Off-season Games Wrap: Postseason awaits United stars

Melbourne United’s stars playing in the NBL1 and NZNBL have finished their regular seasons and will begin their finals campaigns this week.

Rob Loe and Auckland Tuatara dropped their final game of the regular season, falling to Hawkes Bay by six points. Loe led his side in scoring, finishing with 27 points in the Wednesday night matchup. 

Despite the loss, Auckland finished the season second on the competition table and will play the winner of Wellington and Franklin on 24 July.

Later in the round, Flynn Cameron and Taranaki came away with an important 16-point victory over Nelson, who they will face in a Play-In Game on 17 July.

Cameron was instrumental in the win, finishing with 22 points and three assists.

In the NBL1 South, Akech Aliir helped Mt Gambier lock in top spot on the ladder with a huge 29-point, 19-rebound double-double against the Ringwood Hawks.

Across his past three games, Aliir is averaging 31.3 points, 14 rebounds and five made three-pointers per game.

The Pioneers will now face United’s quartet of Sandringham Sabres; Tanner Krebs, Campbell Blogg, Shea Ili and Tom Koppens, in a qualifying final on 20 July. 

The Sandringham foursome thrived across the weekend, locking in fourth on the ladder with a 36-point demolition of the Hobart Chargers on Saturday.

Blogg came off the bench to lead the Sabres in scoring with 18 points, while Ili, Koppens and Krebs combined for 30 points and 16 rebounds.

Closing out the games in Melbourne was Kyle Bowen and the Knox Raiders, who needed to beat Keilor to scrape into the finals.

After a tight first quarter, Knox pulled away from the Thunder, outscoring the visitors 81-45 through the final three terms thanks in large part to Bowen.

The big-man put up 15 points and came away with three steals in win, locking the Raiders into seventh place and setting up an elimination final against Dandenong on Saturday night from 7pm.

RESULTS 

Wednesday

Auckland Tuatara 102 def by Hawkes Bay Hawks 108

Rob Loe - 27 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Friday

Mt Gambier Pioneers 117 def Ringwood 75

Akech Aliir - 29 points, 19 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Saturday

Sandringham Sabres 103 def Hobart 67

Campbell Blogg - 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block

Shea Ili - 12 points, 1 rebounds, 2 assists

Tom Koppens - 11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists

Tanner Krebs - 7 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal

Knox Raiders 104 def Keilor Thunder 68

Kyle Bowen - 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block

Sunday

Taranaki Airs 106 def Nelson Giants 90

Flynn Cameron 22 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal

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