The 2014 WBC Grand Final featured North Harbour Breeze and Waikato Wizards. The Wizards were backing up after a hard fought semi-final victory over competition favourites ACM Hawks, the Breeze a more straightforward success against Waitakere Rangers.
The Wizards flew out the blocks establishing an 11-2 early advantage, the Breeze cause further hindered by a serious looking knee injury sustained by Morgan Roberts. Six scorers for the Wizards as they established a 22-9 first period lead.
The Breeze changed tactics in the second period playing four guards, the strategy working a treat as they narrowed to within four points at the main break, 30-26. Shinae and Brooke Blair 12 points between them for Harbour, Krystal Leger-Walker 6 points for Waikato.
Fortunes ebbed and flowed in the third quarter, Harbour taking the lead for the first time courtesy of a Tini and one play but Leanne Walker replied with a triple for Waikato – Tini scored again Harbour edged ahead 44-42 with ten minutes to play.
The final quarter was low scoring as nerves began to show in both camps but every time the Wizards made a play, Harbour Breeze would respond always holding at least a two shot lead. Once again the Waikato Wizards fell at the final hurdle, last year’s runners-up on the wrong end of the 62-56 scoreline.
Final score;
Harbour Breeze 62 – Brooke Blair 16, Tera Reed 12, Shinae Blair 10, Jaycin Tini 10
Waikato Wizards 56 – Jess Tuki 11/11, Krystal leger-Walker 11
The Plate Final was contested by 2013 WBC champions Capital Flyers and New Zealand Home Loans Canterbury Wildcats.
Tegan Graham scored the last 5 points of the first half to lift the Flyers to a 34-28 advantage at the main break. The Wildcats offence was largely ineffective in the second period only a couple of Laken Wairau triples keeping the Cantabs in contention.
Capital opened the second half with a 10-2 run before Shea Crotty replied with a pair of triples for the Wildcats, the second a metre from beyond the three point arc. Crotty accumulated 10 points in the quarter, 52-45 to the Flyers at the final break.
Five points from Stella Beck helped fuel a 8-2 Flyers run to start the final stanza, a time out from Cats coach Phil Burns taken. The coach’s words worked a treat, the Wildcats scoring 12 unanswered points, trailing 66-60 inside last 90 seconds. Tessa Boagni scored again, 66-62 with 49 seconds to play but the clock was the enemy of visitors – Tegan Graham and Courtney Stubbins icing the game from the free throw line.
Final score:
Capital Flyers 71 – Stella Beck 26/16, Tegan Graham 24
Canterbury Wildcats 62 – Shea Crotty 17, Bridgette Lawn 10
3rd/4th Play-off:
Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks 78 – Charmian Mellars 24, Natalie Taylor 14, Kalani Purcell 13/17rebs.
Waitakere Lady Rangers 55 – Wuanyei Ah-Hing 11, Jessica Nicholson 10, Te Oramae Solomon 10
LACEY LOWDOWN 