THE Taranaki Mountainairs managed to just emerge victorious in their New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) clash with the Wellington Saints, claiming a six-point win when the two sides locked horns at TSB Arena on Sunday evening.

It was a contest that the Airs were favoured in during the lead-up, given the fact that they are in the midst of a much more successful season than their opponents, and had the extra motivation of competing for a top four spot. However, the Saints had just undergone a coaching change and were looking rejuvenated in recent weeks, and the close nature of the game reflected their improvement.

After a see-sawing first term, the game was tied at quarter-time, showing that the Saints were here to play. Quarter number two saw the Airs slightly grab control of the contest and take a five-point advantage at the main break.

Wellington looked down and out at one stage of the third term, but rallied behind their big names to conjure an impressive comeback and make things very interesting in the final quarter. Taranaki’s class came to the forefront in the closing minutes of the game, as they snuck away to their seventh win of the season.

The Airs’ triumph sees Taranaki leapfrog the Nuggets and jump into the top four, proving to be a crucial win in the context of their season. With the fixture slowly coming to a close, victories like this may just decide Taranaki’s fate come season’s end. In contrast, Wellington sustained its eighth loss of the season, making a finals finish look even more unlikely.

Anthony Hilliard was an absolute machine on the offensive end in Taranaki’s win, producing a whopping 41 points in the victory and leading his team to a winning score. 13 of his 18 attempts from the field found the bottom of the net, and he was arguably the most important factor in the result for the Airs.

Star Wellington big man Xavier Cooks fought bravely despite the final result, and proved to be a serious problem for the Airs’ defence, particularly inside the paint. He finished with a team-high 32 points to go with nine rebounds. 14 of his 20 shots were good, so efficiency was no problem for the NBL Finals MVP, who almost got the Saints to an unlikely victory.

The Airs will be keen on keeping their spot inside the top four, but will next have to take down the Franklin Bulls at TSB Stadium on Wednesday night. On the other hand, the Saints will look to turn things around in their next clash, a matchup against the Otago Nuggets at TSB Arena on Sunday afternoon, as they look to keep their season alive.