2010 Bartercard

NBL Round 7 (April 16-17) Exodus Saints v Christchurch Cougars 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks v OceanaGold Nuggets v Zerofees McDonalds v Harbour Heat Fico Finance Giants v Christchurch Cougars

www..org.nz STANDINGS

Team P W L Win % GB Pts 7 6 1 85.7 0 12 Harbour Heat 5 5 0 100.0 0 10 Fico Finance 7 5 2 71.4 1 10 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 7 4 3 57.1 2 8 Saints 7 4 3 57.1 2 8 7 4 3 57.1 2 8 Christchurch Cougars 8 3 5 37.5 3.5 6 Zerofees Southland Sharks 8 3 5 37.5 3.5 6 McDonalds Manawatu Jets 5 0 5 0.0 5 0 Oceanagold Otago Nuggets 7 0 7 0.0 6 0

Win % - Win Percentage, GB – Games Back

LAST WEEK Bartercard NBL - Round Six

Thursday, April 8

At Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North

McDonalds Manawatu Jets 73 (Richard Jeter 25, Matt Te Huna 13, Hugh Quinlivan 13) Waikato Pistons 95 ( 25, 22, 14, David Gruber 14) Jets v Pistons Boxscore (24 KB html)

Friday, April 9

At Pettigrew Green Arena, Taradale

0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 78 ( 20, Everard Bartlett 18, Ben Hill 12) Waikato Pistons 73 (Hayden Allen 21, Eric Devendorf 20, Alex Pledger 10) Hawks v Pistons Boxscore (24 KB html)

At Southland Stadium, Invercargill

Zerofees Southland Sharks 72 (James Paringatai 19, Rene Rougeau 19, 14) Fico Finance Nelson Giants 74 (Michael Harrison 19, Mike Fitchett 18, 14) Sharks v Giants Boxscore (24 KB html) At TSB Arena, Wellington

Exodus Saints 98 ( 25, Erron Maxey 23, Troy McLean 18) Taranaki Mountain Airs 71 (Demarshay Johnson 21, Aaron Bailey-Nowell 13, Alex Wastney 10, 10) Saints v Airs Boxscore (24 KB html)

Saturday, April 10

At Edgar Centre, Dunedin

OceanaGold Nuggets 71 (Tyler Amaya 23, Sam To’omata 12 Matt Gillan 11) Fico Finance Nelson Giants 102 (Darryl Jones 14, Mika Vukona 13, Sam Dempster 12) Nuggets v Giants Boxscore (24 KB html)

NBL Trivia of the Week

Which NBL team had the longest current winning streak up until Round Six and how many games was it?

(Answer at the end of Media Guide) THIS WEEK

2010 NBL Round Seven

Friday, April 16 Exodus Saints (4-3) v Christchurch Cougars (3-5), 7pm

At TSB Arena, Wellington Referees – Dallas Pickering, Yalla Edwards, Kieran Udy Head to Head*: Saints 2 Cougars 1 Last Meeting: Saints 85-72 (Round Two, 11th March 2010)

Projected Starting Five

Saints Cougars Point Guard Lindsay Tait Jeremy Kench Shooting Guard Troy McLean Small Forward Erron Maxey Mark Morrison Power Forward Trent Wurtz Center Tim Behrendorff

Leading Scorers (Points per game)

Saints Cougars Erron Maxey (18.3) Paora Winitana (20.0) Lindsay Tait (16.5) Tim Behrendorff (15.7) Troy McLean (13.1) Jeremy Kench (12.9)

Team Leaders in Other Categories (Per game)

Saints Cougars Rebounds Erron Maxey (8.3) Mark Morrison (6.8) Assists Lindsay Tait (4.0) Jeremy Kench (5.3) Steals Lindsay Tait (3.0) Jeremy Kench (2.3) Blocks (1.0) Three Tied (0.5)

Notes Saints have had a mixed start to the season with four wins and three losses forcing management to make a change signing former Pistons Eric Devendorf. Unfortunately that came at the loss of Darryl Hudson who was the Saints leading scorer and very strong defender for his side. Cougars have also had mixed results this year, but if there was a time to turn it around it would be now playing against the Saints and then the Nelson Giants on Saturday. The Cougars maybe a little happy that Hudson is not playing after the last time the two teams met in Round Two he scored 33 points in the 85-72 victory. Cougars did not have centre Tim Behrendorff in that Round Two loss. Behrendorff has been solid but not spectacular for the Cougars this season averaging 15 points and nearly 6 rebounds. 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks (4-3) v Harbour Heat (5-0)

At Pettirgrew Green Arena, Taradale Referees – Melony Wealleans, Shane Nikora, Wayne Start Head to Head*: Hawks 2 Heat 5 Last Meeting: Heat 83-73 (30th May 2009)

Projected Starting Fives

Hawks Heat Point Guard Josh Pace Kavossy Franklin Shooting Guard Everard Bartlett Corey Webster Small Forward Chris Daniel Power Forward Dave Langrell Beny Anthony Center Jamil Terrell Rick Rickert

Leading Scorers (Points per game)

Hawks Heat Josh Pace (20.0) Corey Webster (24.0) Everard Bartlett (15.4) Rick Rickert (20.0) Chris Daniel (13.4) Kavossy Franklin (18.0)

Team Leaders in Other Categories (Per game)

Hawks Heat Rebounds Jamil Terrell (11.4) Rick Rickert (12.4) Assists Josh Pace (4.0) Dillon Boucher (6.8) Steals Everard Bartlett (2.0) Corey Webster (5.0) Blocks Jamil Terrell (1.6) Two Tied (1.0)

Notes Hawks have been giant killers of late at home first beating the Saints and then the previously unbeaten Waikato Pistons last week. Hawks will now have arguably their hardest test in Round Seven when they host the Harbour Heat who are still unbeaten in 2010. Hawks Josh Pace played his first game for the Hawks and made an instant impact with 20 points in 4 assists in the 78-73 win. Both teams boast a strong guard lineup, Hawks with Pace and Everard Bartlett who combined for 38 points in their first outing together. But the Heat have the highest scoring back court in the league of Corey Webster and Kavossy Franklin who average a combined 42 points a contest. If the Hawks want to win they will have to contain the Heat on the boards, Heat have two players who average over 10 rebounds a game (Rick Rickert 12.4 & Dillon Boucher 10.5). Rickert will have his most physical match up by far this season going up against Jamil Terrell who is averaging 11.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game. Saturday, April 18

OceanaGold Nuggets (0-7) v Zerofees Southland Sharks (3-5), 7pm

At Edgar Centre, Dunedin Referees – Raewyn Willocks, Hayden Pipe, Matt Bathurst

Projected Starting Fives

Nuggets Sharks Point Guard Sam To’omata Luke Martin Shooting Guard Riki Buckrell Mike Helms Small Forward Matt Trueman Rene Rougeau Power Forward Tyler Amaya James Paringatai Center Antoine Tisby

Leading Scorers (Points per game)

Nuggets Sharks Antoine Tisby (23.5) Rene Rougeau (16.1) Tyler Amaya (20.0) Luke Martin (11.2) Sam To’omata (6.3) James Paringatai (11.1)

Team Leaders in Other Categories (Per game)

Nuggets Sharks Rebounds Antoine Tisby (2.3) Rene Rougeau (6.8) Assists Tyler Amaya (3.8) Luke Martin (4.8) Steals Antoine Tisby (1.5) Rene Rougeau (3.1) Blocks Antoine Tisby (0.7) Rene Rougeau (1.6)

Notes The Deep South derby will begin for the first time in Round Seven when the OceanaGold Nuggets host the Zerofees Southland Sharks. The Nuggets need to step up if they do not want to be in the same boat as the 2009 Taranaki Dynamos and the 1998 Northland Suns who are the only teams in the NBL history to go through a season winless. Currently at 0-7 the Nuggets have been losing by an average margin of 25 points which is the second most losing margin average (Jets are the worse at 29 points). Sharks could potentially have their import Mike Helms playing in his first game of the season. Helms was a dominant scorer in the Australian league averaging over twenty points a game for the Singapore Slingers for two seasons. The Sharks will need Helms’s offence after losing Mike Rose who averaged 22 points in the seven games he played. Sharks coach Richard Dickel played for the Nuggets in the late 1990s and also had a three-year stint as assistant coach with the franchise. Hopefully the Nuggets will have their leading scorer Antoine Tisby back, who missed the loss against the Giants with a foot injury. McDonalds Manawatu Jets (0-5) v Harbour Heat (5-0), 6pm

At Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North Referees – Andy Thackray, Sean Cronin, Yalla Edwards Head to Head: Jets 1 Heat 6 Last Meeting: Heat 105-73 (26th March 2010)

Projected Starting Fives

Jets Heat Point Guard Paul Bristol Kavossy Franklin Shooting Guard Kaine Hokianga Corey Webster Small Forward Matt Te Huna Dillon Boucher Power Forward Richard Jeter Beny Anthony Center Chris Reay Rick Rickert

Leading Scorers (Points per game)

Jets Heat Richard Jeter (24.8) Corey Webster (24.0) Kaine Hokianga (11.2) Rick Rickert (20.0) Matt Te Huina (9.2) Kavossy Franklin (18.0)

Team Leaders in Other Categories (Per game)

Jets Heat Rebounds Chris Reay (6.0) Rick Rickert (12.4) Assists Matt Te Huna (2.8) Dillon Boucher (6.8) Steals Matt Te Huna (3.2) Corey Webster (5.0) Blocks Adrian Torries (0.7) Two Tied (1.0)

Notes Both teams met in Round Four, the Heat winning 105-73. But the Jets did play hard in the first half down only three. It seems to be a common theme this year with the Jets, playing well for two or three quarters but also having disastrous quarters such as the loss against the Christchurch Cougars when they lost the second quarter 27-4 after leading the first by nine. The Heat has had a week off after having their closest game of the year beating the Nelson Giants 83-79. Now they will be on their second game of a back to back which could factor into the game being the Heats first trip of the year on the road. The Heat leads the lead in scoring per game at 99.6 points compared to the Jets who are second to bottom at 74.5. Fico Finance Nelson Giants (5-2) v Christchurch Cougars (3-5), 7pm

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson Referees – Dallas Pickering, Brendan Hodgson, James Campion Head to Head*: Giants 1 Cougars 1 Last Meeting: Giants 80-69 (2nd May 2009)

Projected Starting Fives

Giants Cougars Point Guard Mike Fitchett Jeremy Kench Shooting Guard Paora Winitana Small Forward Mika Vukona Mark Morrison Power Forward Michael Harrison Trent Wurtz Center Tim Behrendorff

Leading Scorers (Points per game)

Giants Cougars Phill Jones (20.6) Paora Winitana (20.0) Michael Harrison (17.7) Tim Behrendorff (15.7) Mika Vukona (13.5) Jeremy Kench (12.9)

Team Leaders in Other Categories (Per game)

Giants Cougars Rebounds Mika Vukona (7.3) Mark Morrison (6.8) Assists Phil Jones (4.0) Jeremy Kench (5.3) Steals Phil Jones (2.0) Jeremy Kench (2.3) Blocks Michael Harrison (2.0) Three Tied (0.5)

Notes The Chirstchurch Cougars have the very tough Nelson/Wellington double this round and if they have any playoff aspirations then they would at least have to win one game. Last season the teams split their meetings, Cougars winning at home 76-77 while the Giants also won theirs at home 80-69. Giants have come off a successful road trip down south winning both games. Cougars have had a week to recover after going 1-1 in Round Five. Paora Winitana has been solid for the Cougars averaging 20 points a game which is his highest scoring average in his career since 2003 when he averaged that much for the Hawks. Winitana will go up the Giants Mika Vukona who has been playing very well of late averaging 15 points and nearly 9 rebounds in his last three games.

Note: Head to Head = Wins (07, 08, 09 Seasons) Visit www.basketball.org.nz for LIVE score updates www.basketball.org.nz PLAYER OF THE WEEK STAT LEADERS Round Five Erron Maxey (Exodus Saints) Points Richard Jeter (Jets) 24.8 23 points (8/13 FG, 5/6 FT), 13 rebounds in the 98-71 win over the Eric Devendorf (Pistons) 24.3 Taranaki Mountain Airs. Corey Webster (Heat) 24.0

2009 Australian NBL sixth man award winner Erron Maxey has also Rebounds been very strong of the bench this year for the Exodus Saints. Maxey Alex Pledger (Pistons) 13.1 had his first double double of the year against the in form Taranaki Rick Rickert (Heat) 12.4 Mountain Airs. Jamil Terrell (Hawks) 11.4

Maxey has put up solid numbers for the Saints 18 points and 8 Assists rebounds in six games for the Saints. Dillon Boucher (Heat) 6.8 Jeremy Kench (Cougars) 5.3 Zerofees Sharks player Rene Rougeau was unlucky not to win this Luke Martin (Sharks) 4.8 weeks player of the week with his stat line 19 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals in the loss against the Fico Finance Giants. Steals Corey Webster (Heat) 5.0 Waikato Pistons big man Alex Pledger continued his great season Matt Te Huna (Jets) 3.2 putting up 22 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks in their 95-73 win over the Rene Rougeau (Sharks) 3.1 McDonalds Manawatu Jets. Pledger still the leader in rebounds at 13.1 a game. His team mate Hayden Allen also had a strong couple of games on the weekend with 25 against the Jets and 21 against the Blocks Hawks. Thomas Abercrombie (Pistons) 2.3 David Gruber (Pistons) 2.0 Other notable performances in Round Six was from Airs Demarshay Alex Pledger (Pistons) 1.9 Johnson who 21 points and 9 rebounds in the game against the Saints. In that same game Lindsay Tait seemed to have rubbed off his ankle FG % (Min 10 Attempts) injury with 25 points going to th free line 14 times to make 11. Dillon Boucher (Heat) 66.6 Tim Behrendorff (Cougars) 65.6 Rick Rickert (Heat) 64.6

3pt % (Min 10 Attempts) Kavossy Franklin (Heat) 60.0 PLAYER POWER RANKINGS Dave Langrell (Hawks) 56.2 1. Rick Rickert (Harbour Heat) Ben Hill (Hawks) 54.7 2. Eric Devendorf (Waikato Pistons) 3. Corey Webster (Harbour Heat) FT % (Min 10 Attempts) 4. Dillon Boucher (Harbour Heat) Troy McLean (Saints) 90.9 5. Thomas Abercrombie (Waikato Pistons) Darryl Jones (Giants) 90.0 6. Antoine Tisby (OceanaGold Nuggets) Hayden Allen (Pistons) 88.8 7. Rene Rougeau (Zerofees Southland Sharks) 8. Phil Jones (Fico Finance Giants) 9. Alex Pledger (Waikato Pistons) 10. Michael Harrison (Fico Finance Giants)

The Next 10 . . . Jeremy Kench (Cougars), Jack Leasure (Airs), David Gruber (Pistons), Erron Maxey (Saints), Lindsay Tait (Saints), Mika Vukona (Giants), Jamil Terrell (Hawks), Demarshay Johnson (Airs), Richard Jeter (Pistons), Tyler Amaya (Nuggets)

Visit www.basketball.org.nz for Top-50 Player Power Rankings Check out www.tab.co.nz for the latest odds

Note: *Denotes Team Records since 2000 www.basketball.org.nz NBL Trivia of the Week

Which NBL team had the longest current winning streak up until Round Six and how many games was it?

Answer: Waikato Pistons with 13 wins

The two time defending champions, the Waikato Pistons won 13 games which all began on the 30th May 2009 when they defeated the Nelson Giants 76-73. The Pistons would win four in a row in the regular season and then win all three of their playoff games.

Pistons began the season winning their first six games, but the winning streak came to an end last Saturday when the Bay Hawks defeated them at Pettigrew Arena 78-73.