After four hard-fought semi-final clashes, the 2022 Schick 3x3 Cup Grand Finalists have been found.
The Southland Sharks earned a hard-fought 18-17 win over the Wellington Saints, in a back-and-forth affair which saw the lead change hands multiple times. The game was decided in the final seconds by a pair of Alonzo Burton free throws, giving the Sharks the tight win and their second consecutive trip to the Schick 3x3 Cup finals. Dom Kelman-Poto shook off a tough start to register 9 points for Southland, while Burton had 5 and Dru-Leo Leusogi-Ape had 4. Wellington was led by Kenneth Tuffin’s 7 points, while Taane Samuel and Johnny Helu scored 4 each and Nathaniel Salmon tallied 2. The Sharks now face the Rams in the Men’s Grand Final at 8.45pm.
The Canterbury Rams escaped with a 18-16 win over the Mid City Magic, in a come-from-behind victory that went right down to the wire. After the Magic raced to an early 6-1 lead, the Rams were closed the gap - Taylor Britt tying the game at 13 all with a tough 2 pointer. Pafe Momoisea had a chance to tie the game with a 2 pointer in the final seconds, but he couldn’t convert. Britt led all scores with 9, with Aidan Tonge, Joe Cook-Green and Sam Smith had 3 apiece. Richie Rodger led the Magic with 6 points, while Benji Freeman and Momoisea scored 5 each; Josh Aitcheson held scoreless for the first time in this Cup.
