NZL – Bradshaw, Otago break three-year losing streak!

DUNEDIN (NZNBL) – After 33 games on the wrong end of the result, the Otago Nuggets have finally broken through for a win in the NZNBL, defeating the Manawatu Jets 74-67.

New Zealand international Craig Bradshaw played a key role in the win with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks, while import Lance Allred was superb with 22 points and 15 rebounds. For Manawatu, former Duke Blue Devil Nick Horvath had 25 points and 8 rebounds.

The Nuggets fell behind by 11 early in the first quarter and still trailed by one at three quarter time. But in the fourth quarter, their worst so far this season, the Nuggets piled on 22-12 behind Bradshaw to spark jubilant scenes from players and fans at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin.

Other big performances from Round Six of the NZNBL include:
- Tom Abercrombie: 30 points on 5/9 perimeter shooting from Tall Blacks star helped his Waikato Pistons defeat the Taranaki Mountain Airs 104-84.
- Kevin Braswell: 20 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and two massive triples in the second overtime period from the former Georgetown star saw the Southland Sharks beat Manawatu 100-91 in a thriller.
- Nelsen overcame the undefeated Wellington Saints 99-93 behind 22 points from Rod Grizzard, 19 points from international Phill Jones and import Darryl Dora, and Mika Vukona’s 14 points and 12 rebounds.
- Brad Anderson: the 19-year-old emerging star showed his talent with 18 points on 7/11 shooting in the Auckland Pirates’ 72-87 loss to the undefeated Bay Hawks.

Top performances from Round Five:
- Hayden Allen: the fringe Tall Black had 26 points on 6/11 perimeter shooting as the Pistons defeated Manawatu 83-65.
- Darryl Hudson: the import scored an amazing 38 points on 13/17 shooting as Manawatu defeated Nelson 95-94 despite 24 points from Phill Jones.
- Alex Pledger: New Zealand’s reserve centre had 25 points on 10/12 shooting to go with 6 rebounds and 3 blocks as Waikato defeated Southland 102-69.

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA