to make the game a two possession ball game, which the Pirates could not come back from.

Pirates leader DILLON BOUCHER played hard as always, with sixteen points, eight rebounds and six assists. The New Zealand Breaker causing the Airs to foul him ten times, going to the line to make 10/14.

KEVIN SMITH worked hard for his nineteen, with a couple of nice dunks, but it was not enough as the Pirates suffered their tenth loss.

The visitors led by as many as six in the early stages of the fourth period, before a Pirates 7-0 spurt gave the home team a 78-77 lead.

Airs took the lead back, pushing it back up to four, before a EVERARD BARTLETT three and then a unsportsman like foul on Leasure, gave Boucher two free throws which he converted, putting the Pirates back up by one.

Auckland had a chance to extend their lead, but a Boucher travel, followed by a Leasure make, would put Taranaki up.

Pirates again led by one, with a minute and a half remaining, until LINK ABRAMS (12 points) was fouled, missing the first, but banking in his second free throw attempt to tie the scores.

An BILAL ABDULLAH (15 points) missed lay in followed by a Abrams driving hook put the Airs up 91-89.

Abdullah made up for his miss hitting a three on the next possession to put the home side up 92-91 with 46 seconds left in the ball game.

But the Leasure three and Campbell free throw makes would eliminate the Pirates from this year’s playoff.

Taranaki dominated the boards, out rebounding the Pirates 50-30, twenty two of those from the offensive glass.

AARON BAILEY-NOWELL another Air player to get a double-double of fourteen points and ten rebounds.

The Airs got up early 16-6, until the Pirates bench got them back in the ball game. HOUSTON O’RILEY scoring five of the Pirates eleven unanswered points to put them within one.

Auckland scored the first four points of the second period, to take their first lead since their opening basket.

But fourteen offensive boards by the Airs in the first half, was the main reason why they led 46-42 at the break.

After the break the Airs got up quickly leading by ten, thanks to a Leasure three in transition. Pirates again clawing the deficit back to four.

An empathatic dunk by Campbell pushed the Airs lead back up to eight, but on the next possession Boucher lured Campbell to commit his fourth foul with three minutes left in the third.

Campbell sat for the rest of the third, but Taranaki managed to survive without the big man. An Abrams lay up on the buzzer gave the Airs a 70-66 lead at the end of the third.

Airs coach DAVE BUBLITZ took a huge punt on Campbell, starting him in the fourth period, but it payed off as Campbell survived the whole period.

Taranaki are now the only team left out of the top six, that can still make the playoffs, but will have to travel to Wellington on Friday to play the EXODUS SAINTS, in another do or die game.

If they do beat the Saints, then they will host the MCDONALDS MANAWATU JETS on Sunday, who they will have to beat by more than eleven, to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Wednesday, June 29

At ASB Stadium, Auckland

AUCKLAND PIRATES 92 (Kevin Smith 19, Dillon Boucher 16, Bilal Abdullah 15) TARANAKI MOUNTAIN AIRS 96 (Jack Leasure 31, Marcus Campbell 21, Aaron Bailey-Nowell 14), Final

LIVE SKY SPORT THREE
Referees – Dallas Pickering, Gavin Whiu, Miguel Gallardo