A complete dominance on the boards has seen the Taranaki Airs blow away the Bay Hawks.
The Airs out-rebounded the Hawks 60-26 at New Plymouth's TSB Stadium, powering to a wire-to-wire 103-76 win in the National Basketball League (NBL) on Wednesday night.
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Australian forward Sam Froling led the way, pulling down 16 rebounds, including four offensive, to go with a game-high 27 points (10/15 FG, 7/8 FT), while three players - Carlin Davison, Tobias Cameron and Quintin Bailey - grabbed seven each.
The control of the glass, including 21 at the offensive end, led by 58 points in the paints and 28 second-chance points.
Tall Blacks guard Flynn Cameron added 16 points (5/15 FG, 5/6 FT), six boards and six assists, Tobias Cameron 13 points (5/9 FG, 3/7 3pt), Carlin Davison 11 points (5/11 FG), NZ Breakers signing Mitch McCarron 10 points (5/7 FG), five rebounds, nine assists and two steals.
American guard Isaiah Moore led the Hawks with 26 points (9/23 FG, 3/4 3pt, 5/7 FT) and four assists, while Australian forward Luke Sutherland backed him up with 16 points (7/18 FG, 2/8 3pt), four boards and three blocks.
Tall Blacks forward Jordan Ngatai finished with 10 points (4/11 FG) and five rebounds, while Hawks GM Jarrod Kenny - a former Tall Blacks and NBL guard - was called-up to cover for an injury Keanu Rasmussen, ending with nine points and three assists.
Taranaki never trailed, shooting out to a 10-2 lead after two-and-a-half minutes and going up by as many as 19 points in the opening quarter.
The Airs' lead remained between 10 and 20 points through the middle quarters until late in the third, when the gap stretched to 24. A 13-4 run in the fourth put them ahead by more than 30 before the Hawks scored the last two baskets.
Both teams are off for more than a week, with the Hawks (4-6) heading to the Nelson Giants (4-6) next Thursday (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Airs (8-3) host the Otago Nuggets (4-6) next Friday (tip-off 7.30pm).
Taranaki Airs 103 (Sam Froling 27, Flynn Cameron 16, Tobias Cameron 13, Carlin Davison 11, Elijah Minnie 10, Mitch McConnell 10) Bay Hawks 76 (Isaiah Moore 26, Luke Sutherland 16, Jordan Ngatai 10). 1Q: 26-15, HT: 52-36, 3Q: 80-56