Bulls score big road win as imports turn heads

Imports Josh Selby and Zane Waterman have led the EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls to a big 101-85 road win over the Taranaki Mountainairs in the SalsNBL .

Point guard Selby has made a superb start to the season but was nearly unstoppable early and carried a dominant performance through the game to finish with a game-high 34 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The former NBA star hit 7-10 from beyond the arc and was perfect from the free throw line. He got plenty of help from athletic big man Zane Waterman, who recorded his second straight double double since arriving in New Zealand.

Waterman finished with 27 points and 16 boards with four dimes to boot. The Bulls made a terrific start – hitting their first four shots – all three-pointers – while they also managed to draw a pair of first quarter fouls on former Breakers and Tall Blacks star Tai Wynyard.

But as hot as they were, the home side found a fair bit of success too, to keep pace through the opening 10 minutes and it was a 24-23 lead to the visitors after one.

There was little between the two sides as the emotionally-charged Airs, reeling from the passing of legendary coach Steve McKeen earlier in the week, helped celebrate veteran forward Aaron Bailey-Nowell’s 300th NBL game by taking a 46-45 lead at halftime.

But the Bulls up-tempo style started to take its toll on the Airs in the second half as Selby and Waterman continued to come up with the right plays at the right time and they powered away in third quarter and took a comfortable win.

It improves their record to 2-1 as they head back to Pukekohe for a clash with the Nelson Giants on Saturday night.

-Dale Budge-