The playoff picture has become a little focused now, with a three-way battle for the final spot in the Whelan Division I semi-finals being decided next week.
Middleton Grange had two wins in the #McDsTT, somewhat of an upset over Christ’s College (we did pick this though in our preview!) 75-59, as their depth proved too much for Christ’s. Seth Bryant and Angus McWilliam both had 15 apiece for the Gators, while Pedro Makaafi and Jarred Burnett had 10. Maxwell Darling led all scorers with 22, while Max De Geest (19p) and Jackson Stewart (11p) also hit double figures.
Middleton’s Second game cemented them into the Thompson Trophy playoffs, as they ran away from St. Andrew’s 92-56 in the second half, in a game which had one of the best crowds of the year. Jarred Burnett led the way this time (19p), with solid contributions from Angus McWilliam (18p) and Ben Carlile-Smith (10p). Will Hollings caught fire for a while (21p) with Jack Kelliger (11p) and Scott Hay (10p) bombing away too for the visitors.
Middleton Grange’s Whelan team also had another win – beating St. Andrew’s 78-49. Wildcats Aimee Book (22p) and Lauryn Hippolite (20p) led the charge here. The visitors were well served by Charlotte Whittaker and Lose Faingaanuku who had 15 points each. Rangi Ruru got all they could handle from Burnside, needing 31 points from Esra McGoldrick and 13 from Sophia Harrison to escape 77-73.
St. Margaret’s had a tough win over Hillmorton in Division II. Hillmorton came back from being down 16 in the third to close the gap to only three points, before succumbing 61-56. Emily Stewart (19p), Madison Eder (13p) and Emily Evans (11p) did most of the scoring for St. Margaret’s, while Hillmorton’s Michelle Scott (16p) and Kennedy Valance (10p) did the same for their team.
All Results:
Whelan Division I
Christchurch Girls’ 59-41 Ashburton
Middleton 78-49 St. Andrew’s
Rangi Ruru 77-73 Burnside
Rangiora 60-56 Cashmere
Whelan Division II
St. Margaret’s 61-56 Hillmorton
Lincoln 57-48 Ellesmere
Avonside 55-48 Villa Maria
Thompson Division I
Middleton 75-59 Christ’s College
Middleton 92-56 St. Andrew’s
Thompson Division II
Riccarton 78-75 Hornby
Papanui 82-66 Kaiapoi
LACEY LOWDOWN 