BRENDON EGAN

18 April 2015

Marques Whippy broke the Manawatu Jets’ hearts with a lay-up at the buzzer to lift the Canterbury Rams to a 78-76 National Basketball League win in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Co-captain Whippy proved the hero for the Rams, stealing the ball off Jets point guard Brandon Jenkins on Manawatu’s final possession of the game.

Whippy then nailed the winning basket, laying in an Ethan Rusbatch pass to snatch victory on fulltime and move the Ram to 3-1.

Manawatu cut dejected figures as they left the court, having led throughout most of the final quarter. They fall to 0-4 on the season.

A three pointer from Jets’ American import Dion Harris put them up 76-75 with 26 seconds to play.

Kyle Coston then levelled the scores for Canterbury after he was only able to convert one of his two free throw attempts.

Canterbury took a five point advantage into halftime, but Manawatu were a different team in the second half.

Manawatu held the Rams to just nine points in the third quarter, while scoring 21 themselves, to head into the final quarter ahead 64-57.

It was a balanced scoring performance from the Rams on offence with six players finishing in double digits.

Coston contributed a team-high 14, while Rusbatch and Richie Edwards both added 13.

Former NBA centre Mickell Gladness had his best game for the Rams, producing an outstanding stat line of 12 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks.

Brook Ruscoe again showed why he is one of the league’s most improved players this season for Manawatu, scoring 16 points.

Derone Raukawa chimed in with 14 for the Jets, while Harris had 13.

Canterbury Rams 78 (Kyle Coston 14, Richie Edwards 13, Ethan Rusbatch 13, Mickell Gladness 12) Manawatu Jets 76 (Brook Ruscoe 16, Derone Raukawa 14, Dion Harris 13, Jordan Ngatai 12). 1Q: 25-20, HT: 48-43, 3Q: 57-64

 – Stuff