A huge night from Tai Wynyard has seen the bottom of the table Taranaki Steelformers Mountainairs come away with a deserved 104-93 win over their neighbours to the west, the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets.
The Airs burst out to a fast start with a 25-point first quarter that was punctuated by some now expected Carlin Davison highlights.
The Jets were down their starting centre in Shane Temara, and without him, Airs big man Tai Wynyard began to feast at the banquet of mismatches.
A 31-point second quarter in which Marcel Jones came to the Naki party saw the Airs with a healthy half time lead. The Jets threatened, in spells, to comeback in the second half, but the Airs kept them at bay in a defensive display that coach Trent Adams would have liked to have seen a few rounds ago.
Wynyard was imperious against a fragile Jets defence, finishing with a career-high 31 points and 17 rebounds.
Taranaki Airs (101) beat Manawatu Jets (93) - BOXSCORE
Airs: Tai Wynyard 31pts & 17rbs, Marcel Jones 23pts & 11rbs.
Jets: Daishon Knight 24pts & 7rbs 6ast, Jayden Bezzant 16pts & 5ast.
Stuff MVP Votes
Tai Wynyard (Airs) 10pts
Marcel Jones (Airs) 7pts
Daishon Knight (Jets) 6pts
Haize Walker (Airs) 3pts
Scott Telfer (Airs) 2pts
Jayden Bezzant (Jets) 1pt
Kalib Mullins (Jets) 1pts
(Photo Credit: PhotosportNZ)
