Saturday July 28th Round 12

 

Miles Toyota Premier Club Basketball by Bruce Martin

 

Last Wednesday Lincoln University crushed a depleted North Canterbury Women’s Premier side 71-48 in the catch-up Patron’s Trophy Final played in the Ohoka Events centre. While former Tallfern Shea Crotty (13) directed the students moves it was another sparkling effort from Aijah Pepe that carved holes in the North Canterbury defence and Wildcat Connie Poletti (12) helped contain North Canterbury’s main threat Charlotte Whittaker, limiting her to 12 points. In the absence of New Zealand Junior Helen Williams, Taneisha Nutira (14) stepped up with a busy effort at both ends of the court for North Canterbury.

North Canterbury suffered another big defeat on Saturday with a very determined Pioneer Pacers running the ball at speed throughout the game with Pioneer eventually claiming victory 77-54. Canterbury Wildcat Lauryn Hippolite (25) penetrated slack North Canterbury defences repeatedly while the dimunitive Bianca de Aguiar (20) was quick to exploit any chances that came her way. Wildcat Tessa Bury (16) posted up well, ready to keep the Pioneer attack rolling.

For North Canterbury, Renee Tuhikarama (15) stepped up to support the beleaguered Whittaker while the experienced Ashlee Fane made some early break through baskets.

North Canterbury coach Wade Parata sent in this report

Back to back lack lustre defensive efforts from North Canterbury saw the women’s team succumb to Lincoln in the Patrons final on Wednesday 25th at Ohoka then again on Saturday 28th July to Pioneer in the championship round. Both encounters saw defending champion and previously unbeaten North Canterbury lose by 20 plus points.

Coach Wade Parata acknowledged Lincoln and Pioneers readiness to play and took nothing away from both teams amazing efforts on the court. Quoting:

"Effort, smarts & communication on the defensive end is the biggest adjustments needed for us to be successful again. Giving up 70 plus points in back to back games is a foreign to N.C. and I know the team is ready and willing to correct that" 

 

Lincoln University suffered its first loss in the championship round of the competition, beaten 68-69 by Wolverines. Although missing several players it underestimated the share determination of bottom of the table Wolverines.

Tsubasa Nisbett (22) stepped up for Wolverines with an array of inside and outside shots steadily throughout the game. Tessa Stewart-Morrison (16), Letitia Mullaly (13) and Kendal Hastie 12 all contributed to a steadily increasing scoreline for Wolverines. Connie Poletti (26) and Aijah Pepe (16) were the major contributors for Lincoln. Wolverines managed to tie the game 36-36 by half time and nudged ahead 56-50 by the third break. Early in the final quarter Wolverines extended the margin to 10 points (62-52) while Lincoln gathered for their comeback with the busy Pepe penetrating strongly to narrow the margin to 64-67. A crunch basket inside two minutes remaining gave Wolverines hope of an upset, it tightened it defences to claim a deserved victory 69-68.

Halswell over ran University 80-55 through the efforts of the Wairau sisters, Laken with 18 and Sapphire on 15. Minties had the bye.

 

Club basketball on Saturday had numerous upset results showing the depth of talent and determination in the competition as teams jockey for position come Quarter-final play-off time on August 25^th.

The Wolverines club, Men and Women, are fighting to retain their place in those play-offs with both Premier teams causing huge upsets in Cowles stadium on Saturday.

Early in the afternoon Wolverines Women’s Premier upset championship leader Lincoln University with a come-from-behind win, edging Lincoln 69-68 with one of their best displays of teamwork and solid determination.

Later in the day Wolverines Men’s Premier team looked dead and buried early in the third quarter as it trailed competition leaders University of Canterbury 35-58, a huge 23 points. Wolverines then began a mammoth fightback. As the pressure rose, the students started to become tentative, shoots began to miss and rebounds not taken. Wolverines then closed out the game with an 92-88 upset win.

Taylor Britt (32, 6R, 4A, 3 S) sparked the fightback and this seemed to inspire the rest of the team.  Every time he drove to the basket he was fouled and ended up on the free throw line. Suddenly everyone was hitting their shots and Varsity were finding it hard to score. Jordan Duggan (26, 6R, 4A) ranged all about the court while Keiran Ball (16) monstered the boards, hunting the rebound.

                                                                                                                                                

Checkers Men’s Premier too succumbed to a determined second half by Atami. Checkers were in control leading 40-33 by half time through the efforts of Joshua Lowe (19-7R) and former Ram Nat Connell (15-7R) but Atami grabbed a 56-53 lead by three quarter time and extended its play to take the encounter 77-69.

Gators too had a tough battle against Lincoln University with Cam Chalmers (15, 14R) taking command of the boards and directing play. Lincoln had its nose in front both at quarter (19-18) and half time 38-34 while a strong third quarter (17-8) saw Gators take the lead 50-46 by the third break. Despite strong moves from Ben Bowie (22-12R) and Josiah Williams (15) Lincoln were unable to close the gap and lost the encounter 62-58.

 

Despite its loss University maintains a comfortable lead (18 from 10) at the top of the Men’s ladder with Lincoln (16 from 11), Gators (16 from 10) and Checkers both 15 from 10 looking well placed for the play-offs. Pioneer and Wolverines (14) look set to battle for the remaining play-off spot, the seventh team will be eliminated.

 

Results were:

Miles Toyota Premier Men’s League

 

Lincoln University  v Gators

 

Gators 62 (Cam Chalmers 15, 14R, Jozeph Knottenbelt 13, 7R, Ben Carlile-Smith 11, 12R) Lincoln University 58 (Ben Bowie 22, 12R, Josiah Williams 15, Sam Smith 11, 12R). HT: Lincoln 38-34,

 

University  v  Wolverines

 

Wolverines 92 (Taylor Britt 32, 6R, 4A, 3S, Jordan Duggan 26, 6R, 4A, Keiran Ball 16, 12R) University 88 (Konrad Tota 18, Brent Fisher 17, Tony Tolovae 14, 8R, Nathan Campbell 10, 9R). HT: University 48-33,

 

Checkers  v  Atami

 

Atami 77 (Zacc Dwan 22, 15R, Derek Albertsen 15, Paul McFarlin 15) Checkers 69 (Joshua Lowe 19, 7R, Nat Connell 15, 7R, Joe Cook-Green 12)  HT: Checkers 40-33,

 

Bye: Pioneer Pacers

 

Miles Toyota Premier Men’s League placings with games played in parenthesis: University 18 (10), Lincoln Univ 16 (11), Gators 16 (10), Checkers 15 (10), Atami 15 (10), Pioneer 14 (10), Wolverines 14 (11).

 

 

 

 

Miles Toyota Premier Women’s League

 

 

Lincoln University  v  North Canterbury Patron’s Trophy Final

 

Lincoln University 71 (Aijah Pepe 14, Shea Crotty 13, Connie Poletti 12, Lucy Brown 10) North Canterbury 48 (Taneisha Nutira 14, Charlotte Whittaker 12). HT:37-27,

 

North Canterbury  v  Pioneer Pacers   

 

Pioneer Pacers 77 (Lauryn Hippolite 25, Bianca Aguiar 20, Tessa Burry 16) North Canterbury 54 (Renee Tuhikarama 15, Charlotte Whittaker 13, Ashlee Fane 10) HT: 45-30,

Lincoln University  v  Wolverines

Wolverines 69 (Tsubasa Nisbet 22, Tessa Stewart-Morrison 16, Letitia Mullaly 13, Kendal Hastie 12) Lincoln University 68 (Connie Poletti 26, Aijah Pepe 16). HT: 36-36,

University  v  Halswell

 

Halswell 80 (Laken Wairau 18, Sapphire Wairau 15, Jess Baker 10) University 55 (Ashlee Rigter 16, Nicole Stuart 15, Page Willman 10). HT: 35-30, Bye: Minties.

Miles Toyota Premier Women’s League placings with games played in parenthesis: Lincoln University 20 (11), North Canterbury 17 (10), Minties 16 (10), Pioneer 16 (10), Halswell 15 (11), University 12 (10), Wolverines 12 (10).

Other North Canterbury results were:

MU20A: NC Rangiora 90 (Jack Exeter 34, Noa Price 14, Conor MacFarlane 14) v Burnside Checkers 60, North Canterbury 90 (Jordan Mann 25, Soloman Tarawa 14) v UC-Christs College 73.

BU17A: MG Gators 103 Rangiora High 70 (Jake Pascoe 18, Caleb Cameron 11).

BU17Mid:  North Canterbury 74 (Jackson Lewis 16, Jayden Garrick 13, Caleb Williams 13)  ChCh BHS C 67.

Men’s Division One: Celebration Lions 70 North Canterbury 53 (Scott Edwards 21).