The Mike Pero Nelson Giants have put together their biggest offensive game of the season with a crushing 119-85 victory over the EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls, marking the equal highest score of the season in the process.
Six Giants reached double-digit scoring in a contest they led from start to finish, leaving the Bulls with very few highlights to celebrate. Furthermore, the Giants got 50 points from the bench compared with just 12 points from the Bulls.
Played in front of another bumper Thursday night crowd the Giants' faithful turned up in big numbers to celebrate Tom Ingham's 100th game, and it didn't take long for his teammates to join in the celebrations.
The home team delivered a 31-17 start over the opening 10 minutes of play, dropping five triples with Hunter Hale looking hot early. A dominant 16-7 effort on the glass by the Giants was also telling.
The Bulls fought back in the second quarter, taking it 28-27, which was largely helped with a 7-0 run to end the half, however the Giants went into the break with a 58-45 lead.
Hale was proving a handful for the Bulls, but back the other way Denhym Brooke was continuing his all-round athleticism and aggression that has helped him deliver a break-out season.
The third quarter started in a flurry as both teams looked to up the tempo, and though the Bulls landed some solid blows, the Giants found answers at every turn.
Giants captain Sam Dempster had reached a double-double by midway through the third period, including a new season-high in rebounds, and both Nic Trathen and Hale were proving dangerous around the arc.
By the end of the third period the Giants had rattled on another 39 points and led 97-65.
Emphasising the run, Alex McNaught was also influential, the teenage guard ending the quarter with a +26 rating in less than nine minutes of game time.
Trathen continued the punishment into the last period with a number of big baskets and ended the night with a season-high 24 points, whith all 12 Giants players enjoyed solid time on the court in the rout.
A sombre night for the Bulls, Isaac Davidson and Denhym Brooke did their best, but it mattered little as the Giants marched to a comprehensive victory.
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Nelson Giants (119) defeated Franklin Bulls (85) - BOXSCORE
Giants: Nic Trathen (24pts, 5 treys), Hunter Hale (23pts), Sam Dempster (15pts, 14rbs), Donte Ingram (17pts, 7ast).
Bulls: Isaac Davidson (24pts), Denhym Brooke (20pts), Jaylen Gerrand (14pts).
Game Highlights
Stuff Votes
Nic Trathen (Giants) 8
Hunter Hale (Giants) 5
Sam Dempster (Giants) 5
Isaac Davidson (Bulls) 5
Donte Ingram (Giants) 5
Denhym Brooke (Bulls) 2
(Photo Credit: PhotosportNZ)
