The Taranaki Airs are having their best season in years with finals basketball within touching distance.
Traditionally a cellar-dweller, the Airs have been vastly improved in 2022 in what has been one of the most even National Basketball League (NBL) seasons in record.
Taranaki showed again why they mean business, knocking over the top of the table Nelson Giants 85-75 on their home court on Saturday, then beating the defending champion Wellington Saints 111-105 on Sunday in the capital.
The Airs’ memorable win over Wellington could prove the death knell in the Saints’ top six finals hopes. Wellington, 12-time NBL champions, slump to 4-8 and will need to win almost all their remaining games to avoid missing the finals for the first time since 2007.
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Taranaki are firmly on track for the finals. Their successful road trip lifts them to third equal on the table and a 7-5 record.
Veteran American swingman Anthony Hilliard, the NBL’s leading scorer, was pivotal in the win over the Saints, starring with 41 points and seven rebounds. The well-travelled 36-year-old has been a sensational recruit for the Airs and must be in the MVP conversation.
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American Anthony Hilliard shone with 41 points and seven rebounds in Taranaki’s win over the Saints on Sunday.
Hilliard was well-supported in the Saints’ win by compatriots Javonte Douglas (21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) and Shaun Willett (20 points and eight rebounds). Kiwi forward Carlin Davison chipped in with 11 points in 20 minutes on court.
Taranaki have endured plenty of rough campaigns, finishing bottom last year with a 2-15 record. In 2015, they suffered the embarrassment of a winless 0-18 campaign, and won just 10 of 54 games between 2017-19.
The NBL’s competitive balance system has helped the Airs and evened up the league, but they are playing some wonderful basketball at both ends of the court.
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Airs defenders Shaun Willett (left) and Javonte Douglas look to shut down Saints’ forward Xavier Cooks on Sunday.
After thumping the Manawatū Jets 131-100 last weekend, the Airs carried that confidence forward, upsetting the table-topping Giants on Saturday.
They collected the Brian Rampton Memorial Trophy, which is up for grabs when Taranaki and Nelson meet in NBL games to honour the late father of former Tall Blacks Tony and Damon Rampton.
Taranaki restricted the Giants to 75 points on 35% shooting from the field (29/82), while also beating them up on the boards (54 rebounds to 41).
The Auckland Tuatara profited from the Giants’ loss, going 2-0 on their southern swing to jump back to the top of the table with a 9-5 mark.
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Kiwi basketball great Kirk Penney will play for the league-leading Tuatara over the rest of the NBL season.
Auckland made a double splash on Sunday, announcing the signing of 41-year-old Tall Blacks great Kirk Penney as an injury replacement for the rest of the season.
The Tuatara added to the bottom placed Southland Sharks’ woes, winning 89-77 in Invercargill on Friday, then crushed the Otago Nuggets 105-74 in Dunedin on Sunday.
The Franklin Bulls’ resurgence continued, overcoming the Canterbury Rams 86-76 in Pukekohe on Saturday to move to 6-5.
Playing without leading Kiwi guard Corey Webster, the Bulls still managed to earn the win against a Rams’ side, missing star import Sunday Dech and Max Darling.
Young swingman Isaac Davidson paced the Bulls with a game-high 22 points, while veteran forward Leon Henry pulled in 18 rebounds to go with nine points.
In Tuesday’s early game, the Jets, another of the NBL’s success stories this season, edged the Hawke’s Bay Hawks 90-87 in Palmerston North to remain in the finals hunt at 5-7.
AT A GLANCE:
NBL round 10 results:
At Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North: Manawatū Jets 90 (Robert Crawford 25, Shane Temara 20, Zane Najdawi 14, John Bohannon 11) Hawke’s Bay Hawks 87 (Quintin Bailey 20, Jordan Hunt 17, Tajuan Agee 14, Derone Raukawa 10) 1Q: 22-20, HT: 43-46, 3Q: 71-65.
At Stadium Southland, Invercargill: Auckland Tuatara 89 (Siler Schneider 28, Rob Loe 17, Dontae Russo-Nance 15, Brandon Iuli 11) Southland Sharks 77 (Daishon Knight 26, Brayden Inger 14, Dru-Leo Leusogi-Ape 12, Dom Kelman-Poto 11) 1Q: 22-19, HT: 53-35, 3Q: 70-54.
At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson: Taranaki Airs 85 (Anthony Hilliard 20, Shaun Willett 18, Carlin Davison 10) Nelson Giants 75 (Sam Thompson 25, Trey Mourning 15, Jarrod West 13, Tyler Marsh 11) 1Q: 14-17, HT: 35-38, 3Q: 55-53.
At Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre, Pukekohe: Franklin Bulls 86 (Isaac Davidson 22, Giddy Potts 18, Anzac Rissetto 15, Jayden Bezzant 10) Canterbury Rams 76 (Mike Karena 19, Taylor Britt 18, Matthew Moyer 13, Larry Austin 11) 1Q: 28-25, HT: 51-40, 3Q: 68-60.
At Edgar Centre, Dunedin: Tuatara 105 (Taki Fahrensohn 25, Schneider 21, Russo-Nance 21, Iuli 11, Loe 10) Otago Nuggets 74 (Tray Boyd 19, Sam Timmins 12, Keith Williams 11, Todd Withers 10) 1Q: 33-14, HT: 60-29, 3Q: 87-57.
At TSB Arena, Wellington: Airs 111 (Hilliard 41, Javonte Douglas 21, Willett 20, Davison 11) Wellington Saints 105 (Xavier Cooks 32, Mike Smith 27, Taane Samuel 16, Tom Vodanovich 14) 1Q: 27-27, HT: 61-56, 3Q: 89-79.
Standings: Tuatara 9-5, Giants 8-4, Hawks 7-5, Airs 7-5, Bulls 6-5, Nuggets 6-6, Rams 6-7, Jets 5-7, Saints 4-8, Sharks 3-9.
