Manawatū Jets fly high in clash with Mountain Airs
BASKETBALL: The Manawatu Jets are second on the NBL table with one round remaining after a 118-103 win over the Taranaki Mountain Airs. The result in Auckland on Sunday night has the Jets equal on wins along with the Otago Nuggets and the Airs, but separated by for and against. Otago are on top. Manawatu have won three in a row and have a seven-win, four-loss record. The Jets have three games in the final round, against the Franklin Bulls on Tuesday night, the Nuggets on Thursday and Auckland Huskies on Saturday. Playoffs start next week. READ MORE: * Jets rebound from loss by downing Huskies in NBL * NBL Showdown: Nuggets pile on a season-high score to sweep past Jets * Franklin Bulls on a roll as they see off Manawatu Jets in NBL The Jets won the previous meeting between the Airs 102-93 and benefited from a dominant fourth-quarter display to be too good again. Hyrum Harris returned after missing the past six games with a hip injury and was reinstated to their starting five. The move worked wonders, with the swingman putting together a rare triple-double of 24 points (eight from 12 field goals), 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The Jets showed off their scoring prowess by scoring more than 30 points in each of the final three periods. Taane Samuel (22 points), Nelson Kirksey (19 points), Tom Vodanovich (19 points), Ashton McQueen (12 points) and Jayden Bezzant (12 points) joined Harris in the scoring extravaganza. The Jets led 85-80 going into the final quarter, but with Taranakis Shane Temara causing them problems in the low post, the lead was only five points three minutes into the fourth. Kirksey found his range from deep and with five to play it was 105-96 in Jets favour. McQueen, as he has done with great regularity, dropped a corner three and when Harris scored inside, the Jets were leading 113-98 with 312 minutes to play. There was no way back from there for the Airs. They were well served by Derone Raukawa (29 points and 10 rebounds), Marcel Jones (24 points), Temara (13 points and 10 rebounds), Kenneth Tuffin (11 points) and Mitch Dance (11 points), but had little left in the tank when the Jets launched their final assault. Manawatu Jets 118 (Hyrum Harris 24/10r/10a, Taane Samuel 22, Nelson Kirksey 19, Tom Vodanovich 17, Ashton McQueen 12, Jayden Bezzant 12) Taranaki Mountain Airs 103 (Derone Raukawa 29/10a, Marcel Jones 24/7r, Shane Temara 13/10, Kenneth Tuffin 11, Mitch Dance 11). Quarter scores: Q1: 22-25, HT: 54-48, Q3: 85-80. Standings: Otago Nuggets 14, Manawatu Jets 14, Taranaki Mountain Airs 14, Auckland Huskies 12, Franklin Bulls 12, Nelson Giants 8, Canterbury Rams 6.