The Southland Sharks have sent the Manawatu Jets into the off-season with an 18-game losing streak.
The Sharks pulled way in the fourth quarter to complete a disappointing National Basketball League (NBL) regular season with a 117-100 victory over the Jets at Palmerston North's Fly Palmy Arena on Friday night.
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Import guard Caleb Asberry put together his best performance in a Sharks jersey, with a game-high 37 points (11/19 FG, 15/18 FT), six rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and a block in 36 minutes.
Kiwi big man Callum McRae recorded another double-double, with 28 points (11/14 FG, 6/7 FT), 14 boards and five assists, while captain Alonzo Burton had 19 points (7/11 FG, 4/6 3pt) and American Cooper Robb 16 points (6/12 FG), seven assists and three steals.
Import Mustapha Heron again carried the scoring load for the Jets, finishing with 26 points (9/18 FG, 3/8 3pt, 5/6 FT), while local guard Campbell Scott had 19 points (7/14 FG, 4/10 3pt) off the bench.
American guard Quashawn Lane ended two rebounds shy of a triple-double, with 18 points (7/9 FG, 4/4 FT), eight boards and 11 assists. Lukah Richards contributed 14 points (7/11 FG), six rebounds and three steals and Liam Judd 10 points (3/5 FG, 2/4 3pt) and four boards.
With a 35-26 rebounding advantage, the Sharks scored 68 points in the paint and 21 second-chance points, along with 27 points from the Jets' 16 turnovers. Southland won despite shooting 28 percent (6-of-21) on three-point attempts, compared to Manawatu's 44 percent (11-of-25).
The Sharks dominated the first half, leading by as many as 14 points early in the second quarter, before the Jets put together a 15-2 stretch to tie it up just before halftime.
Following a third quarter that featured 15 lead changes and four ties - which saw the Sharks lead by six entering the fourth - Asberry scored 11 points as Southland went on a 22-3 run to surge ahead 114-90 with 2:12 remaining.
On Saturday night, the Otago Nuggets will attempt to stay in the race for the sixth and final NBL playoffs berth at home at Dunedin's Edgar Centre against the Franklin Bulls (tip-off 7.30pm).
Southland Sharks 117 (Caleb Asberry 37, Callum McRae 28, Alonzo Burton 19, Cooper Robb 16) Manawatu Jets 100 (Mustapha Heron 26, Campbell Scott 19, Quashawn Lane 18, Lukah Richards 14, Liam Judd 10). 1Q: 35-24, HT: 57-54, 3Q: 87-81
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