Too little too late as Rams find form
The Canterbury Rams have saved their best National Basketball League performance of the season for last.
Canterbury capped off a disappointing campaign with a 107-99 win over the finals-bound Wellington Saints at Christchurch’s Cowles Stadium last night.
Banged up point guard Jeremy Kench was the architect of the Rams’ triumph, scoring a gamehigh 31 points, which included five three-pointers. Kench has been troubled by a right knee injury all season, which has seen him average just five points per game.
After a sleepy first half showing where they trailed by 11 at halftime, Wellington, who were without injured American star Torrey Craig, fought back.
With the Saints drawing close in the final quarter, down by three [79-76], Kench put the Rams on his shoulders.
He stole the ball off Brendon Polyblank and sprinted down court for a lay-up.
The former Tall Black then hit two pivotal three pointers within quick succession to blow the lead back out to 12 [91-79] with four minutes to go.
Canterbury had high hopes this season with former NBA players Jermaine Taylor and Mickell Gladness in their ranks and a solid supporting cast.
Finishing fifth on the ladder with a 9-9 record will be deemed a failure by the Rams.
They will reflect back on several costly losses, which they should have won.
Wellington’s loss means Southland take out the regular season title with a game to play.
The Saints, who were already assured of a finals spot, meet Southland in the second game of their road double-header in Invercargill tonight.
First quarters have plagued the Rams all season, but sparked by Kench, they made most of the early running. Kench set the tone on offence, scoring 10 points in the opening term.
Canterbury went on a 14-0 run midway through the quarter to build a 22-11 advantage, capped off with a thunderous Sam Timmins dunk.
The Rams refused to let up and halfway into the second term, their advantage had ballooned out to 16 points.
Wellington are perennial title contenders for a reason and chipped back into the lead, late in the half.
A three-point play from Saints’ import big man Daniel Johnson, was followed up with a technical foul on Rams’ coach Mark Dickel.
Leon Henry then drained his third three pointer of the first half in the closing stages to cut the deficit to eight [51-42] at halftime.