Jets outplayed after early red-tape scare

The Manawatu Jets came close to taking the court without three of their players on Saturday evening because they hadn't been cleared to play in the National Basketball League.

Hugh Quinlivan, Calum MacLeod and Matt Te Huna, who have all played for the Wellington Saints previously, had their transfer documents signed off only 30 minutes before tip-off by league administrator Nick Mills Jr.

It sent a scare through the Jets camp and while they lost 115-81 to the Saints at Arena Manawatu, it could have been a lot worse had they not played.

As far as season-openers go, they don't come much worse than Saturday's effort.

The Jets played with only one of their imports because 2.08m power forward Ronald Allen was ruled out with a back complaint.

They lost Callum Brock to a knee injury in the second half and were thoroughly outplayed by an under-strength Saints outfit.

Allen is expected to be back next weekend to play against the Hawks, but it's unknown how Brock will pull up. But he said after the game he would be fine.

Jets coach Ryan Weisenberg said his coaching staff would be hard on the team at training this week.

"I was expecting a better result, it didn't come," he said after the game.

"We can't push panic yet. It was only the first game and like I told the players, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

"We've got to get tougher on them. In practice, I've been, as a coach, a little bit light and we've been focusing on the wrong things.

"But obviously, by allowing 115 points we are going to focus on defence all week because we just can't give up that many points. It just can't happen."

The Jets were slow to start, trailed the whole game and lacked scoring options outside of import Richard Jeter.

Co-captain Kaine Hokianga scored 17 points, including three from six from beyond the arc, while Jeter had a team-high 29. But nobody else was in double figures.

Saints, however, had four players in double digits and had players across the court who could knock shots down.

None more so than red-hot guard Leon Henry, who drained six three-pointers on his way to 28 points while Palmerston North-based centre Nick Horvath scored a game-high 29 and was a dominant figure in the post.

The Saints lost captain Lindsay Tait to an ankle injury in the first quarter, played with one import and only signed some of their players in the week leading up to the game. But they were convincing winners.

Saints assistant coach Kenny McFadden, who was in charge because player-coach Pero Cameron was away, said it was a good first-up effort from his side.

"It was good to get that first win," he said.

"It had its challenges considering that Pero's still in Australia.

"It was a situation where we were still trying to get our systems and our personnel together."

The Jets' next game is against the Hawks at Arena Manawatu on Saturday.

Wellington Saints 115 (Nick Horvath 29, Leon Henry 28) Manawatu Jets 81 (Richard Jeter 29, Kaine Hokianga 17)

Quarter scores: 1Q 28-22, HT 60-50, 3Q 89-69.

- © Fairfax NZ News