10/05/2006
News
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NZL - Stars shine bright
AUCKLAND (NBL) - Reigning MVP Lindsay Tait spearheaded a rampant Auckland Stars outfit to a 106-87 home win over Waikato Pistons, stretching their lead on the National Basketball League Table to four points.
From the tip-off, the defending champions ran their rivals ragged in the open court and scored 14 unanswered points in the dying minutes of the third quarter to finally put victory beyond Waikato. Tait and Dillon Boucher were clinical in their transitional execution - Tait led all scorers with 30 points (11/14 FG, 2/3 3pt, 6/6 FT), while Boucher chipped in nine points, six rebounds, nine assists, five steals and two blocks in a useful all-round performance. Fellow Tall Black Casey Frank had 23 points (including three three-pointers), seven rebounds and six assists.
Auckland also kept the shackles on the Pistons leading scorer Ben Hill, averaging 22 points for the season, but limited to just 13 on the night.
American Vidal Massiah (9/14 FG, 2/5 3pt, 9/9 FT) led Waikato with 29 points, while compatriot Kitwana Rhymer had 16 points just two days after arriving in Hamilton as a replacement for Aussie Graeme Dann.
Auckland (9-1) have a chance to avenge their only loss of the season when they host NBS Nelson Giants on Sunday, while Waikato (2-7) host the high-flying Easy LPG Bay Hawks on Friday.
Auckland Stars 106 (Lindsay Tait 30, Casey Frank 23, Reece Cassidy 13, Brock Gillespie 10)
Waikato Pistons 87 (Vidal Massiah 29, Kitwana Rhymer 16, Ben Hill 13)
Grant Chapman
From the tip-off, the defending champions ran their rivals ragged in the open court and scored 14 unanswered points in the dying minutes of the third quarter to finally put victory beyond Waikato. Tait and Dillon Boucher were clinical in their transitional execution - Tait led all scorers with 30 points (11/14 FG, 2/3 3pt, 6/6 FT), while Boucher chipped in nine points, six rebounds, nine assists, five steals and two blocks in a useful all-round performance. Fellow Tall Black Casey Frank had 23 points (including three three-pointers), seven rebounds and six assists.
Auckland also kept the shackles on the Pistons leading scorer Ben Hill, averaging 22 points for the season, but limited to just 13 on the night.
American Vidal Massiah (9/14 FG, 2/5 3pt, 9/9 FT) led Waikato with 29 points, while compatriot Kitwana Rhymer had 16 points just two days after arriving in Hamilton as a replacement for Aussie Graeme Dann.
Auckland (9-1) have a chance to avenge their only loss of the season when they host NBS Nelson Giants on Sunday, while Waikato (2-7) host the high-flying Easy LPG Bay Hawks on Friday.
Auckland Stars 106 (Lindsay Tait 30, Casey Frank 23, Reece Cassidy 13, Brock Gillespie 10)
Waikato Pistons 87 (Vidal Massiah 29, Kitwana Rhymer 16, Ben Hill 13)
Grant Chapman
