The semi-final line up in the Championship section of the 2015 WBC has been decided.
Oceana Gold Rush Otago will play Waikato Wizards preceded by Nelson Sparks against Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks.
The Harbour Breeze and NZ Home Loans Canterbury Wildcats were both eliminated from the Championship section of the WBC early on the first day of Finals weekend in Porirua.
This meant that the late games between Oceana Gold Rush Otago v Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks and Waikato Wizards v Nelson Sparks were played with only seeding’s in mind.
The Sparks and Wizards were tied 27 apiece at half time; Bayley-Ross Waitai had 9 points for the Wizards, countered by the same number from Hana Wilkinson for the Sparks. The teams could not be separated in regular time, the scores locked 42-42. A couple of Jodi Hikuroa-Jeffrey baskets and a banked two from Jess Bygate (12pts) edged the Sparks ahead in overtime, enough to see them home 50-48 and inflict on Waikato just their second loss of the season. Natasha Lenden (11 points) led the Waikato scoring.
Otago jumped out to a double-digit lead in the second quarter against ACM Lady Hawks and led 30-17 at half time. Paced by Jillian Harmon (29pts/11 rebounds) and Samara Gallaher (17pts/11 rebounds) the 2011 champions closed out a comfortable win 74-52. The consistent Jordan Hunter had 18 points for ACM but the forward threat of the Purcell sisters (who shot 6/25 FG) was nullified by the excellent Otago defence.
Earlier in the day the defending champions Harbour Breeze were no match for Waikato Wizards losing 71-48 in the morning then going down 64-58 to ProBands Nelson Sparks in the afternoon.
The Breeze was out rebounded 45-28 against the Wizards and had no inside presence to trouble Jess Tuki (19pts) and Rhaiah Spooner-Knight (16pts). Idaho State University bound Brooke Blair (14pts) led the Breeze effort.
The Breeze fared better against Nelson but paid the price for a poor third quarter in which they were outscored 20-6. They rallied in the final quarter on the back of four Anna Lacey (17pts) triples but the outstanding Jess Bygate (26pts/10rebs) led the Sparks into the semi-finals.
Canterbury Wildcats were well beaten in both their games. Firstly they fell 76-52 to Oceana Gold Rush Otago – Jillian Harmon (23 points) and Samara Gallaher (16pts) leading the Otago assault. Later the Wildcats had no answer to the all court game of Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks losing 85-58.
Jordan Hunter led the Hawks (21pts/9assists) ably assisted by the Purcell sisters, Kalani and Hailey who notched 15 points each.
Shea Crotty, back from injury, was outstanding for the Wildcats, scoring 10 points in each game.
There was an upset in the first round of the Plate competition, Te Tai Tokerau Phoenix recording a come from behind victory, 55-52, against Waitakere Lady Rangers. The second win of the WBC season for the Phoenix was based on a balanced scoring effort led by Jaimee-Lee Tito (12pts) and Fred Riwai (10pts). Moengaroa Subritzky collected 27 points for the Rangers.
Moengaroa gathered a 29 points (5/7 3PG) haul later in the day as the Rangers recovered to beat Taranaki Thunder 91-59. Terai Sadler had 18pts for the Thunder.
In the other Plate games Capital Flyers made it two wins from two with a comfortable 70-50 defeat of Rotorua Vols after earlier in the day demolishing Tauranga City Coaters 68-36.
Jordan Cederwall and Jessica Slade both scored 11 points against the Vols who were kept in the game by Aroha Haumaha’s 27 points.
LACEY LOWDOWN 