Cougars to face pumped Pistons

The challenge for the Christchurch Cougars tonight is to repeat their playoff-winning performance against Harbour but this time away from home, with an injured import and against the national basketball league's top qualifier, Waikato.

If the Cougars can climb that mountain beating the defending champion Pistons in Te Awamutu in the semifinal in their debut season it would indeed be a dream to secure a place in next week's finals series.

The odds are stacked against them with as Waikato finished their regular season with a 14 win-two loss record compared with the Cougars' 10-six regular season effort.

The Cougars have to quickly come back to earth after their head-turning winning exploits in overtime against Harbour at Cowles Stadium just two nights ago and deliver more of the same.

It will have to be done with hard-working forward Trent Wurtz battling to shake off the effects of a groin injury that restricted his contribution in the second spell against Harbour. Although Wurtz played much of that match 31 of 45 minutes he was undoubtedly hampered and, with little respite, faces another test on it tonight.

Waikato have proven themselves to be a more rounded team this year, if lacking some of the breathtaking brilliance supplied by American imports Jason Crowe and Brian Wethers last season.

Well guided by New Zealand Breakers and Tall Black assistant coach Dean Vickerman, they are playing a more structured team game based around key players, imports Adam Ballinger and Justin Bailey, exciting newcomer Thomas Abercrombie and young Tall Black Mike Fitchett, balanced by the weighty experience of Pero Cameron, Puke Lenden and Mike Homik.

Although the Cougars were beaten both home and away by the Pistons during the regular season, there were some valid reasons for the Cougars coming second on both occasions (82-73 and 99-82).

The first match was the opening round of the league and the Cougars' new signings, Tim Behrendorff and Paul Henare, had only arrived the day before, while Paora Winitana did not play because it was a Sunday match. In the return encounter, the second leg of an away doubleheader, the Cougar Winitana broke his hand early in the match, while Gerard Bowden was returning from an ankle injury.

"We were certainly not at our best in either match and I would not read too much into those results," Cougars coach Andrew Gardiner said.

"Having said that, Waikato is a very good side and we will have to play at our peak."

The match is in Te Awamutu to accommodate television.

Nelson have elbowed their way into the National Basketball League (NBL) final the hard way by overcoming a late deficit to edge past Wellington.

They made the most of a parochial home crowd in Nelson to prevail 83-82 after the scores were tied at 41-all at halftime. The lead seesawed through a tight affair before Wellington snuck clear 72-66 with four minutes 45 seconds remaining when they nailed two free throws gifted them after Nelson coach Chris Tupu drew a technical foul for overly enthusiastic advice to match officials.

Nelson won the match when Tony Rampton scored from a rebound off a free-throw with a second remaining. The Saints indicated they would protest the winning basket.

- © Fairfax NZ News