Day 3 at U17 Nationals featured quarterfinals and semi-final games, a busy day for players, coaches, referees and all associated with the tournament.
The first two quarter-finals in the girls competition were contrasting affairs. Harbour A had a comfortable win 81-58 against Canterbury, Waitakere West only just shading Taranaki 65-58.
The first half of their semi-final game was a partial reflection of what had gone on before. Waitakere looked tired after their quarter final exertions, Harbour full of energy after a relatively easy passage. At half time the hosts paced by Tiarna Clarke led 36-20.
Harbour’s zone press caused Waitakere all sorts of problems, the game over as a contest at three-quarter time, Harbour ahead 55-30.
The defending champions were eventually ousted 85-44. Clarke finished with 20 points, Zara Jillings, 15pts and Tessa Gush 15pts. Greissen Leslie, 13pts and Siaumau Talafou, 10pts, were the best from the west.
The second Girls semi-final featured Waikato (74-49 quarter-final winners against Southland) and Porirua who beat Rotorua 72-64 in the fourth quarter final.
Porirua jumped out to an early 16-8 lead and although Waikato mounted a number of offensive ‘runs’, particularly in the second quarter, Porirua still held a useful 58-50 lead at three-quarter time.
Ashton Morris (21pts) was a constant threat for Waikato but an outstanding 29 points scoring effort from Grace Vaofusi carried Porirua to victory, Vaofusi scored 12 from 19 from the field and 5 of 10 from beyond the three points arc.
The Boys semi-final match ups were both Auckland versus South Island affairs.
Auckland Counties Manukau 1 had breezed past Tauranga (103-57) to book a place against Canterbury Metro who beat Wellington 83-70.
Canterbury scored the opening couple of baskets of the semi-final but by quarter time ACM, who visited the free throw line 16 times in the period, had edged ahead 32-28.
Early in the second period ACM forced consecutive turnovers to lead 44-34. The game continued at a frenzied pace in the second quarter, defence not an obvious priority as ACM led 60-49 at the main break. Sam Aruwa had 20 points for ACM, Toby Gillooly 12 points for the Cantabs.
A stop-start third quarter belonged to ACM, their superior rebounding strength helping open an 84-65 advantage. Canterbury kept battling to the end but their best shots had been fired in the first half, ACM the victors 104-89.
Sam Aruwa led all scorers with 27 points to go with 14 rebounds. Centre Sioeli Valangina scored 26 points and point guard Ken Smith paced ACM with 11pts/4 assists.
For Canterbury, Gillooly 20pts, Sam Riley 13pts and Carl Issit 13pts led their spirited effort.
North Harbour A beat their archrivals Waitakere West 86-74 in the quarter-finals to earn the right to face Otago who accounted for Waikato 78-66.
Not only was it a north v south encounter but also a current NBL coach v past NBL coach – Mark Dickel in charge of Otago, Kenny Stone at the helm of North Harbour.
Otago started the better of the two teams ahead 20-14 at quarter time. The second period was intriguing, scoring runs enjoyed by both teams, Otago just ahead 40-36 at half-time.
Jaren Roy (8pts) headed a balanced Otago effort, Liam Thornton, 13pts the main contributor for Harbour.
Thornton led an early second half surge from Harbour as they took the lead 46-44, Callum O’Connell and Roy countering for Otago. Harbour ahead 60-57 with ten minutes remaining.
With 7:09 remaining the scores were locked 64-64, with 4:50 Otago up 69-68 with 4:30 Harbour 70-69. Harbour were still only 3points up inside the last 60 seconds but an unsportsmanlike foul from Otago sealed the southerner’s fate, Harbour winning a close exciting game.
Tane Wattie was outstanding for Harbour, his energy lifting Harbour after a slow start, Josh Atcheson a workhorse for Otago and unlucky to be on the losing team.
Final score: North Harbour 84 – Thornton 28, Brayden Inger 17/11rebs, Wattie 11/4assists.
Otago 76 – Matt Dukes 17, Roy 15, Atcheson 14/12rebs
LACEY LOWDOWN 