The Franklin Bulls, Tauranga Whai and Taranaki Airs picked up victories on day two of the National Basketball League's Westside Blitz preseason tournament.
The Bulls rebounded from a day one loss with a 77-60 win over the Nelson Giants, the Whai handed the Manawatu Jets their second loss 109-81 and the Airs topped the Otago Nuggets 86-74 on Wednesday on the West Coast.
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Following a 98-86 loss to the Hawke's Bay Hawks on Tuesday, the Bulls got strong performances from their imports, German Till Gloger and American Tae Hardy to win a defensive early game in Westport.
Gloger top-scored with 18 points (8/11 FG), adding seven rebounds and two steals, while Hardy managed 14 points (7/13 FG), four boards, three assists and three steals and Tobias Cameron 17 points (7/10 FG) and six rebounds.
Teen Hayden Jones, the son of Tall Blacks legend and now Giants assistant coach Phill Jones, led Nelson with 15 points (4/9 FG, 2/3 3pt, 5/6 FT), four boards and three assists, with Sam Dempster putting up 14 points (5/11 FG, 2/7 3pt).
In the nightcap in Westport, the Whai had six players score in double-digits as big opening and third periods put the game away early.
Former Tall Blacks guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt led the way with 19 points (8/13 FG, 2/5 3pt), while imports, Sean Bairstow (18 points and eight rebounds) and Chris Jones (16 points, four boards, four assists and three steals) also thrived.
Tyson Thata had a game-high 25 points (8/15 FG, 4/8 3pt, 5/5 FT) for the Jets, while import guard Miles Gibson put up 17 points (7/16 FG), four boards, four assists and two steals, and Tinashe Matambanadzo 12 points and five rebounds.
Big first and second quarters saw the Airs open up a 22-point lead over the Nuggets at the main break in Greymouth.
They cruised from there, with Jack Exeter top-scoring with 18 points (6/9 FG, 5/6 FT), four boards and three assists, while NZ Breakers development player Carlin Davison going for 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals and Jack Andrew for 15 points and seven boards against his former team.
American guard Jose Perez led the Nuggets with 27 points (10/18 FG, 6/13 FT) and seven rebounds, while Patrick Freeman was the only other double-digit scorer, with 20 points (7/18 FG, 3/10 3pt), six boards and two steals.