Basketball: Airs rout Hawkes in NBL

NZ Sports Wire

Photo by John Velvin.

The Taranaki Airs are challenging at the top of the Sal's NBL with a 3-1 start to the 2025 season and having a huge team effort to beat the Hawks.

Six players made double figures for the Airs as 23-year-old Jack Andrew who has previously been at the Otago Nuggets and the Perth Wildcats lit up the scoreboard with 21 and added 12 rebounds as well.

Armon Fletcher nabbed 20 points and Aussie Harry Froling 18. There was also support from Owen Foxwell, Carlin Davison and Jack Exeter also in double digits.

For the Hawks teenager Jackson Ball led the way with 23 points as did Campbell Scott along with Chicago-born Darnell Cowart on 20.

The Airs host defending champions the Rams on Wednesday 2 April, while the Hawks are away to the Hawks on Saturday 5 April.

In the Sky Broadband Rapid League game, Isaac Allan scored 15 points and grabbed six boards off the bench to lead the Hawks to a 32-29 victory.

Taranaki Airs 114 (Jack Andrew 21, Armon Fletcher 20, Harry Froling 18, Owen Foxwell 17, Carlin Davison 15, Jack Exeter 13). Hawke's Bay Hawks 88 (Jackson Ball 23, Campbell Scott 23, Darnell Cowart 20). 1Q: 27-15, HT: 54-31, 3Q: 85-64