Mountain Airs find it tough against Pistons

The class of 2010 is fast learning that life in the National Basketball League is tough.

The Waikato Pistons came out pumping in the first and third quarters to set up a 96-78 win over the Taranaki Mountain Airs in Te Awamutu on Saturday night.

The Pistons took the first quarter 32-24, with the Mountain Airs climbing back into the game, winning a low-scoring second quarter 17-13 to trail by only four at the break. But the fireworks resumed for the home side after the restart, with a 30-18 quarter to lead 75-59, which all but secured the win.

Taranaki went close to matching the home side in the final quarter, before going down 21-19.

"We're getting there. Our intensity was much better and we were only down by seven with just over two minutes to play," Taranaki coach Angelo Hill said. "We just couldn't hit some buckets and had to foul, and the score blew out. We kept on attacking, we wanted the win.

"They're the two-time defending champs. They're very experienced. We stayed with them, but little mistakes killed us," he said. "Overall, everyone played much better. We just need to get over that hill and get that win."

The Mountain Airs did a good job defensively on American Eric Devendorff, restricting the shooting guard to 25 points.

A week earlier in his first game in New Zealand, Devendorff had scored 49 points against the Nelson Giants.

However, it opened the door for Kiwi guard Thomas Abercrombie, who scored a game-high 37.

Taranaki's leading scorer was Tall Black and Breakers forward Jeremiah Trueman with 23 points and nine rebounds, while imports Jack Leasure (18) and DeMarshay Johnson (12) were the other two to make it into double figures.

- © Fairfax NZ News