Basketball: Pistons too powerful for Auckland

Defending champions Waikato Pistons grabbed National Basketball League regular season honours and top seeding for the play-offs with an emphatic 108-70 victory over the Auckland Stars in Te Awamutu yesterday night.

The win was the Pistons' 14th of the season, with only two losses on the other side of the ledger.

The Pistons stamped their mark on tonight's game from the outset, jumping out to a 30-16 lead by first quarter time.

That lead was extended to 19 by halftime as the Pistons went to the major break ahead 53-34, Justin Bailey leading all scorers at the half with 24 points.

The Pistons extended the gulf to 32 points at the third quarter break, 79-47, then piled on 29 points in the final spell to the Stars' 23 and secure the win.

For the Stars, Janev Blagoj top scored with 19 while Hayden Allen (17) and Casey Frank (14) were the only other Stars to make any notable contributions on the score sheet.

Justin Bailey and Puke Lendon had a good night for the Pistons, leading all scorers with 26 points each.

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