It seems that was about all Southland Sharks coach Richard Dickel could stomach, flicking a text to signal he was ready for his interview with Hawke’s Bay Today.

Admittedly it was an arduous day for him, having done his promotional work and put his troops through the spin dry, he had just arrived home to catch the final quarter of the televised dead rubber that saw 2011 minor premiership winners and 2010 defending champions Wellington Saints succumb 94-77 to the Pirates in Auckland.

So what did Dickel make of the implausible result in last night’s Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL) match?

“It’s the old story with nothing to lose, playing for pride and all that but Wellington were playing like they didn’t want to pick up any injuries,” was his incisive deduction.

Enough said, and that goes a long way to explaining why HBS Hawks coach Paul Henare, regally attired in a suit, was playing his cards close to his chest after his stint in last night’s TV commentary booth.

To the tune of Que Sera Sera, Dickel indicated he didn’t have any preferences about who the Sharks would like to draw in their guaranteed away quarterfinals match next week because “you’ve got to beat everybody sometime”.

Effectively, the Southerners’ destiny is in their own hands – beat the Manawatu Jets on Saturday night in Palmerston North and jet off to Trafalgar Centre to face the Nelson Giants.

Lose and they’ll have to do a U-turn and play the Hawks again next Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

While the outcome of the match against the Hawks tomorrow night won’t affect their pathway to the play-offs, Dickel will be mindful of taking a mindset on the heels of a defeat here.

Besides, the lumbering Giants look beatable to Southland, who lost 90-88 last Saturday night in Nelson.

“Some of the guys feel ripped off in Nelson, but at the end of the day we have to go wherever it takes us,” Dickel said, whose troops lost 74-62 to the Hawks at the Velodrome on April 30.

His brother, Mark Dickel, and fellow former Tall Black Brendon Polybank are pivotal in their matrix of success but Richard Dickel is happy to have a chance at play-offs considering their turbulent phase with three US imports.

“Three to four other teams are without it so we’re thankful for making that run,” he said, as the winning quarterfinalists will converge in Wellington for the first semifinals on Friday night on July 15 before the final on Sunday, July 17, at the TSB Stadium.

Slam-dunk machine Sylvester Spicer has answered an SOS call from the Southland Sharks and will rejoin the injury-hit basketball team on Friday.

The American power forward played the first six games of the season for the Sharks as a short-term replacement for former NBA player Kaniel Dickens, who was finishing up his playing commitments in Italy.

With Dickens suffering a season-ending knee injury in Friday night’s win over Auckland, Southland frantically got in touch with Spicer, who will fly back to New Zealand and be available for Saturday’s away game against the Nelson Giants.

National Basketball League rules state that a player must have played five regular season games to be eligible for the top-six playoffs, which made Spicer the obvious replacement.

Southland has had a wretched run with injuries this season with American combo guard and New Zealand Breakers championship winner Kevin Braswell also ruled out for the remainder of the campaign three weeks ago, when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Starters Brendon Polyblank and Gareth Dawson have also had to sit out games through sickness or injury.

Sharks general manager Jill Bolger said the franchise had crunched the numbers and weighed up whether or not to play with a second American import over the final three weeks of the season and had decided it was in its best interests.

Southland are one game away from qualifying for the playoffs and Bolger said it was important to have a full-strength squad at their disposal.

“It was a no-brainer. We have to continue to support the team as much as we can … It’s been disappointing that we’ve had injuries to these key players. It’s been quite stressful.”

The 24-year-old Spicer, who has also played professionally in Portugal and Israel, averaged 15.1 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Sharks earlier in the season. He was starting to produce his best basketball for the team before his departure – scoring 44 points in his last two appearances for the team.

Spicer gives the Zero Fees-sponsored Sharks another big body up front and will be crucial to the team’s fortunes over the rest of the season with his rebounding and ability to dominate in the low post.

Southland coach Richard Dickel was relieved they would have two American imports for their run into the playoffs and said it was great to get someone who knew the Sharks’ systems and players already.

“I’m really thankful for the board for making that happen. It makes it a little bit easier. It’s a shame to see (Dickens) go, but we’re incredibly lucky with what’s happened. (Spicer) brings a lot with his rebounding, defence and finishing around the basket. He gets up and down the floor really well.”

Dickel had never experienced such a nightmare injury run during his playing or coaching career and said it had been character building for his side.

“This team had every excuse to roll over and die, but it’s not in our way. Very few teams could come through the amount of injury and sickness we’ve had this year.”

Meanwhile, the Southland Charitable Foodbank Trust confirmed it had been presented with over 500 cans of food and a donation of $813 from the Sharks’ foodbank appeal at Friday night’s game.

Charitable Trust chairman Peter Swain was delighted with the response and said it would be a huge help for its winter stocks.

“I’m quite surprised. It’s very good to see sports and the welfare community teaming up together. It’s come at a good time and we greatly appreciate their efforts.”

They say bad things come in threes and that has proved to be the case for the Southland Sharks.

Southland have had a nightmare time during the past three weeks, losing big-name American imports Kevin Braswell (ruptured Achilles tendon) and Kaniel Dickens (kneecap) to season-ending injuries and can now add homegrown youngster Paratene McLeod to the casualty ward.

McLeod broke his left ankle on Tuesday night playing club basketball for his Boltz side against Southland Boys’ High and will not be sighted again for the Sharks this year.

The 20-year-old, who appeared in seven games off the bench this year, went up for an offensive rebound, but landed on another player’s foot coming down and was taken from the court in agony.

McLeod was gutted he would miss the Sharks’ last three weeks of the season and said it was the first serious injury of his basketball career.

His injury will provide an opportunity for young Southland talents Andrew and Izzac Wheeler to fight their way into the playing rotation.

Sharks coach Richard Dickel felt for McLeod and said he had been pleased with his development this season.

“It’s really unfortunate for him. It’s a bit gutting. He’s got a helluva lot better this year. We’re hoping that Para will step up next year. You’ve got to bring them along.”

McLeod can play the point guard position, but Dickel said they probably viewed him more as a shooting guard or small forward at NBL level moving forward over the next few years. “We see him as a two (shooting guard) or three (small forward). He still needs to be able to handle the ball, though. We want him to improve his ball handling and quickness. He needs to be a bit more explosive. He’s a good shooter.”

The former Southland Boys’ High School student said it had been wonderful to work alongside experienced guards like former Tall Black Mark Dickel, and Braswell, who has played all over the world, with the Sharks this season.

“It’s been really good. I’m still learning a lot off those players. They’ve played in different leagues in Europe and all play differently. We’ve got a stronger team than last year, so I wasn’t expecting big minutes.”

The Zero Fees-sponsored Sharks’ next game is against the Nelson Giants in Nelson on Saturday evening.

Another week, another season-ending injury for the Southland Sharks.

Just three weeks after losing New Zealand Breakers championship winner and talented American combo guard Kevin Braswell to a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Sharks have again been struck down by the injury curse with former NBA player Kaniel Dickens out for the remainder of their campaign.

Dickens left the court in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s win over Auckland at the ILT Velodrome after landing heavily on his left knee following a putback basket.

An X-ray over the weekend confirmed Dickens had fractured his patella and coach Richard Dickel said he would play no further part this season.

“It’s one of those those things that happens. It’s been the story of our season,” a frustrated Dickel said yesterday.

Dickens, who played 19 games in the NBA with Portland, New Jersey and Cleveland between 2003 and 2008, was hailed as one of the most high-profile signings to have played in New Zealand when he inked with the Sharks late last year.

Linking up with the team mid-season after finishing his playing commitments in Italy, Dickens made a quiet start, before finding his feet and starring against Taranaki and Otago, when he netted a combined 51 points and shot at over 50 per cent from both the field and three-point land.

He averaged 16.8 points and 7.1 rebounds in his seven games with the team and Dickel said he was gutted to lose the big American, who was beginning to hit his straps after taking a few games to adjust to the New Zealand style of basketball and officiating.

“He was starting to work into our systems. I thought he was starting to come right.

“He’s a good shooter,” Dickel said.

The Sharks are working hard to bring back power forward Sylvester Spicer, who was signed as a short-term import until Dickens arrived, and impressed with averages of 15 points and six rebounds in his six outings in the orange singlet.

National league rules stipulate that a player must have played five regular season games to be eligible for the top-six playoffs, which would allow Spicer to suit up.

Spicer is back home in Houston and is keen to return to New Zealand, but Sharks general manager Jill Bolger said it would all depend on financial circumstances.

“We’re crunching the numbers. If we can’t afford to do it, we won’t.”

They hoped to know by today and have Spicer available for the team’s next game against the Nelson Giants in Nelson on Saturday.

The Sharks’ playoff hopes would be severely affected if they did not replace Dickens as the team is pretty light on size in their front court.

Southland have three games left before the playoffs, with a double-header trip to Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu awaiting them next weekend to close out their campaign.

The Zero Fees-sponsored Sharks are locked in a three-way battle with Nelson and Manawatu for the fourth to sixth playoff seeds and Auckland also still have a mathematical chance of qualifying.

Southland require one more win to clinch a playoff berth, but will be looking to finish as high up the ladder as they can over the next fortnight.

The former Tall Black point guard has stated he is keen to return to the national team again this year and would have done his chances no harm last night with a outstanding all-round game.

Dickel top-scored for the Sharks with 23 points and was busy all game long with six rebounds and seven assists, but it was his experience and big plays in the fourth quarter, which were most crucial.

After holding a 16-point lead early in the third quarter, Southland would have been annoyed that they allowed Auckland back into the game. The Pirates slowly hacked into the Sharks’ lead and cut their advantage back to four points at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Southland regained the momentum with a key 9-nil run, which was capped off with a Dan Peck three-pointer to extend their margin out to 13 points. Led by the hot-hand of Everard Bartlett, the pesky Aucklanders never went away, though, and a three-pointer to former Sharks captain Luke Martin brought them right back into the contest – down by just six points.

Southland were dealt a huge blow when former NBA player and American star Kaniel Dickens left the court with a knee injury after falling heavily in the fourth quarter following a putback basket. Without one of their most dominant players and Auckland hot on their tails, Dickel stepped up and played a true captain’s knock, draining an important three-pointer with two minutes to play to blow Southland’s lead out to 12 points.

On the next possession, he then stole the ball off Auckland’s Kevin Mickens and hit the resulting free throw to give the Sharks some breathing space.

It was a massive result for the Sharks, who went a long way to cementing a place in the top-six playoffs. They now hold a three game lead over Auckland in the race for the sixth and final playoffs spot and could move up even higher, depending on how well they play in their last three games on the road.

Southland would have taken plenty of satisfaction from the win after turning in one of their worst efforts of the season in a 86-79 loss to Auckland away from home last week.

Dickel was man of the match for the Sharks, but the team also received strong contributions from its bench. Dan Peck performed well with eight points on three-for-three shooting, while James Paringatai had six points and did an excellent job filling in for Martin Iti and Gareth Dawson, who were both in foul trouble during the night.

Dickens finished with 17 points for Southland, while Brendon Polyblank recovered from a scoreless first half to score 16 second-half points.

Bartlett who destroyed Southland when the teams played last week, was again a thorn in the Sharks’ side with a game-high 29 points. Mickens had 13 points with Kevin Smith also adding 11.

In other games played last night, Wellington had too much class for Manawatu in the capital, winning 114-102, while in Napier, Hawke’s Bay beat Nelson 86-83 in a cliffhanger.

DETAILS

Southland Sharks 90 (Mark Dickel 23, Kaniel Dickens 17, Brendon Polyblank 16, Mike Rose 14), Auckland Pirates 77 (Everard Bartlett 29, Kevin Mickens 13, Kevin Smith 11).Quarter scores: (Sharks first) 24-21, 50-38, 64-58, 90-77.

The Southland Sharks have it all to play for during the final month of the regular season, with a home quarterfinal still well within the team’s grasp.

Southland face an arduous next five days, with the side taking on the struggling Auckland Pirates on the road tomorrow night then returning to Invercargill for a tantalising battle with the Nelson Giants at the ILT Velodrome on Saturday night.

The Sharks sit fourth-equal on the ladder with Nelson and Manawatu. All three teams hold a five-win, five-loss record through 10 games.

Southland would go a long way to booking a spot in the top-six playoffs with victory over the Pirates tomorrow, but the big motivation will be securing fourth position on the ladder and a home quarterfinal on July 12 at the velodrome.

The winner of the two quarterfinal showdowns then advances to the final-four weekend in Wellington, which will be played from July 15 to 17 and feature the two semifinals and grand final.

Waikato, Wellington and Hawke’s Bay look assured of finishing in the top three, but positions four to six are very much up for grabs during the remaining weeks of the season.

Southland have a fairly decent run home, with two games against the Pirates, who have struggled this season and lost their last five games on the trot. The Sharks also have to play Nelson home and away, before finishing their campaign with a difficult away double-header against Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu.

Sharks coach Richard Dickel said they were setting the bar high and aiming for a home quarterfinal, which he believed was a tangible target.

“It’s most definitely our goal. I think that would be a massive achivement.”

Dickel stressed it was important not to look too far ahead, though, and said his team was concentrating solely on its next outing against Auckland tomorrow.

The Pirates have won only two of their 10 games but, with former Tall Black veteran Dillon Boucher and handy players such as American Kevin Mickens, Kevin Smith, Everard Bartlett and Luke Martin – who captained Southland in their inaugural season last year – they cannot afford to be taken lightly.

“We’re not thinking too far ahead … Any time Dillon Boucher is on the court, there is a lot of smarts out there.

“They’ve got some good young guys. We’re going to go out there and take care of our own business.”

Tomorrow night’s game will be broadcast on Sky Sport Three at 7.30, with the Sharks eager for a strong showing after they were thrashed by 33 points against Waikato in their first nationally televised game last month.

Southland head into the game high on confidence after destroying the Otago Nuggets by a franchise record 42 points on Saturday night and Dickel believed his side was starting to come into form at the right stage of the season.

Centre Gareth Dawson, who missed the Otago game with an Achilles strain, is set to be available for the trip to Auckland, Dickel said.

SHARKS’ ROAD HOME

Tomorrow: at Auckland
Saturday: v Nelson
June 24: v Auckland
July 2: at Nelson
July 8: at Hawke’s Bay
July 9: at Manawatu

Southland have been slow to get out of the blocks this season, but came out with a ton of intensity to begin the contest and raced away to an early 17-6 advantage.

Southland rounded off the quarter in style going on an 11-0 run to close out the term, which saw them hold a whopping 26-6 advantage after the opening 10 minutes of play. Otago shot the ball poorly early on, missing their first six field goal attempts and not getting on the scoreboard until four and a half minutes into the game.

Southland maintained the pressure throughout the second quarter and refused to take their foot off the pedal as the lead continued to blow out. They took a mammoth 52-20 lead into halftime with Kaniel Dickens and Brendon Polybank dangerous on the offensive end for the Sharks.

It was more of the same after halftime with Sharks’ coach Richard Dickel using the opportunity to get several of his young talent out on the court.

Southland’s American small forward Kaniel Dickens continued his steady improvement since joining the team midseason- scoring a season-high 27 points, while also grabbing seven rebounds.

Brendon Polyblank was outstanding with 20 points on 9 of 11 shooting, while Mark Dickel was also impressive- registering a near triple double of 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

American guard Mike Rose, who was back in Southland colours, after answering an SOS call to replace injured compatriot Kevin Braswell, looked like he had never been away, scoring 20 points after only landing in Invercargill on Thursday.

It was an ineffectual performance from the Nuggets, who fell behind early and were forced to play catchup from then on.
Southland’s win will give the side immense confidence ahead of Wednesday’s tip to the Auckland Pirates.

Rose, who played seven games for the Sharks on a short-term contract last season, will arrive back in Invercargill this week and should be available for Saturday’s game against the Otago Nuggets at the ILT Velodrome.

Coach Richard Dickel said Rose was an ideal acquisition for the Sharks after Braswell ruptured an Achilles tendon at the weekend.

“The beauty about him is that he knows a lot about what we are doing already. He’ll add some things and I think he and Mark (Dickel) will team up really well together.”

Rose was a star for the Sharks as he bloomed on last year’s national basketball league scene, averaging 22.9 points in his seven starts. He was replaced by fellow United States import Mike Helms.

“It’s taken a couple of nights where Trevor (Ryder, assistant coach) and I haven’t had too much sleep. It’s been a bit of a mission but we got it done,” Dickel said.

“Naturally when (Braswell) went down we got on with it and after the game we had a meeting, just went to work and Mike and I were talking by about 6am on Sunday morning so things have happened pretty quickly from there.”

Rose will likely arrive in Invercargill tomorrow morning, in time for two training sessions with the Sharks before Saturday night’s game.

The franchise was busy ensuring Rose, who has been living in Chicago following a stint playing in Belgium, would be registered in time to take the court against the Nuggets, Dickel said.

Meanwhile, Braswell, who has gone from the highs of winning the Australian NBL with the New Zealand Breakers to the lows of a serious injury, may have an operation in Invercargill with the Sharks team doctor, who is an orthopaedic surgeon, and stay in the city to recuperate

“I think he likes our medical staff here and the support that he’s got around him. He has got the option to go to Auckland if he wants, but a lot depends on different things – we can get things done a lot quicker for him down here,” Dickel said.

“I really feel for the guy, this is a pretty big injury. We have to support Kevin but we also have to make sure we have a full contingent for Saturday.”

OceanaGold Nuggets 70 (Scott O’Gallagher 22, Lance Allred 15, Craig Bradshaw 12) Zerofees Southland Sharks 73 (Jordan Lawley 19, Mark Dickel 13, Brendan Polyblank 12)

Referees – Raewyn Willocks, Gavin Zimmerman, Matt Bathurst
1Q: 19-13
HT: 37-31 (18-18)
3Q: 58-53 (21-22)
FT: 70-73 (12-20)
Game Report
Nuggets v Sharks Box Score

Southland will be kicking themselves that the game even got that far after leading the Jets by 11 points midway through the final quarter.

Manawatu chipped back at the lead, however, and tied the scores up at 70-all with 13 seconds remaining in regulation.

With one second remaining, the Jets’ Matt Te Huna was tagged for the foul sending Southand’s Gareth Dawson to the charity stripe. With the scores all level and no time remaining, Dawson only had to hit one free throw to give his team victory, but missed both attempts to send the game to overtime.

Southland made the better start to overtime, but through three pointers to the Jets’ Te Huna and Nick Horvath, the visitors refused to go away and again levelled the game.

Manawatu snuck in front with with just two seconds left in overtime when Te Huna put back a missed shot from Rob Igbawua to give the Jets a 81-79 lead.

Southland somehow got out of jail on the buzzer with New Zealand Breakers’ American guard Kevin Braswell finding Dawson in the paint, who layed in the bucket to redeem himself and bring about double overtime.

Braswell, is nicknamed the Closer for his ability to finish off games, stepped up in double overtime for the Sharks knocking down back to back three pointers. Brendon Polyblank, who had a game-high 29 points for Southland, then hit a huge triple with just under two minutes left in the second overtime to give the Sharks a seven point buffer- which was the game.

Southland’s win gives them a three win-four loss record on the season, the same win/loss ratio as Manawatu.
Former NBA player Kaniel Dickens had a disappointing debut for Southland missing his first nine field goal attempts.

He pulled off one of the plays of the game when with an alley oop to close out the first half of regulation from a Mark Dickel pass. Dickens ended up fouling out late in normal time with nine points and seven rebounds.

Manwatu will look to recover in Dunedin against the winless Otago Nuggets tomorrow night, while the Sharks have a week to rest their bodies and hearts ahead of next Friday’s battle with