Saints continue to defend home court

Your Wellington Saints demolished the  Huskies in the Capital last night infront of a sell out crowd for their fifth home game in a row before taking to the road for their next round.  

The Wellington Saints continue to set the standard in the NZ NBL, as they dispatched the Auckland Huskies 107 - 76 at home at the TSB Bank Arena. 

It was the visiting Huskies who started strong early though, with some nice outside shooting. Their young squad spread the scoring around to start the game, but the Saints defense was also onto it early. 

The home team’s shooting only took a few minutes to warm up, with MVP candidate Dion Prewster getting to 10 points in the first quarter. The visitors started the second quarter well too, limiting the Saints outside shooting this time. The home team still inched the lead up to six though. 

Prewster was the early standout for the Saints,  getting to 21 in the first half as his dominant form continued. It was recent signing Takiula Fahrensohn who kept the Huskies in touch, as they went into the break only down by two. 

Halftime score 53 - 51 Saints. 

A huge Kerwin Roach dunk got the crowd wound up at the start of the second, and this ignited the Saints, going on a run to push the lead to 10.

Prewster was now going strong inside and out as the lead stayed in double digits. The Saints defense was again a feature in the third quarter as they continued to force turnovers and create pressure.

Roach was now cooking, as well as Taane Samuel, as the lead exploded to 19 points. The Saints showed their squad depth as several players made plays on both ends in the third. There were highlights left and right in this quarter as the home team showed why they are the competition’s best team. 

Samuel and Romaro Gill made big plays in the third as they extended the lead. Early Saints three-pointers in the fourth pushed the lead past 20 as the Huskies wilted under the continued defensive pressure. 

The game was effectively over halfway through the fourth as the lead ballooned out to 25. Prewster was to the fore as he continued to pile on the points. 

The crowd went mad halfway through the last quarter as big Romaro Gill threw down a dunk to ensure some free pizza courtesy of Hell Pizza as they hit the 100 point mark

With the lead past 25, Coach Zico Coronel emptied his bench to applause from the sell-out Wellington crowd. 

Final score 107 - 76. 

Key stats 

MVP  - Dion Prewster with 36 points and 6 assists on an excellent 13 of 18 from the field. 

Romaro Gill with 9 points and 7 huge offensive rebounds. 

Kerwin Roach with 15 points and 8 rebounds, to go with 4 assists.