Giants finally end losing run

You don’t mind being woken by a late-night text when it is the Nelson Giants captain Sam Dempster keen to talk about breaking their basketball drought.

The veteran was still buzzing more than two hours after his team upset the Otago Nuggets 98-86 in Dunedin to end an eight-match losing streak.

“I checked my phone after the game, and I had more than 30 messages. The season had been heartbreaking for us as the fans are so loyal. Even when we weren’t going well, people would stop me in the supermarket and say hello,” says Sam, who drained four three pointers on his way to a season high 16.

So how did a struggling side rebound from its two heaviest defeats earlier last week?

“We brought what the Southland Sharks did against us on Friday – energy. Our new imports have plenty of that,” declares the captain.

He agrees the Nuggets were probably under even more pressure as they had dropped their last four games in Sal’s NBL.

Jeremy Combs, who top scored with 25 points and 11 rebounds, only joined the team in Christchurch last Thursday.

He had been playing in Japan with fellow “big” forward/centre Callum McRae, who was with the Giants in 2023, and they gave the Giants the size that the Nuggets just couldn’t handle.

“Callum is at least seven foot (2.13 metres).”

Toss in A-Rob - Alex Robinson Junior - as well, and the Nelson outfit finally has a settled look about it.

“The pieces had been coming in and out earlier with our imports,” explains Sam.

Their first two Americans, Brice Johnson and Jaelyn Forbes, came off long lay-offs and simply couldn’t dominate games.

Sam says the experience of Jeremy, Callum and Alex was timely as the younger players in the team were feeling the pressure.

The Giants now have a week before their next game on the road against the 7-4 Manawatu Jets.

“That time will help Jeremy and Callum fit in even more,” concludes the 34-year-old.