Both NZ teams ended their campaigns on a winning note on the final day of the Australian U16 State Championships at Logan.

The men took an early initiatve of their encounter with New South Wales Country with a 10-point run over the first and second quarters, but had to withstand a second-half rally that threatened to rob them of victory.

With 4m remaining, the lead was down to two points, but the Kiwis regained control to ease clear for good for a 62-53 result and fifth place.

They dominated the boards, out-rebounding their rivals under their own basket. In a scrappy display, the teams combined for 55 turnovers, shooting a combined 47/135 (34.8%), 5/29 (17.2%) and 16/43 FT (37.2%).

Harbour guard Tai Webster led all scorers with 15 points (5/23 FG, 1/6 3pt, 4/7 FT), while provincial team-mate Sesilili Palei grabbed 10 rebounds.

Meanwhile, another dominant performance from Waitakere forward Penina Davidson guided the NZ women to a 71-69 win over South Australia Metro and seventh position.

They fell behind during the first quarter, but took a lead in the third period and edged clear over the closing stages. The Kiwis dominated in the paint, enjoying a 40-24 scoring advantage around the basket, but made life hard on themselves with 36 turnovers.

Davidson led all scorers with 25 points, adding 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Saturday, July 10
Men
Fifth/sixth playoff
New Zealand 62 (Tai Webster 15) New South Wales Country 53
Q1 18-11
HT 31-22 (13-11)
Q3 46-43 (15-21)
FT 62-53 (16-10)

Women
Seventh/eighth playoff
New Zealand 71 (Penina Davidson 25, Monique Hornby 11) South Australia Metro 69
Q1 10-15
HT 26-31 (16-16)
Q3 49-45 (23-14)
FT 71-69 (22-24)

Harbour guard Tai Webster scored 31 points as the NZ Men maintained their unbeaten run through the Australian U16 State Championships at Logan with an 80-65 win over last year’s beaten finalists, Victoria Country.

The Kiwis, playing their second game of the day, jumped on their previously undefeated opponents with an eight point run at the end of the opening period and stretched their advantage out to 21 points as they cruised to their fourth victory of the tournament.

Webster shot 12/20 FG, 4/8 3pt, 3/6 FT to lead all scorers. New Zealand scored 22 points more in the paint and shot 52% FG.

Earlier, they had rallied from 10 points down at halftime to roll South Australia Country 74-59.

Immediately on the restart, they produced a 13-0 run that carried them past their rivals. By the end of the quarter, the Kiwis were seven points up and gone.

Waikato’s Kurt Heatherley led his team with 18 points/11 rebounds. Winless SAC actually created more scoring opportunities, but shot just 29% FG and NZ controlled their defensive boards and enjoyed a 50-32 scoring advantage in the paint.

On Wednesday, they take on Queensland South (2-2), before facing New South Wales Metro (4-0) in their final pool game on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Kiwi women, who barely survived a scare against West Australia Metro on Monday night, had to dig deep to overcome Queensland North 71-70.

They conceded 13 straight points just before halftime and trailed 27-44 at the break, but clawed their way back over the game’s dying stages.

Harbour forward Deena Franklin scored with 41s remaining to finally snatch the lead, QN tied it up with a free throw, but Waitakere forward Penina Davidson responded in kind with 16s left.

She missed her second attempt from the line, but Stella Beck grabbed the offensive board and the Kiwis played out the clock.

Davidson, who had come up the crucial three-point play the previous night, recorded another double double with 18 points/12 rebounds, while Franklin also had 18 points (9/16 FG).

New Zealand made their comeback even tougher than it should have been with an anemic 6/22 (27%) return from the charity stripe, but battled hard to create chances elsewhere.

They also have two more games in pool play, against Northern Territory (0-4) on Wednesday and New South Wales Country (2-2) Thursday.

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Tuesday, July 6
Men
New Zealand 74 (Kurt Heatherley 18, Sesilili Palei 14, Tai Webster 12, Delroi Heu 11) South Australia Country 59
Q1 12-15
HT 25-35
Q3 52-45
FT 74-59

New Zealand 80 (Tai Webster 31, Sesilili Palei 13, Logan Poloai 10) Victoria Country 65
Q1 24-13
HT 40-28 (16-15)
Q3 60-44 (20-16)
FT 80-65 (20-21)

Women
New Zealand 71 (Deena Franklin 18, Penina Davidson 18, Stella Beck 17, Veshae Asaua-Wilkinson 10)