LACEY LOWDOWN

The NBL1 season has commenced in Australia. The tier below the WNBL has four geographical divisions with Kiwi representation in all-four.

Jordan Hunter controlled the tempo for South Adelaide Panthers as they clawed Eastern Mavericks 103-75 in NBL1 Central action. Hunter finished with 11 assists and 2 steals to go with 7 points.

In NBL South play forward Penina Davidson had 15 points and 7 rebounds for Nunawading but the Spectres went down 90-78 to Frankston Blues in the opening round of action.

Toni Farnworth produced 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists but couldn’t prevent Ringwood Hawks going down 81-52 to Eltham Wildcats.

In NBL1 West Zoe Richards claimed 8 rebounds to go with 6 points as Rockingham Flames were burnt 85-78 by Cockburn Cougars.

Jordan Hunter laid a solid platform for South Adelaide Panthers as they clawed Eastern Mavericks 103-75 in NBL1 Central action. Hunter finished with 11 assists and 2 steals to go with 7 points.

NBL1 North, with a bunch of Tall Ferns playing including Chev Paalvast, Kalani Purcell and Micaela Cocks, begins next month.

In the Big V League Jacinta Beckley piled on 23 points (9/12FG) as Sunbury Jets defeated Bulleen Boomers 93-63.

Gracie Roberts-Hare scored 15 points and pulled down 7 rebounds as Lekdetec beat newly promoted Triple Threat in the opening round of the Dutch League last week.

Unfortunately that was where the good news ended for the Waimea College and University of Charleston alumna as the League has been shut down for at least a month due to rising COVID-19 infections in the country.

Roberts-Hare is in her second season with Lekdetec but it may well be some weeks before she can get back on court with over 40,000 new COVID cases reported in Holland last week.

Still in Europe and former Tall Fern Jillian Harmon posted 11 points and 5 rebounds as Schio beat Vigarano 88-49 to make it four wins from four outings in the Italian League.

For further news on New Zealand player performances overseas click here: https://nz.basketball/at-a-glance-tall-blacks-and-tall-ferns-abroad/

There are four Kiwi double-doubles to report from the final regular season games in the Queensland State Basketball League (QSL) played at the weekend plus one in Italy.

Chevannah Paalvast and Logan Thunder take pride of place as they head into the play-offs with an unblemished 11-0 record. The Thunder beat Northside Wizards 114-55 with Paalvast claiming a season high 23 points along with 10 rebounds.

Southern District Spartans finished second on the ladder after a comfortable 95-67 home win against Brisbane Capitals.

Kalani Purcell led the way for the Spartans with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals – her fifth double-double in nine games.

Natalie Taylor was also in good form tallying 19 points.

RedCity Roar slipped to a surprising 86-74 home defeat against Ipswich Force. Despite the loss the Roar are comfortable inside the top-six headed to the play-offs.

The Roar have five kiwis in their lineup and all made a contribution on Saturday including double-doubles from Kayla Kiriau (11 points and 10 rebounds) and Charmian Mellars (12 points and 13 rebounds.

There were also good contributions from Ajiah Siosiua-Pepe (16 points), Ashleigh Karaitiana (16 points) and Karlene Kingi (6 points). 

Other news from Australia is that the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) is that the 2020 season will be played in a Queensland hub (Cairns, Townsville and Mackay).

Tip-off is November 12 and the Lowdown will be keeping tabs on the Tall Ferns playing in the League. Mary Goulding is in her debut season with Bendigo Spirit with Penina Davidson, Kalani Purcell, Toni Farnworth and Stella Beck all suiting up again for Melbourne Boomers. 

In Spain Jillian Harmon was also in double-double form. The former Tall Fern corralled 14 rebounds to accompany 13 points as Famila Wuber Schio made it three wins from three outings with a 77-72 victory against Empoli.

In the Dutch League Gracie Roberts-Hare scored 15 points as Lekdetec beat newly promoted Triple Threat 102-60 in the opening round of the season.

Seven was something of a lucky number at the weekend for the Tall Ferns playing in the Queensland State Basketball League (QSL).

Chevannah Paalvast dished a season high 7 assists as Logan Thunder remain unbeaten (10-0) at the top of the QSL table. The Tall Ferns guard also scored 6 points as the Thunder rumbled Gold Coast Rollers 87-60.

Ashleigh Karaitiana also produced 7 assists, again a season best, as RedCity Roar got the better of North Gold Coast Seahawks 82-71. Karaitiana also scored a team high 23 points, as former Canterbury Wildcats guard Ajiah Siosiua-Pepe chipped in with 15 points (5/6 3PG) for the 7-3 Roar.

It was the seventh win on the bounce for the 9-1 Southern District Spartans after their 88-44 drubbing of USC Rip City. Natalie Taylor scored 15 points for the Spartans and Kalani Purcell was all business with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Thirteen steals in one game would be quite an accomplishment for any team but thirteen by a single player could be something of a Queensland State League (QSL) record.

Kalani Purcell posted 21 points, 6 assists and that remarkable number of steals as Southern District Spartans defeated Sunshine Coast Phoenix 107-63 on Saturday.

Sister Natalie Taylor scored all her 15 points (5/8 3PG) from beyond the arc as the Spartans maintain second place on the QSL ladder with an 8-1 record.

Top of the pile are Chevannah Paalvast and Logan Thunder who have won nine games on the bounce.

Paalvast scored 9 points in Thunder’s 97-50 win at USC Rip City and 12 points as the Thunder rolled over Toowoomba 107-29.

It was a mixed weekend for RedCity Roar who beat South West Metro Pirates 60-38 but then went down in a heap against Brisbane Capitals losing 96-55.

Ashleigh Karaitiana filled the stats line against the Pirates amassing 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks.

The game against the Capitals was a contest to decide outright third place on the QSL League table. Karaitiana came up with 9 points and 6 rebounds but it was a disappointing performance from the Roar who now have a 6-3 record.