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Giants get the job done against undermanned Rangers

The Mike Pero Nelson Giants ended their seven-game losing streak at home tonight, doing just enough to topple the 2Cheap Cars Supercity Rangers 102-81.

The game was high-scoring affair from the outset, with both team trading blows from all over the court.

Tim Quarterman took his typical lead for the visitors and dropped 15 points in the opening period, with Nnanna Egwu doing his best Robin impression with six points from down low and timely defence. 

However, their one-two punch wasn't enough to get the Rangers ahead on the scoreboard as the Giants lead at the end of the first two quarters.

The Giants were again reliant on the play of imports Jordair Jett and Rhys Vague, both of whom hit double-digits before the big break.

Tyrell Harrison snagged a few offensive boards and got above the rim on multiple occasions, all of which led to a 57-52 lead at the half.

The second half was another quarter full of points scoring for the Giants, but the same couldn't be said for the Rangers.

Multiple players stepped up for the hosts in the what turned out to be the most pivotal period, with Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Daniel Grida chipping in with twos and threes when needed.

The home team finished with three triples on consecutive possessions and pushed themselves out to an 85-70 advantage going into the fourth.

If the floodgates hadn't already been opened in the previous quarter, they were well and truly opened for the last 10 minutes. 

An inability to hit convert on open looks was the demise of the Rangers in the end, with the majority of their misses ending in defensive rebounds for the Giants and easy points in transition. 

This was the only game for the hosts in R9, but the Rangers travel south to Invercargill tomorrow for their game against the Sharks.

 

Nelson Giants 102 def Supercity Rangers 81

Giants - Rhys Vague 26pts & 11rbs,  Jordair Jett 20pts, 5rbs, 5ast, Tyrell Harrison 15pts & 7rbs.

Rangers - Tim Quarterman 39pst, 5rbs, 5ast, 5stl, Nnanna Egwu 19pts & 10 rbs.

Stats That Matter - the Rangers lost the rebounds (34-55), but it was their 3pt shooting woes that again let them down. The rangers went at 17% (5-28) from range compared with the Giants at 38% (12-38).

TAB MVP Votes - Rhys Vague (Giants) 9, Tim Quarterman (Rangers) 8, Jordair Jett (Giants) 7, Nnanna Egwu (Rangers) 3, Tyrell Harrison (Giants) 3.

Talking Points

1. The Giants put together a full 40-minute performance tonight, something they arguably haven't done all season. The last seven weeks they lost their edge during the middle periods, but not today. From the outset the played with assertiveness and never took a backward step. This was a good sign for them, but almost certainly come too late for a playoff run.
2. Tim Quarterman has put together one of the best statistical seasons ever seen in the Sal's NBL and it could possibly all count for nothing. Basketball is certainly one of the few team sports where one player can carry a team over the line, but as we've seen all season, it takes more than one player in this league. 
3. Both benches made statements tonight and for different reasons. The hosts pine provided nearly a third of their scoring, while the Ranger's subs only managed eight points from 18 shots. It's no secret that smaller clubs don't run any longer than four men deep, but this sort of output from fresh legs is abysmal.