Basketball: Welington Saints player dedicates NBL victory to late coach
Photo:
Marty Melville
The Wellington Saints have clinched their 13th National Basketball League title after narrowly defeating the Southland Sharks by five points.
Hyrum Harris and forward Jordan Ngatai were instrumental in the Wellington side's superb 88-83 win on their home court at TSB Arena in Wellington.
Ngatai dedicated the victory on Sunday to the team's late American coach Kevin Braswell who died in February aged 46.
Harris, the game's MVP brought an energetic display in the decider as he led the scoreboard with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Ngatai was hot on his heels contributing 19 points to the total.
Expected to challenge the Wellington side, the Southerners came in to the grand final on a nine-game winning streak.
Southland's first half performance led to some nervous moments for Saints fans in the stands as the visitors raced out of the blocks.
Leading 44-41 at halftime the Sharks had the run of play, but the Saints found another gear to storm back from the brink.
With 11 rebounds in a mighty defensive performance Nick Marshall was another key cog for Wellington with 18 points on the scoreboard.
"I just wanted to win and we just had to find a way," a delighted Marshall said.
Saints head coach Aaron Young claimed his first title in charge in the capital after tasting defeat with the Auckland Tuatara in the past three finals.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Football: Aussie goal-machine joins Auckand FC in A-League return
Auckland FC's Lachlan Brook Photo: Supplied Auckland FC have signed Australian winger Lachlan Brook for the upcoming A-League season with hopes he will find the back of the net regularly. Brook, who has played more than 100 professional games, arrives from Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake. The 24-year-old has previously played in England in League 2 and the A-League with Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers. "There is so much hype and noise for this team and what they have achieved - on and off the pitch," Brook said. "I have heard so much about the fans and the numbers that turn out to support us. I can't wait to get out there and show them what I am all about. To say I'm raring to go would be an understatement." Born in Gawler, South Australia, Brook came through the youth and NPL system at Adelaide United, making his senior debut in the 2017/18 season. Brook went on to make 29 appearances for the club and played a part in Adelaide's emphatic 4-0 victory in the 2019 FFA Cup (now Australia Cup) Final. He was later awarded Adelaide United Youth Player of the Year for his performances that season. In 2020, Brook signed a three-year deal with English Championship club Brentford before being loaned to Crew Alexandra. Then in League 2, he played 34 times for the Chesire club in 22/23 season. The following season saw a return to the A-League with Western Sydney Wanderers - scoring nine goals in 23 appearances. Auckland FC Head Coach Steve Corica says he is hoping for more of the same. "He's versatile, has an eye for goal and knows the league," Corica said. "He achieved some great things at Adelaide and Western Sydney Wanderers, and with more than 100 games here and abroad, he's a proven professional. It is no secret we needed to boost our attack this season, so we're looking forward to having him at Auckland." On the international stage, Brook has represented Australia at both U18 and U23 levels.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Lions ‘should not go to New Zealand in 2029', UK rugby writer says
All Blacks captain Kieran Read and Lions captain Sam Warburton after the drawn series, 2017. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Veteran British rugby writer Stephen Jones believes the British and Irish Lions should not tour New Zealand in 2029. Writing in The Sunday Times following the conclusion of the Lions current tour of Australia, Jones suggested it was time for a change to the historic quadrennial tours. The Lions are scheduled to tour New Zealand in 2029, but Jones believes the Lions would be better off touring France with maybe a game in Italy. He believes they could then tour New Zealand in 2033 before touring the Americas in 2037. The Lions are due in South Africa in 2033 and Australia in 2037. Jones wrote that Lions tours have "saved" the host unions of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa "from financial disaster" in recent times. "Why can the Lions not make their own decisions?" he wrote. Jones described France as "the modern-day capital of the rugby world". He suggested that any European Cup competitions could be canned in any Lions year. Jones believes a tour of the Americas could include Argentina and North America. The Lions first toured Australia and New Zealand in 1888. In 12 Test series against New Zealand they have only won once, in 1971, while the 2017 test series was tied.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Hot form has veteran Suzie Bates excited about her future
Suzie Bates of Durham Photo: ACTION FOTO SPORT / AFP A successful stint in England has White Ferns veteran Suzie Bates confident she still has something to offer the game. Bates has just finished playing for Durham in the ECB's new domestic women's competition this year where the eight top division teams were all fully professional. The 37 year old was Durham's first ever women's overseas player and helped the club to mid-table finishes in both the T20 and 50-over competitions in their inaugural season. During her stint Bates became the oldest player to score a century in their 50-over competition. She smashed 163 off 140 balls against Somerset, her 29th century in List A cricket. She was also the leading run-scorer in the T20 Blast and averaged 52 in the 50-over game. Bates told RNZ it was a real boost at an important time on her career. "When you get a bit older and lose a bit of form you do start to wonder if you're near the end, but if you're scoring runs and your body and mind are good then you want to keep going," Bates said. She has just arrived back in New Zealand and will now start preparing for the World Cup in India in October. "(The 163) was a perfect way to end the season and it was nice to leave on a good note. "Leading into a 50-over World Cup to have a score like that under my belt and, more importantly, to spend that amount of time out in the middle really helps when you have a big tournament coming up." Since making her debut for Otago in 2002 and the White Ferns in 2006, Bates has played in most of the cricketing nations around the world. New Zealand's Suzie Bates Photo: Kerry Marshall/ When the opportunity came up to return to England this year she didn't hesitate. It also meant she didn't have to spend all of the New Zealand winter just training and instead got to be out in the middle playing cricket. She said Durham (and its director of cricket, the former Australian international Marcus North) were keen to have an experienced player to help, especially with some of their players 20 years younger than her. "The fact that I've played for a long time and probably seen it all in women's cricket was an appeal for the club." Bates, the most capped New Zealand women cricketer with 348, said she didn't really coach, but hoped that she was more of a role model for the younger players "In all my leadership roles during my career I've gone by the motto 'Do as I do not what I say'. "I find it difficult to tell players what to do; it's more about being in the middle and discussing options. I try not to give younger players too much advice." Bates has scored 4716 runs in T20 internationals, the most of any female cricketer. She has scored more than 10,000 white ball runs for New Zealand The White Ferns will head to the UAE in September for warmup matches before the World Cup in India in October.
