NZL - Hawks soar to crown

AUCKLAND (NBL) - IMS Payroll Bay Hawks exacted their revenge, capturing their first National Basketball League title with an 84-69 win over defending champions GI Juice Auckland Stars in the PRIMO NBL Final at the North Shore Events Centre.

American Field Williams led all scorers with 32 points (9/20 FG, 4/9 3pt, 10/11 FT) as the Hawks sent NBL legend Willie Burton into retirement with his first title.

The visitors always had their beaks in front, but established their dominance with a 13-2 run spanning the first two quarters. Hawks led 43-35 at halftime, then opened the third period with a 13-3 outburst that put the result beyond doubt.

American Kareem Johnson, who helped Auckland edge the Hawks on the road in last year's final, completed a personal double of titles after switching camps this season.

The Stars ran into early foul trouble that saw captain Casey Frank play only 28 minutes - just eight in the first half - and Dillon Boucher foul out after logging 26 minutes. Frank was their leading scorer with 15 points (6/9 FG, 2/3 3pt, 1/2 FT).

IMS Payroll Bay Hawks 84 (Field Williams 32, Kareem Johnson 17, Paroa Winitana 12)
GI Juice Auckland Stars 69 (Casey Frank 15, Judd Flavell 10, Dillon Boucher 10, Brock Gillespie 10)

Grant Chapman