AFTER a slow start to the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) season, the Wellington Saints look to be gradually getting back on track thanks to a 10-point triumph over the Southland Sharks. The match took place at TSB Arena on Saturday night, in a clash between two of the bottom three sides in the competition. A win was crucial for both sides, with the higher part of the standings moving further away on a weekly basis.

It was hard to predict a favourite coming in, but given the strength of Wellington’s list at the moment, they were probably it. It was an entertaining contest, with the result only decided in the last few minutes of play. The Saints managed to conjure one last push to close out the game, and emerge victorious. It is their second win in a row, and they moved to a record of three wins and five losses, which is good enough for eighth spot. However, they are still in touch with the seventh and sixth ranked sides, so there is hope moving forward. On the other hand, the Sharks remain in ninth place, and have a lot of work to do in the back half of the season.

Wellington Saints (96) def. Southland Sharks (86)

The Sharks produced a terrific start to the contest, jumping out to a nine-point lead in the first few minutes and looking pretty likely to break away on the scoreboard. Wellington’s offence could not get rolling, scoring just one point in the first three and a half minutes of play. They finally turned things around, thanks to some handy shooting from behind the arc, and trailed by just three points at the first change of play. There was more of the same kind of action in the second term, with the Saints tying things up a few minutes in, and the two teams traded blows with some impressive buckets. The Sharks broke away again, jumping out to another nine-point lead late in the term, one which they took into the main break.

The Saints lifted in the third term, completely nullifying the Sharks whenever they got the ball, and getting their own offensive groove going at the same time. Despite trailing at half time, they tied up the match just a few minutes into the second half, and it was game on. The lead went back and forth for the rest of the term, and it looked as if the result could go either way. Wellington led by two points at the final change, in what was shaping as a thrilling finish. The Saints looked to break away early in the last, but the Sharks did a good job of keeping themselves in the game for much of the period. It was only in the final three minutes that the Saints exploded, storming home to a double-digit victory.

NBL superstar Xavier Cooks was the star of the show, finishing with a whopping double-double and continuing to stamp his authority on this competition. He had 24 points and 24 rebounds and was far and away the most commanding figure on the court. Teammate Michael Smith finished with a game-high 30 points with an outstanding offensive performance.