The Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats suffered just their second defeat in two years on the opening day of the 2018 Women’s Basketball Championship.
It wasn’t just the result but it was the margin of the loss that was the biggest shock.
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Women’s Basketball Championship begins on Friday
All eyes will be on Tauranga this weekend as the 2018 Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) begins on Friday.
Can Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats be denied a three-peat? How many of our bronze medal winning Tall Ferns will suit up? Will we see a number of US based college players make an appearance?
Leger-Walker continues good form as Wizards down Dream
Charlisse Leger-Walker continued from where she left off at the Commonwealth Games a couple of weeks ago as Waikato Wizards beat Auckland Dream 56-50 on Saturday at Rosehill College.
Leger-Walker you may remember was joint top scorer with 18 points as the Tall Ferns defeated Canada in the bronze medal game on the Gold Coast earlier in the month.
On Saturday she led all scorers with 22 points (8/14FG, 5/7FT) and snared 14 rebounds and 3 steals. Leger-Walker was ably assisted by Alyssa Hirawani who threatened a triple double with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Kelcy Ballantyne and Kasee Leef also chipped in with 6 points apiece for the Wizards.
Auckland were well served by Hailey Moala-Purcell (12 points), Shauna Povey (11 points) and Roana Patterson (6 points). Idaho Purcell and Amanda Buck got through plenty of defensive work nabbing 8 rebounds and 7 rebounds respectively.
The Dream had their most effective scoring spell in the fourth quarter but it wasn’t enough to overturn the 47-35 deficit they faced at three-quarter-time.
Earlier the Wizards won the first two periods by a single point to lead 25-23 at half-time.
The game was a final hit out for both teams ahead of their Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) openers in Tauranga on Friday. Auckland will take on cross-city rivals Harbour Breeze in the opening game while Waikato will match up against defending champions Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats.
Auckland Dream win inaugural Ross Williams Cup
Auckland Dream gained early season bragging rights over Harbour Breeze with a 55-48 victory in the first Ross Williams Cup game held at Epsom Girls Grammar School on Friday night.
Ross Williams, a Basketball New Zealand Life Member, gave over 50 years service to basketball, and the women’s game in Auckland was particularly dear to his heart. If he had been able to attend the encounter on Friday Ross would have enjoyed the occasion, as two evenly matched teams went toe to toe in front of a good crowd.
Shauna Povey and Paddy Pupuke-Robati shared all of Auckland’s first quarter points but the Breeze shaded the period 13-11 as Tabitha Jenkins scored just prior to the break.
The second quarter was all the Dream. Povey moved into double figures as the hosts won the frame 13-6, to take a 24-19 lead into the locker room at the interval.
Jazz Kailahi-Fulu made a couple of inside baskets for the Breeze but triples from Stevee-Rose Theyers and Leiani Tautiepa pushed the Dream advantage into double figures. A late third period flourish from former Westlake teammates Mareta Davidson and Keeley Tini dragged the Breeze to within three at the last break – down 38-35.
Luye Murphy scored five quick points to start the fourth, but Tini and Kailahi-Fulu kept the Breeze in touch and when Morgan Ili scored inside it was a two-point game (48-46) with three minutes to play.
Sharne Pupuke-Robati and Kailahi-Fulu exchanged baskets but although the Breeze had opportunities to level it was the Dream that finished the stronger closing out a seven point win.
The two teams will lock horns again in a couple of weeks when they play the opening game of the 2018 Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) in Tauranga on May 4th.
In the curtain raiser St Mary’s College, Ponsonby defeated Orewa College 80-32. The win means St Mary’s replace Orewa in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade for the 2018 season.
FINAL;
Auckland Dream 55 – Povey 14, P Pupuke-Robati 12, S Pupuke-Robati 9, L Murphy 5
Harbour Breeze 48 – J Kailahi-Fulu 14, M Ili 9, T Jenkins 7, K Tini 7, M Davidson 6
Curtain comes down on US college season for Harbour Reps
It’s all over for the last of the Harbour reps playing at end of season college tournaments in the USA. However there is a silver lining for Zara Jillings.
Also a bit of Harbour Breeze news.
Cal Berkeley and NZ Premiers thrill large crowd
Photo courtesy of Mollie McClure
The University of California, Berkeley Golden Bears and New Zealand Premiers put on a cracking exhibition of women’s basketball at North Shore Events Centre on Sunday.
Daysh and Murphy added to NZ Premier Women’s team
The New Zealand Premier team to take on the Penina Davidson led University of California, Berkley at North Shore Events Centre on Sunday shows a couple of changes from that originally named.
Harbour Breeze guard Georgia Agnew has been nursing a leg injury for a while and following an arduous Tall Ferns tour has been forced to withdraw from the team. Her place has been taken by livewire Capital Swish guard Luye Murphy.
In addition Waikato Wizards guard has pulled out due to college commitments. The Premier team have opted to improve their rebounding arsenal by calling in Tauranga City Coasters forward Makayla Daysh.
Daysh was outstanding at the Women’s Basketball Championship finals in Christchurch leading the competition in scoring (18.0 points per game) and rebounding (14.4 per game).
The game will tip off on August 13th at 4.00pm at North Shore Events Centre and tickets are still available.
NZ Premier Team
Makayla Daysh (Tauranga City Coasters)
Deena Franklin (Harbour Breeze)
Hayley Gray (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Charlisse Leger-Walker (Waikato Wizards)
Luye Murphy (Capital Swish)
Esra McGoldrick (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Sariah Penese (Capital Swish)
Connie Poletti (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Sharne Pupuke-Robati (Auckland Lady Rangers)
Darcy Rose (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Nicole Ruske (Site Weld Otago Goldrush)
Sapphire Wairau (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Coaches – Jody Cameron and Lori McDaniel
Cal Berkley Golden Bears are only 17 days away
Coach Lori McDaniel says the New Zealand Premier team is looking forward to the challenge of facing the University of California Berkeley Golden Bears when they touchdown in Auckland early next month. And they better be, because there is no doubt NZ Premier are in for a tough match.
The UC Berkeley Golden Bears are one of the top women’s college teams in the US, boasting nine appearances at the NCAA tournament and playing in the prestigious Pac 12 Conference.
New Zealand Tall Fern Penina Davison will headline the Cal challenge. Davidson will be lining up for Cal’ where she attends College. Now in her fourth and final year the formidably talented 21 year old has made 98 appearances for the Golden Bears. This is her first time playing in Auckland since the start of her college career.
“This is a great opportunity for New Zealand youth to see what it takes to play at a large Division One College,” says Lori McDaniel.
“We’re ready to show them what New Zealand has got.”
The game tips-off at 4pm on 13 August, at North Shore Events Centre. Tickets at http://www.facebook.com/NZIBT
New Zealand Premier Team
Georgia Agnew (Harbour Breeze)
Deena Franklin (Harbour Breeze)
Hayley Gray (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Alyssa Hirawani (Waikato Wizards)
Charlisse Leger-Walker (Waikato Wizards)
Esra McGoldrick (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Sariah Penese (Capital Swish)
Connie Poletti (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Sharne Pupuke-Robati (Aucland Lady Rangers)
Darcy Rose (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Nicole Ruske (Site Weld Otago Goldrush)
Sapphire Wairau (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
Coaches – Jody Cameron and Lori McDaniel
Cal Berkley v NZ Premier’s coming soon
Sunday August 13th, 4.00pm at North Shore Events Centre is a date, time and place New Zealand Basketball fans should put in their diary.
It is not very often we get an American college team of the calibre of the University of California,Berkley visiting our shores. The Golden Bears, with Tall Fern Penina Davidson in their lineup, are playing just one game in New Zealand.
It is an opportunity not only to see Cal but also some of New Zealand’s most talented players including Tall Ferns Deena Franklin and Georgia Agnew (both Harbour Breeze), Charlisse Leger-Walker (Waikato Wizards), Connie Poletti (Canterbury Wildcats and Sariah Penese (Capital Flyers) in action.
Canterbury Wildcats retain WBC Title
It wasn’t all straight forward but Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats held off a gutsy Taranaki Thunder to win back to back WBC titles.
Taranaki were hamstrung by injuries and foul trouble but didn’t go down without a fight.
LACEY LOWDOWN 