The Tauranga Whai rode a fast start all the way to a maiden victory over the Canterbury Rams.
The Whai took down the two-time defending Sal’s National Basketball League (NBL) champion Wheeler Motor Company Rams 86-70 in their season-opener at Mount Maunganui’s Mercury Baypark on Thursday night.
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Tauranga came out firing, hitting six three-pointers in the opening quarter as they raced out to a 28-12 lead against the Tall Black-laden but import-less Rams.
Former Tall Blacks guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt hit five triples in his game-high 27 points (10/17 FG, 5/9 3pt), to go with six rebounds and four assists.
Carter Hopoi chimed in with 17 points (6/9 FG, 3/6 3pt) and six boards, American guard Chris Jones 15 points (5/15 FG), six rebounds and five assists, and Xanda Marsters 12 points off the bench.
All five Rams starters scored in double-digits, led by Tohi Smith-Milner’s 18 points (7/18 FG), eight boards and two steals, but they got just one point from their bench.
With the Rams struggling for offence early, the Whai continued to push, stretching their lead to 23 points by halftime, with Perrott-Hunt with 14 points.
The Whai’s shooting cooled in the third, with the Rams closing within 13 before a Perrott-Hunt three in the closing seconds killed the momentum.
The Rams, who shot just 3-of-18 from deep and missed 13 free-throws, could only get as close as 11 points in the fourth as Hopoi and Jones closed out the win.
The Whai (1-0) head to Pukekohe on Monday to face the Franklin Bulls (tip-off 7pm), while the Rams (0-1) return to Christchurch to host the Nelson Giants on Sunday (tip-off 6.30pm).
Meanwhile, in the earlier Sky Rapid League game, the Rams toppled the Whai 39-27, with Mana Martin and Tony Worthington with nine points. Te Tuhi Lewis had 11 points for the Whai.
Tauranga Whai 86 (Kruz Perrott-Hunt 27, Carter Hopoi 17, Chris Jones 15, Xanda Marsters 12) Canterbury Rams 70 (Tohi Smith-Milner 18, Kaia Isaac 16, Max Darling 14, Taylor Britt 11, Tama Isaac 10). 1Q: 28-12, HT: 47-24, 3Q: 67-51