Waikato Pistons fire for Cougars clash

The Christchurch Cougars were handed a 30-point trouncing, 104-74, by the Waikato Pistons in last night's national basketball league match in Te Awamutu.

The win maintained the reigning champions' early-season winning run, extending their unbeaten record to three. The Cougars have a two win-two loss record.

The Cougars' lack of size, without Australian import centre Tim Behrendorff, showed, as they struggled to contain Waikato's powerful forwards Alex Pledger and Tony Ronaldson. New Zealand Breaker Pledger – some 15 centimetres taller than his rivals – used his height to full advantage, with 16 rebounds alongside 16 points.

Ronaldson, the experienced Australian, made a game-high 28 points, 20 in the second spell.

The Cougars were hampered by only playing American import forward Trent Wurtz for 12 minutes. Wurtz has battled a hamstring injury, limiting his court time against Saints and Otago last weekend.

The league's leading scorer, Eric Devendorf, had a relatively quiet night by his standards, with 21 points plus nine assists. Tom Abercrombie weighed in with 19 points and seven rebounds.

Abercrombie kept tabs on the Cougars' regular free scorer, Paora Winitana. Winitana was restricted to 15 points, making four of 12 shots from the field.

Centre Lionel Hopgood jointly top scored with 15 – including three three-pointers early in the second spell – to prevent Waikato taking a stranglehold on the game.

Jeremy Kench made 12 points and Mark Morrison had seven, but that came from 18 attempts with just three successes from the floor.

The home side burst clear to lead 27-10 after the first quarter, and had stretched that to 51-30 by halftime. They also dominated the rebounds 54-35, including 17 offensive.

The Cougars travel to New Plymouth today to face winless Taranaki tonight, and salvage something from their northern trip. Taranaki are in the midst of an 18-game losing streak from last season.

Three other matches are on tonight, with Harbour hosting Saints in a frontrunners' clash, while Nelson face Otago at the Trafalgar Centre and Hawke's Bay host Southland.

SCORERS

Waikato 104 (Tony Ronaldson 28, Eric Devendorf 21, Tom Abercrombie 19, Alex Pledger 16) Cougars 74 (Lionel Hopgood 15, Paora Winitana 15, Jeremy Kench 12). Quarter-time scores: 27-10, 51-30, 76-54.

- © Fairfax NZ News