Basketball: Taranaki end season with loss as White signs off

The Taranaki Airs have finished their Sal's NBL season with a 109-85 loss to the Auckland Tuatara, bringing the curtain down on head coach John White's final game in charge this season.

The Airs pushed one of the competition's top sides for long periods before the Tuatara pulled away with a decisive third-quarter burst.

Auckland made the brighter start, knocking down shots from long range while Sean Bairstow dominated early, going a perfect 7-from-7 from the field in the opening half. The Tuatara stretched their lead to as many as 17 points before Taranaki fought back through Taane Samuel, trimming the margin to single figures before trailing by just nine at halftime.

The Airs carried that momentum into the third quarter, with Samuel catching fire from beyond the arc as Taranaki cut the deficit to a single point.

However, Auckland responded immediately after a timeout, reeling off a 15-0 run that swung the contest decisively in the home side's favour. While the Airs continued to battle, they were unable to recover as the Tuatara secured a 109-85 victory.

Samuel led the way for Taranaki with 26 points, six rebounds and three assists, while James Moors recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Zavier Adam added eight points and six assists.

Bairstow starred for Auckland with 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Dylan Wilkie added 16 points and Tom Vodanovich finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Earlier, the Airs' Rapid League side also fell to the Tuatara, losing 53-38.

Auckland raced to an early 16-5 lead before Taranaki responded in the second quarter, with Samuel helping reduce the margin to six points at halftime. However, another dominant third quarter from the Tuatara proved the difference.

Samuel again topped the Airs' scoring with 15 points, while Riley Tuuta added 11 and Quintin Bailey scored seven.