An inspired final quarter performance propelled the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets to their first Sal’s NBL win of the season beating EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls 84-76 at Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing 62-58 at three-quarter time the Jets outscored their hosts 26-14 in the final period to snap a five game losing streak.
Former University of Texas at El Paso big man John Bohannon (16 points and 16 rebounds) and fellow forward Shane Temara (21 points) were at the heart of the fourth quarter effort. Bohannon, quiet until that point, scored 10 points in the final frame with Temara adding 7 points down the stretch.
A Nathaniel Salmon inside basket propelled the Jets to an 11-5 start to the fourth before
Leon Henry (12 points and 10 rebounds) made much needed transition basket for the home team. Jayden Bezzant (21 points) trimmed the Bulls deficit to three before the outstanding Temara made another inside basket.
Bohannon’s free throws made it a 9-point game with just two minutes to play and the Jets could sense success.
An Isaac Davidson (14 points) lay-up cut the lead to 83-76 with 1:36 on the clock but the Bulls couldn’t mount the required game changing charge and slipped to a fourth straight defeat.
In the opening exchanges Anzac Rissetto was forced to the bench after he picked up two fouls in as many minutes as the Jets opened up an early 6-3 lead. The Jets pushed the lead out to seven points before the energetic Leon Henry (7 points and 4 rebounds in the opening 10 minutes) provided the impetus for the Bulls to take a 22-19 lead into the first break.
Kael Robinson made the opening score of the second period as by-play between Zane Najdawi (16 points) and Denhym Brooke provided entertainment for the home crowd – less amusing was the calf injury suffered by referee Tim Brown that forced him to withdraw from the game.
Robinson made his second triple of the period, Christian Martin converted his steal into a bucket, and the Bulls had a 36-30 lead.
Najdawi was the first player in double figures (13 points at the half) and with Pafe Momoisea landing a deep three the Bulls lead was just three points (39-36) at the interval.
The Jets were well in the contest headed to the dressing room but needing to address the turnover situation – they had 14 in the half!
Bezzant, selected for the Tall Blacks team to compete at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup later this month, opened the second half scoring - a Henry three and another trey from Bezzant giving the hosts a 12-point lead (52-40).
Bohannon added a triple after Nathaniel Salmon’s tip-in – the Bulls lead trimmed to 54-47.
Temara had the final say of the third – the Jets trailed 62-58 ahead of that resurgent final spell.
It’s a short turnaround for the buoyant Jets that travel up the Northern Motorway to take on the Auckland Tuatara on Monday afternoon.
SCORE: Bulls 76, Jets 84
Bulls: Bezzant 21 PTS & 5 ASSISTS | Davidson 14 PTS | Henry 12 PTS & 10 REBS | Thompson 9 PTS
Jets: Temara 21 PTS | Bohannon 16 PTS & 16 REBS | Najdawi 16 PTS & 10 REBS |N Salmon 9 PTS | Crawford 9 PTS
Full box score HERE.
Stuff MVP Votes
Shane Temara (Jets) - 9 votes
Pafe Momoisea (Jets) - 5 votes
Jayden Bezzant (Bulls) - 4 votes
John Bohannon (Jets) - 4 votes
Jett Thompson (Bulls) - 3 votes
Klein Salmon (Jets) - 3 votes
Isaac Davidson (Bulls) - 1 vote
Kael Robinson (Bulls) - 1 vote
Upcoming Opponents
Bulls – June 11 @ Nelson Giants
Jets – June 6 @ Auckland Tuatara
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Round 6 Sal's NBL Schedule
