The SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks bounced back strongly from a difficult week last week to dispose of the Taranaki Mountainairs in New Plymouth tonight 108-91.
A short-handed Sharks, without the services of Dom Kelman-Poto who was struck down by a stomach bug this morning, and with new recruit Jeremy Kendle having flown in from Brisbane the night before, controlled the game from the tip to run out convincing winners.
There were paced by the floor general Jarrad Weeks who finishied with a game high 33 points on 64% shooting, including 7 three-pointers to do with 3 steals & 6 assists. He was ably assisted by fellow Australian Todd Blanchfield (25 points, 6 rebounds), Alex Pledger (11 points, 7 rebounds), Tom Vodanovich (11 points, 5 rebounds) & Kendle on Sharks debut (15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists).
Southland got off to a cracking start to open up an 11-point lead in the first quarter before the Mountainairs rallied to close the margin to just two at the first break.
That's where Weeks took control. Particularly deadly from long range, he added 13 in the quarter including a trade-mark dunk as time wound down in the quarter to stretch the Sharks' lead out to 12.
From there it was plain sailing with the final margin a fair reflection of Southland's domination. The team hits the road on Saturday, bound for Whangaui, where they will take on the Jets Sunday afternoon from 3pm.
