LACEY LOWDOWN

Canterbury Wildcats captain Shea Crotty

The 2016 WBC (Women’s Basketball Championship) champions have been found. Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats produced a dominant performance to beat Waikato Wizards 68-54 in the Final at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua on Saturday.

Final – Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats v Waikato Wizards

Canterbury forward Ashley Gayle scored the first basket of the game, Alyssa Hirawani replied with a lay up in traffic for Waikato but a 12-0 run helped Canterbury to a 21-12 opening quarter lead. But for a running three from just beyond the half way line by Hirawani on the quarter time buzzer the lead could have been even more substantial.

Seven straight points from Courtney Hamblin and two from Terai Sadler stretched the Wildcats lead to 30-14 forcing a time out from Wizards coach Leanne Walker. Miriam Stevens broke the scoring drought for Waikato as a defence dominated quarter ended with the Wildcats 32-19 to the good. The impressive Hirawani led all scorers with 12 points at the break, Fran Edmondson close to a double double with 8 points and 8 boards for the Wildcats.

As in the first half Gayle opened the scoring with opposition centre Stevens converting from short range for Waikato in reply. Gayle began to dominate the key at both ends and she stretched the lead to 40-21 with seven straight points before Hirawani added to her tally with a triple but the lead by then was 20 points in favour of the Cantabs.

Tessa Morrison knocked down a couple of three’s either side of a Kelcy Ballantyne bucket and when Shea Crotty grabbed a steal and a break away lay-up the Canterbury captain had one hand on the trophy with her team 57-30 to the good.

Georgia Perrott-Hunt scored twice early in the final period to prompt a Waikato revival but the result was never in doubt as Canterbury won 68-54.

The Wildcats have remained unbeaten during the 2016 WBC campaign, winning 14 straight WBC games to deservedly claim the title.

Wildcats coach Lori McDaniel was naturally delighted, “I’m really proud of the girls performance, not just today, but throughout the season. They have remained unbeaten in WBC (14 games) and that is pretty impressive in it’s self.

“It got a bit out of control towards the end but luckily we were up by quite a bit by then but overall they’ve done a great job. I called a timeout and told them to chill and relax out as you are playing as if we are behind by 20 points not up by 20. Regardless of the turnovers at the end we won well and deserved to win”

McDaniel paid tribute to the Waikato Wizards and their coach Leanne Walker.

“Waikato have done a great job and for Leanne to do what she did without Krystal ( guard Krystal Leger-Walker is in China with the Tall Ferns) is a credit to them. They are a tough team, they are skilled”

McDaniel complimented three individual players.

“Fran Edmondson (10 points, 14 rebounds) has done a great job. She is not a traditional type of post player, a kind of wriggly, bendy kind of an athlete but its great to watch. I also want to commend Ashley Gayle (13 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks) on a controlled true posting game today and I’m really proud of how she played.

“I think it is a lot of effort from all the girls, everyone has contributed and Shea Crotty has been a fantastic leader at point guard.”

The Canterbury coach also took time to thank the team’s sponsors.

Murray Kennedy and Alloyfold have been fantastic. They have brought a lot of value to these players, not just monetary but going out and getting individual sponsors. I am thrilled to bits with their support, it makes a massive difference.”

Final Score;

Canterbury 68 – Gayle 13p/15r, Sadler 11, Edmondson 10p/14r, Hamblin 10

Waikato 54 – Hirawani 24p/9r, Heremaia10/10, Stevens 10

Plate Final

 Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks 35 Capital Flyers 65

 A dominant first half display by Capital propelled them to a 39-16 lead. A performance of pace and polish demonstrated why they were regarded as one of the form teams in the second half of the season. Kayla Kiriau with 10 points was the biggest contributor to the Flyers offensive game at half-time, Breana Jones with a brace of threes, the best for ACM.

The Lady Hawks gave up 13 turnovers in the first half and that trend continued in the third period, more errors contributing to an 11-2 run, and a 50-18 lead for the hosts. Steph Rigter and Idaho Purcell made up some ground for ACM but the efforts of Tegan Graham, Shalae Salmon and Sariah Penese kept Capital in control, a massive 30 points ahead (56-26) at the third break.

Hannah Turton and Jones made threes for ACM in the fourth but it was too little too late as Capital lifted the silverware with a 65-35 victory.

Capital 65 – K Kiriau 16p/8r/5stls, Penese 16, Graham 12, Morris 7

ACM 35 – Jones 11, Purcell 8, Pupuke-Robati 7/13

3^rd/4^th Play-off Game

 Taranaki Thunder 52 Oceana Gold Rush Otago 54

As she has been all season centre Jess Tuki was the fulcrum of the Taranaki effort in a tight first twenty minutes with 5 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks as her team led 22-20. Soraya Umaga-Jensen was equally influential for Otago with 7 points and 6 rebounds.

Bailey Gavin slotted home a couple of long range efforts for the Thunder but they trailed 37-33 at the last break.

A couple of Joellen How drives get the Taranaki score ticking over but Otago had the better of the third leading 37-33 with ten minutes to play.

Aleisha Ruske stretched the lead further as did a pair of Umaga-Jensen triples. Tuki got the Nakki within 5 points with 2:30 to play, Rebekah Trethewey made it even closer before Tuki leveled proceedings with 60 seconds to play.

Inside the last 30 seconds Natalie Smith edged Otago ahead, Courtney Keech tied proceedings only for Aleisha Ruske to seal the deal with 1.5 seconds left on the clock for last season’s champions.

Otago 54 – Umaga-Jensen 18/8, A Ruske 15, Smith 7/7

Taranaki 52 – Keech 15, Tuki 13/13, Gavin 7

7^th/8^th Play-off Game

 Waitakere Lady Rangers v Nelson Sparks

Forward Lauren Vetters impressed again with ten points in the first periodfor the Lady Rangers but they trailed 26-24 at half-time. Regular contributors Lauren Hippolite and Jodi Hikuroa-Jeffrey with 7 points apiece led the Sparks effort. Darci Finnigan showed some nice touches for the Lady Rangers but they still trailed by a point, 36-37 at three-quarter time.

Jess Nicholson and Greissen Leslie threes propelled Waitakere into the lead with four minutes to play. Chelsea Neame reduced the lead to two points but another Nicholson three gave Waitakere a 49-44 advantage with 1:36 to play.

One of the players of the tournament Hikuroa-Jeffrey scored 4 quick points. It looked all over when Kat Jones missed a free throw but Neame grabbed the offensive rebound, made the put back with 7 seconds left on the clock to take Nelson to an improbable victory 50-49.

Nelson 50 – Hippolite 15, Hikuroa-Jeffrey 11p/9r, Neame 10, Jones 4/14

Waitakere 49 – Vetters 13, Finnigan 10, Theyers 10

9^th/10^th Play-off Game

Te Tai Tokerau Phoenix 69 Tauranga City Coasters 64

A Freda Riwai baseline jumper on the cusp of half- time edged the Phoenix ahead 38-36. Baskets from Jaimee-Lee Tito, Ellen Ma and Riwai kept the Northerners ahead 53-48 with ten left on the clock.

Back to back baskets from Reanon Hetaraka-Sadler gave the Phoenix a ten points margin but the Coasters weren’t finished. An 8-0 run spurred by Briarley Rogers and Courtney Wilson dragged the Coasters back into the contest. Hetaraka-Sadler and Riwai re-established a four point margin, threatened but not overcome, by the Coasters.

Final Score;

Te Tai Tokerau 69 – Tito 21,Riwai 18, Hetaraka-Sadler 14p/8r, Ma 5, Telfer 1p/10r

Tauranga 64 – B Rogers 16, C Rogers 12, Wilson 13, Watene 10, Kendrick 6p/13r

The 2016 Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) Finals tournament began on Thursday in Porirua and it was a good day for Taranaki Thunder, Oceana Gold Rush Otago and Canterbury Wildcats as all three teams booked semi-final berths.

In Championship section B both Taranaki Thunder and Oceana Gold Rush Otago advanced to the semi-finals after both teams inflicted a defeat on the Auckland Counties Lady Hawks.

In Section A Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats are assured of a spot in the semi-finals but Waikato Wizards and Waitakere Lady Hawks will meet on Friday morning to determine the other team to progress.

There is still all to play for on day two in the Plate section as any two from Capital Flyers, Te Tai Tokerau Flyers and Nelson Sparks can progress. Even Tauranga City Coasters despite two losses have a mathematical chance of advancing..

Championship Section B

Taranaki Thunder 58 Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks 53 AOTTaranaki had to overcome a spirited Auckland Counties Manukau second half comeback before eventually winning in overtime.

A strong opening half propelled the Thunder to a 27-18 half time lead.

The mother and daughter combination of Sharne Robati and Paddy Pupuke-Robati began to get things going for the Lady Hawks along with Breana Jones and Hannah Turton and they pulled within 4 points, 41-37 with 6 minutes to play. Taranaki were unable to shake off ACM despite regular scoring contributions from Bailey Gavin and Joellen How.

Pupuke-Robati finished under pressure for an and one play before Leiani Tautiepa tied the scores 47-47 in the closing seconds to force overtime.

Robati made the first points in the extra period but Gavin and Tuki made a pair of baskets each to clinch a hard fought Thunder win.

Leading Scorers;

Taranaki – How 11, Gavin 11, Tuki 9p/10r

ACM – Robati 12, Jones 10

Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks 46 Oceana Gold Rush Otago 72

The first quarter was a disaster for ACM as Otago jumped out to a 16-0 lead. ACM took 6:30 to get on the scoreboard, Breeze Leonard finally getting a shot to drop. Aleisha Ruske nailed a couple of long range threes to help Gold Rush to a 19-8 lead at the first break. Things didn’t get any better in the second quarter for the Lady Hawks as Otago stretched out to a 39-18 half-time lead with Soraya Umaga-Jensen (7pts) leading a balanced scoring effort.

A long three Nicole Ruske trey on the three-quarter time buzzer extended the Southerners lead to 57-31. The final period was a formality, Otago advancing to the last four with a game to spare.

Leading scorers;

ACM – Jones 10, Robati 10, Pupuke-Robati 9p/7r

Otago – Visger 14, Nicole Ruske 13, Aleisha Ruske 11

Championship Section A

 Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats 84 Waitakere Lady Rangers 60

 A depleted Lady Rangers, shorn of three starters on Tall Ferns duty, conceded an early lead against Canterbury but to their credit never allowed the deficit to balloon out.

Hayley Gray (10pts) led all scorers at half time as her Wildcats led 44-27.

American Lauren Vetters, debuting for the Rangers, opened their account in the third quarter, replying to a Shea Crotty long three. Spoils were shared in the period as both teams logged 19 points.

Canterbury forwards Pip Connell and Ashley Gayle, both recovering from injuries, were used sparingly by coach Lori McDaniel allowing Fran Edmondson the opportunity to play extended minutes and she led all scorers as Canterbury eased to a comfortable 84-60 victory. Guards Darci Finnigan and Stevie Theyers led the Rangers effort with 15 points each.

Leading Scorers;

Canterbury – Edmondson 20p/13r, Gray 14, Snowdon 12

Waitakere – Finnigan 15, Theyers 15, Leslie 14

Waikato Wizards 50 Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats 66

 Waikato made the early running of this up-tempo affair before the Wildcats answered with 9 straight points to lead 16-10 at quarter time.

Courtney Hamblin and Fran Edmondson (9 points in the half) were driving the Canterbury effort as the lead extended into double figures but Waikato were still very much in the picture trailing 37-25 after twenty minutes.

Nice touches from Alyssa Hirawani kept Waikato ticking along but they were not able to make much impression on the red and blacks lead.

Opposition center’s Ashley Gayle and Miriam Stevens got into a mini wrestling match but when Edmondson brought up 50 points for Canterbury the advantage was 15 points. A Natasha Lenden three followed by a driving two plus the bonus freebie brought the Waikato bench to life – 53-46 with ten minutes to play.

A real battle ensued in the final quarter as the defence of both teams dominated proceedings but Canterbury kept their noses in front to record a 66-50 win and a place in the semi-finals. Wildcats forward Fran Edmondson capped a fine performance with a second double double of the day.

Leading Scorers;

Canterbury – Edmondson 15p/12r, Crotty 11, Gayle 10p/9r

Waikato – Stevens 11, Lenden 10, Fermanis 9

Plate Competition

 Te Tai Tokerau Phoenix 63 Tauranga City Coasters 58

Freda Riwai and Jeannie Cameron made ten points between them in overtime as Te Tai Tokerau just managed to hold off Tauranga City Coasters.

The Phoenix, with Jaimee-Lee Tito in fine scoring touch, charged out of the blocks quickly establishing a double figure lead and were well in command at half time leading 36-14. Tauranga were smarting from a poor first half and responded to coach Rachel Gwerder’s words to reel of a 10-0 start to the second term and pull back to 41-30 at three-quarter time.

The momentum stayed with the Coasters as Kaatia Watene and Briarly Rogers made long threes to pull their team to within two points with 6:40 to play. A Marion TeWhui basket steadied the ship for the Phoenix but Tauranga were not finished and they tied the scores via a Courtney Wilson three with a minute to play.

A Watene triple looked to be the winner but it was cancelled out by Jaimee-Lee Tito’s effort in the dying seconds to force overtime.

After that Riwai and Cameron had the final say.

Leading Scorers;

Te Tai Tokerau – Tito 24, Riwai 13, Hetaraka-Sadler 11

Tauranga – Watene 13, Rogers 11, Wilson 10

Capital Flyers v Te Tai Tokerau Phoenix

Early trapping defence from the Flyers caused some problems for the Phoenix resulting in turnovers capitalised on by the hosts for a commanding 26-9 opening gambit.

The Phoenix responded with the first half dozen points of quarter two and with Capital finding scoring a little more difficult it was just 34-15 to the Flyers at the main break. Tegan Graham (12pts) led all scorers at the half.

Capital scored the first 10 points of the second half to take a strangle hold on the game with a 44-15 advantage eventually cruising to a 65-20 victory.

Leading Scorers;

Capital – Graham 20p/10r, Vaofusi 11, Penese 8p/11r

Te Tai Tokerau – Tito 10

Nelson Sparks v Tauranga City Coasters

 A low scoring first quarter was shared 14 points apiece.

The game sprung to life in the second period as consecutive threes from Rebecca Hughes and Briarley Rogers (twice) propelled Tauranga to a 27-20 lead. The ever industrious Kat Jones and Jodi Hikuroa-Jeffrey (15 points in the first half) struck back for the Sparks as they edged ahead 32-31 at half-time.

Tayla Kendrick was a livewire at both ends of the court for the Coasters racking up a double double midway through the third stanza. Her efforts and those of Ellen McManaway kept Tauranga in touch, down 43-39 at the three-quarter mark.

Six points from Lauren Hippolite were key as Nelson piled on 17 points in six minutes to break the game open. Rebecca Hughes knocked down a pair of jump shots for the Coasters but it was not enough to threaten the Nelson lead. Hikuroa-Jeffrey was outstanding as Nelson closed out a solid 50-69 victory.

Leading Scorers;

Nelson – Hikuroa-Jeffrey 30, Hippolite 11, Jones 9/7, Neame 8/8

Tauranga – Kendrick 12p/13r, Hughes 11, Briarley Rogers 11, Wilson 9/7

In a non-competition game Capital Flyers were much too good for the Junior Tall Ferns winning 64-26.

Leading Scorers;

Capital – Graham 17, Morris 12, Penese 12

JTF’s – Rainsfield 6, Baudry 5

Injury cloud hanging over Ashley Gayle

The Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) Finals tournament begins on Thursday in Porirua with a number of teams having roster changes forced upon them.

Three of the six teams competing for the championship have lost personnel to the Tall Ferns who depart for China the day before WBC begins.

Waitakere Lady Rangers are the heaviest hit as not only have they lost Chevannah Paalvast, Deena Franklin and Ferns debutant Katelin Noyer but also their experienced coach Aik Ho who is part of the Tall Ferns coaching setup. His assistant Ollie Bryce, who will also have to manage without the injured Annalina Crosbie, will fill his shoes.

Ho is disappointed to be missing the championships but is in a perfect position to comment on the chances of some of the other teams.

Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks have a couple of huge holes to fill with guards Jordan Hunter and Hailey Moala (nee Purcell) absent. Hunter is required by the Ferns and Moala has headed overseas to take up a contract with Gladstone Power in the Queensland Basketball League alongside sister and former Tall Fern Charmian Mellors. Coach Tania Hunter will have to be at her strategic best to cover for those losses.

The Tall Ferns assistant says, “ They will have Breanna Jones of course and I like the look of young Sharne Robati but Hunter will be a huge hole to fill and they will struggle without her.”

Waikato Wizards will need to manage without Krystal Leger-Walker. The 18 year old is a major offensive weapon for Waikato but her absence will give opportunities to the likes of Kendall Heremia and Georgia Perrott-Hunt. Veterans Miriam Stevens and Natasha Lenden will need to make significant contributions if Waikato is to see semi-final action.

Despite an Injury cloud hanging over import centre Ashley Gayle the Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats will go into the tournament as title favourites. The Wildcats have the deepest roster in the competition and boast a 9-0 unbeaten record in the current campaign.

Ho says, “If they have Pip Connell back from injury to boost their forward stocks they will be a tough proposition but certainly if Gayle can’t play it helps the other teams.”

A positive for the Wildcats is that former Olympian Tall Fern Sally Farmer is likely to be wearing a red and black singlet for the first time in over 10 years.

“I think it is great for the younger players to have someone of Sally’s experience willing to be in the mix. Sally and I played together and she was happy to come back more for the team’s benefit than her own, which I am grateful for,” said Wildcats coach Lori McDaniel.

Oceana Gold Rush Otago, last season’s champions, will be smiling as they appear to be at full strength. The Tall Ferns assistant coach likes their chances, “They’ve made two recent finals and I’m picking them to make it again this time. It’s great to see a bunch of local girls that have grown up in the team together doing so well. It’s good to see Toddy (coach Todd Marshall) doing such a good job without the stars of last year Jillian Harmon and Samara Gallaher.”

Also appearing to be at full strength are Taranaki Thunder. “For me they are the sleeping giants,” says Ho. “With Jess Tuki leading the team anything could happen with that group,” he says.

The six teams are divided into two pools of three with the top two in each progressing to semi-final play.

Pool A is made up of Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats, Waitakere Lady Rangers and Waikato Wizards

Pool B comprises of Oceana Gold Rush Otago, Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks and Taranaki Thunder.

The other four teams will contest the Plate Competition. Capital Flyers bounced back from a horror first tournament to finish strongly in their second outing in Nelson. Tauranga City Coasters and Te Tai Tokerau Phoenix have both improved greatly from last season and are capable of upsetting the Flyers and the other strong contenders Nelson Sparks.

Canterbury will be looking to win their first title since 2005 but there are a few hurdles to overcome before that might eventuate.