Ili, Saints fill it up; Whai swim by Giants
- NZ Sports Wire
- Apr 13
- 3 min read
The Wellington Saints have sent out a warning as they moved to the top of the National Basketball League (NBL) standings.
The Mills Albert Saints dominated in a 111-99 win over the Otago Nuggets at Dunedin's Edgar Centre, before the Tauranga Whai surged past the Nelson Giants 85-81 at the Trafalgar Centre in Sal's NBL action on Saturday.
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Tall Blacks guard Shea Ili put on a show as the Saints completed a perfect 'Deep South Double-Header', going for 31 points (11/16 FG, 4/4 3pt, 5/5 FT), four rebounds and eight assists in 32 minutes off the bench.
His national teammate Hyrum Harris was equally impressive, with 24 points (10/15 FG, 4/4 FT), 13 boards, five assists and five steals, while three other Saints players - Nick Marshall, Rangimarie Dougall-Mita and Izayah Le'afa - scored in double-digits.
Marshall finished with 15 points (4/15 FG, 3/8 3pt, 4/4 FT), four boards and three assists, Dougall-Mita 14 points (5/8 FG, 4/7 3pt) off the bench and Le'afa 13 points (4/11 FG, 4/8 3pt), six assists and two steals.
American guard Donald Carey Jr led the Nuggets with a near triple-double, with 26 points (8/14 FG, 5/8 3pt, 5/5 FT), eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
Kiwi Jono Janssen put up 20 points (8/14 FG, 3/6 3pt) and four boards, import forward Jose Perez 19 points (5/12 FG, 8/12 FT), four rebounds and four assists, and their third import Jaylen Sebree 12 points (5/13 FG, 2/6 3pt), seven boards and two blocks.
The Saints, who defeated the Southland Sharks in Invercargill two days earlier, never trailed in the game, building their lead to double-digits by the end of the first period and to 25 points midway through the second.
Otago scored 15 straight points to end the second quarter to get within 10 at the main break, and it remained their until an 18-4 run by the Saints in the third ended the game as a contest.
The Saints (6-2) are now off until playing the Nelson Giants (0-6) at TSB Arena on Easter Monday (tip-off 3pm), while the Nuggets (3-4) host the Franklin Bulls (5-2) in Dunedin on Wednesday (tip-off 7pm).
The Nuggets avoided the sweep, with wing Christian Martin scoring 16 points off the bench to take the home side to a 38-30 win over the Saints in the Sky Broadband Rapid League.
Wellington Saints 111 (Shea Ili 31, Hyrum Harris 24, Nick Marshall 15, Rangimarie Dougall-Mita 14, Izayah Le'afa 13) Otago Nuggets 99 (Donald Carey Jr 26, Jono Janssen 20, Jose Perez 19, Jaylen Sebree 12). 1Q: 32-21, HT: 55-45, 3Q: 84-63
American guard Chris Jones top-scored with 20 points (7/14 FG, 5/5 FT), five rebounds and two steals as the Whai rallied in the fourth for the win.
Trailing by six entering the fourth, Matt Lacey’s side went on a 17-4 run to start the final period, out-scoring the Giants 25-15 to hold on.
Nelson closed within two points on a Sam Dempster three with 15 seconds to play, but Hayden Jones missed two free-throws to tie it up with six seconds remaining and Kruz Perrott-Hunt made no mistake from the foul-line.
Up-and-coming forward Carter Hopoi had 19 points (7/10 FG, 4/7 3pt), seven rebounds and two blocks for the Whai.
Australian forward Sean Bairstow put up 15 points (6/12 FG), five boards and five assists, and Perrott-Hunt 14 points (4/10 FG, 5/6 FT) and five assists.
Australian centre Callum Dalton was Nelson’s leading scorer, with 22 points (9/13 FG, 2/4 3pt) and eight rebounds, while Lachlan Crate scored 10 points off the bench.
Former Indian Panthers guard Alex Robinson, who was immediately snapped up by the Giants, had 14 points (6/12 FG), four boards and seven assists.
The Whai (5-2) return home to host the Southland Sharks (2-5) on Thursday (tip-off 7pm), while the Giants (0-6) have a tough assignment to get their first win against the league-leading Saints.
Tauranga swept both games, winning the Rapid League contest 37-32, thanks to 11 points from guard Jayden Bezzant.
Tauranga Whai 85 (Chris Jones 20, Carter Hopoi 19, Sean Bairstow 15, Kruz Perrott-Hunt 14) Nelson Giants 81 (Callum Dalton 22, Alex Robinson Jr 14, Lachlan Crate 10). 1Q: 22-21, HT: 44-48, 3Q: 60-66
