Wellington Holds Off Whai Challenge at TSB Arena
The Mills Albert Wellington Saints continued their strong form with a 107 to 95 victory over The Northern Group Tauranga Whai at TSB Arena on Saturday night.
In an entertaining, high scoring contest, the Saints set the tone early with efficient offence and excellent ball movement. Wellington shot the ball with confidence throughout the opening half, building a 62 to 49 lead heading into the main break after a dominant first two quarters.
The Whai came out with renewed energy in the second half, led by an outstanding individual performance from Taine Murray. Murray poured in 44 points to help Tauranga close the gap and keep the pressure on the Saints.
Despite the Whai's fightback, Wellington remained composed when it mattered most. Timely defensive stops, disciplined execution and balanced scoring across the lineup allowed the Saints to maintain control and close out a valuable 107 to 95 victory.
Akech Aliir led the Saints with an outstanding all around performance, finishing with 28 points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals and four blocks. Elijah Pepper added 27 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Donte Ingram contributed 23 points and five assists.
Carlin Davison came within one rebound and one assist of a triple double, recording 16 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, two steals and four blocks in another influential performance.
The victory continues Wellington's momentum as the regular season enters its final stages, with the Saints continuing to build form ahead of the playoffs.
Rapid League
The Mills Albert Pathways Wellington Saints were narrowly defeated 36 to 31 by the Tauranga Whai in the Rapid League curtain raiser.
The Saints brought plenty of intensity from the opening tip, applying strong defensive pressure and competing hard throughout the contest. Despite their efforts, the Whai made the key plays late in the game to edge out a five point victory.
Arthur Pilcher and Mercury Nonu led the Saints with 10 points each, while Jayden Bezzant scored 11 points to lead the Whai.
