Manawatu Jets steal NBL win over Hawks
- NZ Sports Wire
- Apr 19
- 2 min read
The Manawatu Jets have pick-pocketed their way to a National Basketball League (NBL) win over the Hawke's Bay Hawks.
The Property Brokers Jets snaffled 15 steals, allowing them to take 19 more shots from the field, in a 103-91 victory over the Big Barrel Hawks in Week 6 of the Sal's NBL in Palmerston North on Friday night.
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Import forward Miles Gibson and young Kiwi guard Dontae Russo-Nance led the way, with four steals, while Kenny Goins had three and Eric Williams Jr two as the Jets pressured the Hawks into 20 turnovers.
Gibson was also the Jets' leading scorer, going for 30 points (10/17 FG, 2/7 3pt, 8/8 FT) and five rebounds, closely followed by Tall Blacks veteran Corey Webster, with 29 points (12/21 FG, 3/10 3pt), four boards and eight assists.
Gibson, Webster and Russo-Nance (20 points (8/19 FG, 3/8 3pt), five rebounds and three assists) combined for 79 of Manawatu's 103 points. Despite just six points, Goins contributed with a game-high 13 rebounds.
Australian swingman Dan Grida was again the Hawks' best, with 24 points (8/16 FG, 8/14 FT), nine rebounds and two steals, assisted by teen Jackson Balls with 20 points (6/9 FG, 3/6 3pt, 5/5 FT), eight boards and three assists.
Import forward Darnell Cowart (13 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals), Campbell Scott (13 points) and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (12 points, four boards and two steals) were the Hawks' other double-digit scorers.
Three scoring bursts propelled Manawatu to the win. An 11-2 run in the first quarter gave them the lead for good, a 14-3 run in the second period took them to a 12-point lead, and an 8-2 stretch late in the fourth put the game away.
The Hawks remained close throughout, within five twice in the third period but the Jets were able to keep them at arm's-length, largely due to shooting 65 percent from the floor.
The Jets (5-4) remain at home to host the Tauranga Whai (5-3) on Thursday (tip-off 7pm), while the Hawks (5-4) return to Napier, awaiting the league-leading Franklin Bulls (6-2) next Friday (tip-off 3pm).
Sky Broadband Rapid League standout Tyson Thata again starred for the Jets, scoring 26 points (10/17 FG, 4/10 3pt) in a 46-37 win over the Hawks.
Manawatu Jets 103 (Miles Gibson 30, Corey Webster 29, Dontae Russo-Nance 20) Hawke's Bay Hawks 91 (Dan Grida 24, Jackson Ball 20, Darnell Cowart 13, Campbell Scott 13, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk 12). 1Q: 20-18, HT: 50-44, 3Q: 75-68
