Basketball: Falcons hold out short-handed Magic

Marshall Hall
Marshall Hall
The Falcons tipped over a six-man Magic team in the closest of three contests at the Edgar Centre on Saturday.

The Falcons prevailed 73-71 in a tense finish that saw the Magic in possession with the game on the line as the clock ticked down.

A lone Magic player looked on from the bench as his team failed to get off a shot. Adam Dunstan was instrumental for the Falcons down the stretch, collecting eight of his 18 points late, on a succession of lefty turn-around jump-shots and put-backs.

Sam Patterson added 14 for the Falcons, who held Andrew Wheeler to just two buckets in the fourth-quarter.

Wheeler finished with 21 after threatening to score many more, Marshall Hall had 17 and Lee Deverux scored 10 for the depleted Magic.

Otago Boys' High School was also without key players against the Comets, but it did not matter as it ran out an 84-68 winner in an entertaining tussle.

The 18-point halftime lead shrank to as little as five late in the third, as the Comets threw themselves into passing lanes and collected a slew of fast-break buckets.

Luke Aston finished with four triples and 23 points after regularly breaking down a Comets defence hungry for steals and looking to run.

Campbell Arnott was everywhere again for the Comets on his way to a game-high 25 points.

If his jump-shot continues to fall he will be a match-up nightmare - especially if rumours of the Comets acquiring more size inside turn out to be true.

The Bombers dominated the middle two quarters in beating the Saints 76-66. Elton Cotton top-scored with 20 points and Steve Robinson added 18 for the Bombers.

Cain Falconer scored 13 points and Scott Sharpe had 12 for the Saints.

 

 

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