In an exhausting day that included multiple delays due to Nelson Airport being fogged-in, the Nelson Giants have successfully closed out their season with a competitive 94-82 win over the Taranaki Mountainairs.
Only eight players for the Giants made it to the game with less than an hour to tip-off, the last couple of players scrambling on to flights as available seats arose. As it was the Giant's coaching staff and at least two other players didn't make it to the game, the coaching duties instead being taken care of by an injured Mika Vukona.
Both teams played an exciting brand of basketball with the Giants skipping clear with a 25-18 last quarter to close out the game. Tyrell Harrison was the star for the winners with 25pts and played a key role in helping his team total 56pts from inside the paint.
All up the Giants had five of their eight players in double digits, while Alonzo Burton finished the season in style for the Airs with 23pts.
Taranaki Mountainairs 82 lost to Nelson Giants 94
Airs - Alonzo Burton 23pts, Derone Raukawa 15pts, Houston O'Riley 15pts.
Giants - Tyrell Harrison 25pts, Jordair Jett 19pts, Rhys Vague 18pts, Dan Grida 16pts.
Stats That Matter - interestingly the Airs got the foul line just four times for the game, missing all four shots. At the other end the Giants went 12/18 and won the game by 12pts.
TAB MVP Votes - Tyrell Harrison (Giants) 10, Alonzo Burton (Airs) 6, Jordair Jett (Giants) 6, Daniel Grida (Giants) 4, Rhys Vague (Giants) 2, Aaron Bailey-Nowell (Airs) 2.
