Basketball: Late slide nearly costs Nuggets

Nuggets captain Mark Dickel grabs a rebound from Kevin Braswell, of the Southland Sharks, during...
Nuggets captain Mark Dickel grabs a rebound from Kevin Braswell, of the Southland Sharks, during their basketball match in Dunedin last night. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Basketball is all about momentum.

So when the Southland Sharks posted 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, it appeared the visitors were poised to overturn a 20-point deficit and extend their seven-game winning-streak.

But the Otago Nuggets, desperate to break a five-game losing streak at home, had a slice of luck.

A lay-up from Brandon Bowdry rolled along the rim before dropping in. That two points was desperately needed and gave the Nuggets a fraction more comfort.

Leading 80-60 with a quarter to play, the Nuggets' shots just stopped dropping.

When Bowdry's effort fell, they led 88-84 with just over a minute remaining.

The Sharks scored next but perennial bench player Steve Robinson hit a crucial free throw in the dying moments to extend the lead to three points.

With seven seconds on the clock the Sharks got the ball to their talisman, Kevin Braswell, but the former Breaker had a Nuggets wall in front of him.

His effort came up well short and the crowd of about 1200 left the Edgar Centre happy for a change.

Player-coach Mark Dickel was disappointed his side had been outscored 26-9 in the final period but was pleased with the effort in the first three quarters.

''I guess the key was when I stopped pushing the ball and that allowed them to get some momentum in the game,'' he said.

''We had been scoring easy but it slowed up. And that is what happens when you start playing for the end of the game rather than just playing the game ... But we hung in there and got the win.

''Now we've got to find a way to get two wins this weekend and give ourselves a chance [of making the playoffs].''

The Nuggets will be hoping they have turned the corner.

Bowdry certainly did.

He has been easing into his game since joining the team late last month but exploded into action with 32 points and 18 rebounds.

Fellow American Warren Carter rebounded from a lacklustre effort in the 88-75 loss to the Manawatu Jets on Friday night with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Dickel was excellent as well, with 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

The trio carried the Nuggets, with Brendon Polyblank sidelined with an Achilles strain.

He is expected to play in the weekend, though.

Kevin Braswell top-scored for the Sharks with 24 points and Brian Conklin was good value with 23 points and 11 boards.

Tai Westley also recorded a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.

The pace was frenetic from the start but precision was the first casualty.

Neither side was able to land a three-pointer until midway through the second period.

Carter eventually found the net and Dickel followed as the home side started to build a healthy lead.

Robinson drained a deep two and Carter finished off a fast break with a dunk to stretch the lead to eight points.

Bowdry added to the visitors' woes with a run of three quick baskets as the Nuggets brought up 50 points.

The Sharks were 0-12 from three-point range, struggling on the boards and lucky to be trailing by just 13 at halftime.

The Nuggets tightened their grip on the game with 10 points in two minutes and Bowdry was at the heart of the action.

Carter had come to play as well, landing a tough fade-away jumper.

The Nuggets outscored the Sharks 28-21 and had what appeared to be an unassailable lead with 10 minutes remaining.

In other matches, the Hawkes Bay Hawks clinched a playoff spot with a 105-90 win against the Waitakere Rangers.

The Sharks beat the Jets 91-83 in Invercargill.

The Waikato Pistons beat the Nelson Giants 87-74 in Nelson but stumbled against the Canterbury Rams in Christchurch yesterday, losing 99-84.

Add a Comment