Two big plays with just three minutes left swung momentum, and ultimately the game, in the favour of the Mike Pero Nelson Giants as they beat the Canterbury Rams at Trafalgar Centre tonight.
With the scores tied, former Waimea College star Nic Trathen drained a huge three point shot to put his side ahead. Fellow Giant Trey Mourning then followed it up with an offensive rebound and layup to give the Giants a five point lead which they would not relinquish.
The win puts the Giants into the top four of the Sal's National Basketball League and confirms that they are contenders for play-off basketball this season.
Nelson started the stronger of the two teams, in what was billed as a battle between two of the league's top defensive teams.
Jarrod West got the Giants rolling early and helped the hosts to a 27-17 lead at the first quarter.
The Rams spent the next two quarters chipping away at that lead with the Giants holding a four point advantage at half time and down by one point at the three quarter mark.
It seemed that the Rams, led by the outstanding Sunday Dech, would have enough fire power to roll over the Giants in the final quarter but the hosts kept in touch and with just three minutes to go, then started to pull away, thanks to Trathen and Mourning.
Mourning put in a man-of-the-match performance, scoring a game-high 37 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.
The win is a huge result for the Giants and coach Mike Fitchett wasn't hiding his smile after the final whistle.
"This league is going to be so tight this year, there will be a bunch of teams in the hunt for the top six so to beat Canterbury is really good for us. Good for our season but also because it's just nice to beat the old foe."
Fitchett says Mourning, along with Jarrod West, were obvious stand-outs but the defensive work of captain Sam Dempster was also key to the Giants win, along with of course, that big shot by Trathen.
"Sometimes it just takes a bit of individual brilliance. Earlier Nic had taken a couple of those shots and that didn't drop for him and that one goes down and then Trey came up with that big offensive rebound and we were away."
Scores:
Giants 85 (Mourning 37, West 25, McNaught 11). Rams 77 (Dech 35, Britt 16)
1st quarter: Giants 27-17. Half time: Giants 45-41. 3rd quarter: Rams 66-65. Full time Giants 85-77
