Saints Secure Big Home Win

Orignal article credit to www.nzsportswire.com

The Wellington Saints have hit a league-high 20 three-pointers to make short work of the Southland Sharks.

Four different players connected on at least three triples as the Mills Albert Saints pulled away in the first half for a 122-83 rout of the Southland Sharks in the Sal's National Basketball League at TSB Arena on Wednesday night.

Australian swingman Nick Marshall hit five in his game-high 35 points (13/19 FG, 5/8 3pt) and six rebounds, while local product Rangimarie Dougall-Mita made six in his 20 points (7/12 FG, 6/11 3pt) off the bench.

Veteran Australian guard Shaun Bruce also drained five threes as he put up 17 points (6/8 FG, 5/6 3pt), to go with four boards and eight assists, with Tall Blacks guard Izayah Le'afa contributing two for nine points, 10 assists and two steals.

Although with no threes, Hyrum Harris posted a near triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and American centre Nick Muszynski 10 points, five boards and three blocks.

Leading the way for Southland, American forward Josiah Allick had 22 points (11/22 FG) and nine rebounds, and import guard Caleb Asberry 18 points (6/10 FG, 3/5 3pt), five assists and four steals.

In his 200th Sal's NBL game, Sharks captain Alonzo Burton was held to nine points, while Southland's third American, Keylan Boone, put up 10 points, four boards and four assists, and Sione Helu eight points and seven assists.

The Sharks led for much of the first period but found themselves down four points at quarter-time. That is when the game got out of hand.

The Saints opened the second quarter on a 22-2 run, including seven points from Marshall, to make it a 24-point game with 5:34 remaining in the half. They eventually stretched it to 30 points in the third and 40 in the fourth.

Wellington (2-1) are back in action on Sunday (tip-off 3pm) in Christchurch against the Canterbury Rams (2-1), while the Sharks (1-2) return home to host the Manawatu Jets (2-1) on Saturday (tip-off 7pm).

The Saints swept the night, winning the Sky Broadband Rapid League game 34-26, behind Kazlo Evans' 10 points, three assists and two steals.