Cougars fade after Wurtz hit by injury

KIRK HARGREAVES/The Press

INJURED: The Christchurch Cougars were hampered after Trent Wurtz limped off the court in Christchurch last night.

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The loss of hard-working American forward Trent Wurtz to injury for the final quarter was too tough for the Christchurch Cougars to overcome in losing 85-72 to Wellington's Saints at Cowles Stadium in Christchurch last night.

The Cougars were already underpowered for the national basketball league match with just one import. The Saints effectively fielded four Americans, including two New Zealand residents, Nick Horvath and Casey Frank.

The Cougars were still within striking distance at three-quarter time, trailing 57-62, but Wurtz, who was sitting down on four fouls, never returned to the game.

Cougars coach Andrew Gardiner said they decided against Wurtz re-entering the game for fear of aggravating a hamstring injury.

"We really didn't want to risk it coming cold off the bench with the rest of the season at stake," Gardiner said.

Saints polished American guard Darryl Hudson sent several daggers into the Cougars hearts with 15 points in the last quarter including two three-pointers to seal the win.

The classy Hudson top-scored for the match with 33.

It had been thought that Saints might struggle in the guardline without ball carrier Lindsay Tait, but Hudson fitted into the role expertly, producing several breathtaking moves driving to the hoop. The Cougars were already battling the Saints' extra height and that proved a factor too, although Lionel Hopgood battled manfully against Nick Horvath.

Horvath made a big impact in the game's latter stages where the bulk of his 14 points came, although he was a constant threat round the boards, scooping 16.

The Saints committed a high number of turnovers early on as they struggled to find their combinations and the Cougars grabbed an early 11-5 lead.

Once the visitors began stringing their passes together they started to dominate a Cougars side who battled for shooting success from the floor netting 35 per cent for the match compared to the Saints' 47 per cent.

The Saints were also superior from the three-point line, netting 44 per cent against 30 per cent for the Cougars. The Saints' free-throw success was modest at 57 per cent, despite getting to the line 30 times compared to 16 for the Cougars.

Gardiner said he was more than happy with the tenacious effort his team produced.

However, he was less satisfied with some of the shot-making execution.

Paora Winitana was again the Cougars go-to offensive player.

He dragged the home side back into the game during the third quarter, slotting 10 points after the Saints threatened to break the match apart leading 49-38 with six minutes to play in the period.

The Cougars closed to within one basket just before the break with Winitana leading the charge and Wurtz, Jeremy Kench and Mark Morrison providing good support.

The Cougars now face their first road trip against Otago in Dunedin tomorrow.

The Saints have the second leg of their South Island sojourn, away to Nelson, also tomorrow.

SCORERS

Saints 85 (Darryl Hudson 33, Nick Horvath 14 plus 16 rebs, Troy McLean 13) Cougars 72 (Paora Winitana 20, Trent Wurtz 15, Jeremy Kench 12, Mark Morrison 12) Halftime: 44-35.

- © Fairfax NZ News