Cameron starts coaching career with win

Tall Blacks legend Pero Cameron began his coaching career with a big road win in the National Basketball League as his Wellington Saints defeated the Christchurch Cougars 85-72 at Cowles Stadium.

American import Darryl Hudson headlined the Saints performance, finishing with 33 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals as Wellington improved to 2-0 in the young season, both wins coming away from the capital.

Centre Nick Horvath, a former Tall Black, produced his second double-double in as many games, going for 14 points (7/16 FG, 0/2 3pt, 0/1 FT) and a game-high 16 boards, while shooting guard Troy McLean finished with 13 points.

Cameron, the Saints player-coach, did not take the floor as he continues to recover from knee surgery. The Saints were also missing Tall Blacks starting point guard Lindsay Tait, who remained in Wellington with an ankle injury.

After a close first quarter, the Saints took control of the game with a 26-16 second period. The Cougars, playing without their Australian centre Tim Behrendorff, still on duty with the Wollongong Hawks in the Australian NBL, managed to close within five points with a quarter to run but were unable to pull closer in the fourth.

Rebounding and defence proved the difference.

The Saints outrebounded the Cougars 50-38 and held the home team to 35 percent shooting from the field and 31 percent on three-point attempts. The Saints shot 48 percent on field goals and 44 percent from long-distance.

Led by Paora Winitana's 20 points, the Cougars had four players in double digits, with import Trent Wurtz going for 15, point guard Jeremy Kench and forward Mark Morrison 12 points. Winitana and Kench shot a combined 11-of-33 from the field.

The NBL takes the night off on Friday, followed by a busy Saturday night slate, featuring four games. The two-time defending champion Waikato Pistons host the Taranaki Mountain Airs in Te Awamutu, the Jets host the Bay Hawks in Palmerston North, the Saints back-up in Nelson against the Giants, while the Cougars travel south to the Gold Mine to face the Otago Nuggets in Dunedin.

Completing Week 2, the Harbour Heat welcome the new swimmers, the Southland Sharks, to the North Shore Events Centre on Sunday afternoon.

- © Fairfax NZ News