Hawks go to the top of the ladder outright
Dustin Scott (20 points, 9 rebounds) and Kareem Johnson (18 points , 10 rebounds) were too much for the Saints, in particular the paint where they dominated on the boards.
After a high scoring first half which saw both teams tied at 52, the Tab Baldwin coa...ched side put the clamps on Wellington, holding them scoreless for nearly eight minutes.
The Hawks would lead by as many as 15, until finally the Saints would score from a layup by Dion Prewster.
Wellington scored 11 unanswered points to close to within four with nine minutes still remaining in the game.
After a timeout the Hawks would reply with a 14-2 run, which ended the Saints chance of a comeback win.
It was again a balanced effort from the Hawks, and guards Jarrod Kenny and Everard Bartlett were tremendous on both ends of the court.
Kenny had 16 points and won the battle of the Tall Black point guards over Lindsay Tait who shot 5/14 for 14 points.
Bartlett added 14 and seven assists, and although his opposite Corey Webster had 28, he did shoot 9/22.
The loss now puts the Saints win/loss to 7-3, but their main concern would be their imports Elijah Obade and Ernest Scott who were held to a combined four points and five rebounds.
The Hawks are now 9-2 and so far look like they will be the first team to clinch a playoff berth.
IMS Payroll Hawks 88 (Dustin Scott 20, Kareem Johnson 18, Jarrod Kenny 16) Pacific Jewellers Saints 78 (Corey Webster 28, Benny Anthony Jr 21, Lindsay Tait 14), Final
Saturday, May 10
At TSB Stadium, New Plymouth
The Good Home Mountainairs 126 (Adrian Oliver 42, Suleiman Braimoh 35, Brad Anderson 26) James Blond Super City Rangers 90 (Darryl Corletto 30, Jason Cadee 16, Duane Bailey 15),
Zerofees Southland Sharks 94 (Brian Conklin 21, Kevin Braswell 17, Reuben Te Rangi 16) Fico Finance Giants 83 (Josh Pace 20, Phill Jones 16, Josh Bloxham 12), Final
On Friday IMS Payroll Hawks get their eighth win, beating the Canterbury Rams 76-59 and go to the top of the ladder outright after a clinical first half in which they led by as many as 30. The Rams on the other hand struggled, shooting 29% from the field and turning the ball over 12 times.
Canterbury played a zone in the second half which slowed the Hawks scoring, but they would never truly threaten their lead.
After scoring 101 the week before in Palmerston, the 59 scored was a season low for the Rams who slump to one win and seven losses.
All ten Hawks players scored, Marco Alexander the Hawks top scorer with 16 off the bench.
Jeremy Kench played hard to have a game high 17, but the Rams needed more from key players Marcel Jones and Matthew Rogers who combined for only five points on 2/14 shooting.
Tomorrow the Hawks return to the Bay to host the Pacific Jewellers Saints (7-2) in a top of the table clash.
Friday, May 9
Canterbury Rams 59 (Jeremy Kench 17, Ethan Rusbatch 11, Glen Dandridge 10, Richie Edwards 10) IMS Payroll Hawks 76 (Marco Alexander 16, Everard Bartlett 13, Jarrod Kenny 12), Final
OceanaGold Nuggets 79 (Brendon Polyblank 26, Warren Carter 22, Mark Dickel 14) Fico Finance Nelson Giants 83 (Josh Pace 26, Phill Jones 17, Jamal Boykin 14), Final
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