Basketball: Falcons reach play offs

The Falcons clinched a playoff spot with a third straight win in the men's A grade competition on Saturday.

A scrappy 78-69 win over Magic A improved the Falcons to 8-4, and propelled them a win clear of the Magic (7-6) and Varsity A (7-6) with two rounds remaining before the playoffs.

The Falcons also have a deferred game against Varsity B to catch up, meaning last year's fourth placed team is in a good position to clinch the second seeding behind the St Kilda Saints (11-2).

Matt Bazsika top scored with 25 points and Tyler Lapham added 18 in the Falcons' win, which was not sealed until the final few minutes.

The sides were locked at 43-43 at the half, and only a flurry of Lapham jumpers saw the Falcons take a 60-57 lead into the final quarter.

It is no secret Lapham likes to float around the perimeter and jack up three pointers, but the Magic inexplicably refused to stick a man on him, instead opting to play a soft zone.

Lapham made the Magic pay by drilling five three pointers, including three in the third quarter.

The Magic's chances took a big blow early in the fourth quarter when star guard Micah Lepaio fouled out after scoring 29 points.

Lee Devereux and Brent Cheshire kept the Magic in it, pulling back to 73 68 with 1.20min left on the clock.

But Alaric McCarthy and Bazsika finally finished off the Magic, which dearly missed Lepaio's ability to score quickly down the stretch.

The St Kilda Saints all but sealed the top seed for a second straight year with a dominant 81-59 win over the Bombers (5-8).

Boosted by the arrival of Tall Black triallist and Nelson Giants forward Finn Delaney, who is studying at the University of Otago this semester, the Saints led from start to finish.

Delaney (19) is 2m tall and played a season for the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats in the NCAA second division in the United States last year.

He showed his athleticism for the Saints, scoring 12 points, including a thunderous dunk on the fast break midway through the fourth quarter.

The Saints bounded out to a 24-7 lead early in the second quarter, before the Bombers - who are on the cusp of missing out on the playoffs - finally started fighting.

A 12-5 run saw them pull to within 10 midway through the quarter, before eventually going into the half 40-28 down.

But the Saints went on to outscore the Bombers 23-16 in the third quarter to canter home with the win.

In an otherwise dreadful shooting display, only Bombers swingman Steve Robinson (23 points) caused the Saints any problems.

In a rare quiet outing, Saints guard James Ross scored only nine points. However, Liam Aston stepped up with 18 points - including four three pointers - and Rene Sterk (12 points and Tom Ingham (11) also scored in double digits.

In the other game, Varsity A beat Varsity B (0-12) 74-61.

The Otago under-19 men's team finished sixth at the national under 19 tournament in Nelson at the weekend.

With four former Otago players in the starting line up - Sam Timmins, Joe Cook-Green, Richie Rodger and Josh Petermann - Canterbury spanked Rotorua 96-52 in the championship decider.

Cook-Green was named tournament MVP, and he, Timmins, Cook Green and Otago's Benoit Hayman were all named in the tournament team.

All four played for Otago Boys' last year.

The Otago women's under 19 team finished ninth.

 

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