Saints Close Out Road Trip in Style, Eye Top Spot in Regular Season Finale

The Mills Albert Wellington Saints wrapped up their final road game of the regular season in dominant fashion on Saturday night, defeating the Big Barrel Hawke's Bay Hawks 99–81 in Napier.

The Saints set the tone early and never looked back, controlling the tempo and executing with precision on both ends of the floor. The win moves the Saints one step closer to claiming the regular season’s top spot, setting the stage for a blockbuster clash on Tuesday night at home against the top-seeded Canterbury Rams.

Nick Marshall and Izayah Le'afa led the way for Wellington, each pouring in 23 points in standout performances. Marshall added 7 rebounds to his tally, while Le'afa was just as impactful on the boards, grabbing 8 rebounds and keeping the Saints' momentum flowing on both ends.

“Any time you can finish a road trip with a win like that, it builds confidence heading into the final stretch,” said Saints head coach Aaron Young

For the Hawks, Campbell Scott (19 points, 4 assists) and Brandon Alston (20 points, 5 assists) provided strong offensive efforts, but the Saints’ defensive pressure and transition game proved too much to handle.

Now all eyes turn to Tuesday night at TSB Arena, where the Saints will host the Rams with the NBL’s top seed on the line. A win would see Wellington claim the number one spot heading into the playoffs—a major advantage in what’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive finals series in years.

Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM and fans are encouraged to pack the arena for what could be a season-defining night.