March 23, 2015

Photo:  Lightning's Karsten Oltrop hit 13pts and the winning shots at the end of their win over the Eagles.

Challenge Season

Darwin Basketball Association League Results from Saturday 21 March 2015

Round 17

League Women – Tracy Village Jets v Uni Rebels

The Tracy Village Jets notched up another win as they overpowered the Uni Rebels for the second time in three days. The Bombers won the match 64-43 behind the inspiration of player/coach Sam Rioli who hit a season high 19 points. The Jets led from start to finish although it was still close at half time with the Bombers leading 25-21. It all opened up in the third term as the Bombers swooped off on a 23-14 run to give them much more breathing space. The Rebels never replied to the challenge and the Bombers ran out easy winners again. Rioli had help from Tahnee Maxwell who hit 18 while for the Rebels Edith Boundry & Ambah Kowcun both tallied 15.

Eagles v Razzle

The Razzle claimed their second win in a row, another win over the flightless Eagles 47-45. This game was completely different from the night before when the Razzle pummeled the Birds by 65pts! The Razzle won this encounter at the end as Caitlen Wortlehock nailed a basket with time running out. Razzle shot out to a 16-7 first quarter lead and led at half time 26-19, but the Birds took wing and flew back into contention in the second half, mainly the last quarter when they almost overhauled the green and gold. Faye Armstrong led the comeback despite sporting an ankle injury, but the Razzle hung tough with everybody on the team contributing points for the victory. Erin Boyd hit a game high 21 for the Razzle while Armstrong led the Eagles with 14.

Ansett v Lightning

The Carbone sisters, Emma & Dominique, combined for 22 points in leading the Lightning to a 38-27 win over Ansett. The Blues had beaten the Lightning the night before by just one point so this was a satisfactory reversal for the side. Emma controlled the tempo and the outside shots were dropping this time around. Lightning held a slim 15-9 lead at half time and boosted that up to 27-17 at the end of three quarters. The Blues got one point closer at the end, but still lost the contest. Emma Carbone finished up with 12 and sister Dominique 10 for the Lightning. Drew Brown had 10 for the Blues.

Ladder:                                                            Tracy Village Jets 8-0, Eagles 5-3, Uni Rebels, Ansett & Lightning 3-5, Razzle 2-6

Next Week Round 8:                                     Thursday: Tracy Village Jets v Razzle 6:15pm Friday: Lightning v Eagles 6:15pm & Ansett v Uni Rebels 7:45pm

League Men – Eagles v Lightning

Karsten Oltrop turned out to be the savior of the Lightning as he dropped in the last six points of the game to win it over the Eagles 74-71. And the Lightning did it with just four players on the court! Player/coach Chris Charman had fouled out of the game and Harry Fuge injured his ankle putting him on the bench with his coach and no players to replace them with about 8 minutes left in the game. On paper the Eagles should have won, but failed to do so, dropping back-to-back games against the Lightning on successive nights. Craig Martin (15.6ppg) led the Lightning for the second game in a row with 23 points, Christian Williams hit 14 and Oltrop (8ppg) nailed 13. For the Birds Chris Hart (22.4ppg) had 26, Jesse Williams-Hook 22 and Reece Turner 14 @ 18.2ppg.

Razzle v Uni Rebels

The luckiest winners on the night were the Uni Rebels who beat the Razzle 66-63 on a last second desperation shot by Bradley Jachmann (11.2ppg) from outside the arc. The score was all tied up at 63 with the Razzle pushing for their first win of the season and the match was looking like it would be overtime when Jachmann launched his ‘Hail Mary’ shot from downtown and it went in! Razzle was on the verge of a David wins over Goliath ending, but it wasn’t to be. David Carroll (10.8ppg) was playing a blinder for the Razzle with Saxon Radecki and Stuart Peace backing him up. The Razzle led at half time 36-30 and then tried to hold off the Rebels in the second half as they charged back into the game. It all ended with Jachmann’s shot, his only basket of the quarter. Lance Schmidt (10.8ppg) led the Rebels with 19, Jachmann had 17 and Thomas Uppena hit 12. For the unlucky Razzle Carroll hit 23, Radecki & Peace 11 each and Ben Cowcher 10.

Tracy Village Jets v Ansett

The Tracy Village Jets won their fourth game in a row and slipped into outright third place on the ladder in doing so. They beat Ansett 67-54, their second win over the Blues in as many days. Playing without point guard Michael MacLean & three point specialist Darrin Weetra, but with Travis Ellis (19.5ppg) back on deck, the Bombers led throughout the contest. They set up the win with a 20-14 first quarter run followed by a 20-14 run for a 40-26 half time lead and never looked back. Jake Geer (7.7ppg) led the Bombers for the first time this season with 16 followed by Ellis & Sam White with 15 each. Matteo Rowse (19.4ppg) from Ansett led all scorers with 24, Matthew Flanegan (8ppg) had 12 and Matthew Haniford 10.

Ladder:                                                             UniRebels 8-0, Lightning 7-1, Tracy Village Jets 4-4, Eagles 3-5, Ansett 2-6 & Razzle 0-8

Next Week Round 8:                                     Thursday: Eagles v Uni Rebels 7:45pm. Friday: Lightning v Tracy Village Jets 6:15pm & Razzle v Ansett 7:45pm