Basketball: Students snap long losing streak

University A player-manager Adam Beissel cut a succinct, pragmatic figure before his winless squad's clash with the St Kilda Saints at the Edgar Centre on Saturday.

"We don't have any Nuggets. The other teams have Nuggets. We're going to take our lumps this year."

Two hours and 10 personal points later, after the students had triumphed 72-66 to win their first game in the senior men's A grade competition since at least 2007, his talk of lumps had been replaced by celebration and talk of future triumphs.

"It feels really good. We had a lot of guys away last week and we got back together and really went after it," Beissel said.

"If we can keep improving and start winning a few games then some of the students who play for other teams might come back."

Campbell Arnott had a huge day for the students, scoring 26 points while anchoring a defence that restricted the Saints to a mere 8 points in the final quarter.

Sam McKenzie was efficient in compiling 12 points and Caley Watson added 8 points for the victor.

A terrific defensive stand in the final moments - including a vital block by Campbell - allowed guard Emerson Watson to hit a pair of pull-up daggers from the elbow to seal the upset win.

Nuggets squad member Damon Cleverley hit four three-pointers on his way to a team-high 23 points for the Saints, who were without captain James Ross.

Tony Collins, Thomas Tinsdale and Colin Falconer also scored in double figures for the losing side.

The early game saw another upset of sorts.

Magic guard Andrew Wheeler dropped 30 points on Otago Boys High School, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and Nugget guard Hayden Miller added 23, to consign OBHS to its first loss of the season.

The Magic profited immensely from the inside presence of current New Zealand discus champion Marshall Hall, who provided 8 points and strong rebounding in a running battle with Murray Clarke (12 points).

Luke Aston, sporting a cut above his left eye courtesy of a mid-week, mid-air collision with an OBHS backboard, had 9 first-quarter points but finished with only 15 after officials missed multiple muggings as he attacked the paint.

Ethan Carruthers was outstanding in a losing effort, flying around without regard for his own welfare on his way to 21 points and frequent trips to the free-throw line.

Ben Dick top-scored with 22 points but didn't look his normal, efficient self in making a rash of early turnovers.

The Anderson Bay Falcons started off ice-cold against the suffocating team defence of the Bombers, never really recovered, and lost 72-60.

Luke Barnsley's game-high 22 points for the Falcons were no match for the balanced triangle-styled offence of the Bombers, who had four players score in double figures.

Bombers centre Chris Hepburn was instrumental in the paint, regularly finding his spots on the interior from which to pass and score.

 

 

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