Club Basketball by Bruce Martin
Week Eight
Sunday 29th May 2016

The University of Canterbury Men’s Premier basketball team had to delve deep into its resources to overcome a determined Atami in Cowles stadium on Saturday, coming from behind in the closing stages to scrap home 71-68 and confirm its place in the Hoben trophy final against Pioneer on June 18th. The game of the day saw the Gators Men edge Lincoln University 104-99 in a game that went to double over-time. Another close encounter saw defending champion Wolverines almost record its first win in the trophy round, falling to Checkers 83-85 after it had trailed 16-35 at quarter-time and still behind 58-71 at the third break. With a round still to play on June 11th Pioneer remains unbeaten on five wins after playing a non-competition match against the Canterbury U19 squad, winning that 97-66 with Marty Davison again the standout with 25 points.

The University of Canterbury women cemented their place in the Patron’s trophy final against unbeaten Lincoln University with a controlled 65-39 win over Halswell. LU repulsed an early challenge from a depleted Pioneer before going on a 20-0 run either side of half-time to eventually win the encounter 69-51. Gators Women recorded its first win of the season over Minties win 64-48 after a close first half. Junior representative Tsubasa Nisbett stepped up for Gators with 21 points. In the late game Wolverines missed the services of Letitia Mullaly as they was drummed 106-34 by North Canterbury. The northerners were reinforced by the return of key playmaker Mary Goulding (29) from her overseas college and Junior Tall Fern Charlotte Whittaker stepped up with 14 points and numerous strong rebounds. Goulding is home on holiday after her freshman season at Gillette College in Wyoming, winning top honours for her team and will begin studying at Erin Rooney’s Alma Mater, Fordham University, next season. In the meantime she will front for a New Zealand select team against China B next weekend.

Lincoln University made the early running against Gators but American Stephen Nosworthy used his height and agility with 35 points and 10 rebounds and backed up by Canterbury Ram Inga Solofuti with 28 points allowed Gators to keep in touch with an energized Lincoln. James Cawthorn (24) and James Levings (18, 7R and four assists) led the Lincoln charge while both sides battled strongly to dominate the boards, with most scoring opportunities being close range shots. The lead changed hands 19 times and was tied on 16 occasions which saw Lincoln ahead 37-36 at half-time, Gators biggest lead was 54-42 but Lincoln came back again with Gators ahead 58-54 at the third break and the match tied 75-75 forcing extra time. More close action saw the game forced to another overtime period tied 88-88 within Gators finally prevailing 104-99. Jordan Duggan recently return from the USA, slotted 15 points and took 11 rebounds for Gators while other contributors for LU were Ben Williams (15, 10R), Nick Erwood 14, and Ben Bowie 11 points.

Canterbury Ram bench player Josh Petermann notched a handy double double for University, scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds backed up by 16 points apiece to Brent Fisher and Dan Pau’u. Derek Albertson featured for Atami with 24 points, Aled Jones was his energetic self with 12 points and nine assists but the Howell brothers, Ritchie and Scott, were well off target.

Canterbury Wildcat trio, Fran Edmonson (15), Tessa Morrison (14) and Courtney Hamblin (12) led the LU charge while Bree Cumming (17) was the only player to score double figures for Pioneer.
For UC, Rosanna Katene (12) and Ashlee Rigter (11) backed up by the agile Bianca Aguiar (10) proved too strong for Halswell with its trio of former Wildcats, Cecillia Zambrini (16), Anna Williams (12) and Bridgett Salkeld to the fore.

Results were:
MEN’S PREMIER Grade Hoben Trophy Round six:
Gators 104 (Stephen Nosworthy 35, 10R, Inga Solofuti 28, Jordan Duggan 17, 11R, Cam Chalmers 13) Lincoln University 99 (James Cawthorn 24, James Levings 18, 7R, Ben Williams 17, 10R, Nick Erwood 14, 7R) in double over-time. HT: Lincoln 37-36. FT: 75-75. QT1: 88-88. QT2: Gators 104-99, Checkers 85 (Nat Connell 18, Pip Johnston 12, Jon Martin 11) Wolverines 83 (Taylor Britt 35, Mike Kinley 12, Jahnim Campbell 11) HT: 46-33, University 71 (Josh Petermann 22, 10R, Brent Fisher 16, Daniel Pau’u 16, 9R) Atami 68 (Derek Albertson 24, Aled Jones 12, 9A, Scott Howell 10). HT: Atami 34-29. Non-competition: Pioneer Pacers 97 (Marty Davison 25, Dan Mulder 15, JJ Manning 14, Sam Evans 13) Canterbury U19 66 (Matt Dukes 22, Toby Gillooly 18, Carl Isitt 10). Points table round six: University 5W,1L, 11, Pioneer 5W, 10 pts, Gators 3W, 2L, 8, Checkers and Lincoln 2W, 3L, 7.

Women’s Premier Patron’s trophy round six:
University 65 (Rosanna Katene 12, Ash Rigter 11, Bianca Aguiar 10) Halswell 39 (Cecillia Zambrini 16, Anna Williams 12, Bridget Salkeld 10). HT: 24-13, Gators 60 (Tsubasa Nisbett 21, Harriet Fenwick 17) Minties 48 (Jess Rathgen 14, Anastasia Ah Tong 10). HT: 19-18,
Lincoln University 69 (Fran Edmonson 15, Tessa Morrison 14, Courtney Hamblin) Pioneer 51 (Bree Cumming 17) HT: 36-30, North Canterbury 106 (Mary Goulding 29, Tyler Courtney 19, Ash Fane 18, Charlotte Whittaker 14, Connie Taylor 10) Wolverines 34 (Samaria Thompson 6, Lauren Nichol 6). HT 49-16. Points table after six rounds: Lincoln 6W, 12 pts, University 5W, 1L, 11, North Canterbury 4W, 2L, 10, Pioneer 3W, 3L, 9, Halswell and Minties 2W, 4L, 8.