Basketball: Canterbury’s three-pointers the difference against Airs

NZ Sports Wire

Photo by John Velvin 

Three-point shooting was the difference as the Canterbury Rams took down the Taranaki Airs in New Plymouth.

The Wheeler Motor Company Rams hit 14 triples to the Steelformers Airs' two in their runaway 87-71 win at TSB Stadium on Wednesday night to tip-off Week 4 of the National Basketball League (NBL).

Tama Isaac and Max Darling, both recent Tall Blacks, starred off the bench for the two-time defending Sal's NBL champions.

Isaac scored a team-high 18 points (6/14 FG, 3/4 3pt), with three assists, while Darling, an NZ Breakers forward, had 14 points (5/8 FG, 4/7 3pt) and six rebounds, helping spur the Rams clear in the third quarter.

Australian big Kyle Bowen put up 13 points (5/11 FG), nine boards, three steals and two blocks, Tall Blacks forward Tohi Smith Milner 13 points (5/12 FG, 3/10 3pt) and nine rebounds, and Taylor Britt 11 points, six boards and 13 assists.

Australian centre Harry Froling led four Airs players in double-digits, with 19 points (8/19 FG) and 15 rebounds, supported by 18 points (6/15 FG, 6/10 FT), 12 boards and three assists from Kiwi forward Carlin Davison.

American guard Armon Fletcher added 16 points (3/12 FG, 9/9 FT), five boards and three steals, and Kiwi big Jack Andrew 12 points (5/8 FG), eight rebounds and two blocks, for Taranaki, who hit just 2-of-21 three-point attempts.

The Rams, who hit 14-of-37 from deep, took the lead for good midway through the first period and extended the gap to 10-plus points in the second.

Taranaki closed within six points on four occasions in the third period but Canterbury uncorked a 22-6 run either side of three-quarter time, including eight points from Isaac, to take a 22-point lead and put the game away.

The Rams (4-1) are off for a week, before travelling to Pukekohe to face the Franklin Bulls (4-1) next Wednesday (tip-off 7pm), while the Airs (3-2) take on the Nelson Giants (0-4) at the Trafalgar Centre on Saturday (tip-off 3pm).

The Rams swept the night, with Jake Holmes, Ihaka Cate and Mana Martin all scoring in double figures for a 46-32 win over the Airs in the Sky Broadband Rapid League game.

Canterbury Rams 87 (Tama Isaac 18, Max Darling 14, Kyle Bowen 13, Tohi Smith-Milner 13, Taylor Britt 11). Taranaki Airs 71 (Harry Froling 19, Carlin Davison 18, Armon Fletcher 16, Jack Andrew 12). 1Q: 23-16, HT: 44-37, 3Q: 69-54