A strong team effort from Lincoln University propelled the students to a narrow point for point 91-88 win over their Canterbury University counterparts in the final round of the Men’s Premier club basketball championship played in Cowles stadium on Saturday, eliminating UC from the Quarter-final play-offs this Saturday. The game played at a frenetic pace for the first quarter, both teams running the floor and shooting around 70%.

 

Checkers with a blistering 40 points from Tall-Black Ethan Rusbatch edged clear of the severely depleted defending champion Wolverines to win 83-71 while Hoben trophy winner Pioneer Pacers continued its resurgence with a strong final quarter to clinch victory 81-74 over Atami. With several players including Taylor Britt now overseas or injured, Jeremy Hancock stepped up for Wolverines with 15, Dave Gibbs and Mike Kinley 13 apiece.

 

Championship favourite Gators had the bye and was unbeaten in the championship round while Lincoln claims second spot with a 4-2 record. That left Checkers, Pioneer and Wolverines tied on nine points (3-3) such has been the competitive nature of the competition on any one day. Checkers with the better differential took third spot and will meet fourth placed Pioneer while Wolverines drops to fifth and a match up against Lincoln University.

It may be an end to a wonderful two-decade era for Atami having to meet the all-powerful Gators side in the 1 v 6 quarter-final. While it is only Gators’ second appearance in a championship final (losing to Atami in 2010), Atami has appeared in 14 of the last 15 Grand Finals since 2001, its last championship win was in 2013 while Checkers prevailed in 2011/12 and 2014. Derek Albertsen (32) was in top form for Atami propelling them to a 44-42 lead at half time against Pioneer while it took some strong efforts from Oli Davies (26) and Ariel Mepana (18) to bring Pioneer home.

 

James Cawthorn ran riot for Lincoln University with 27 points, 14 in the first quarter and James Levings was his usual busy self with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists, finding range from the deep, where he hit five of eight threes. University gave it all it had with strong games from Dan Pau’u 22 points and 12 rebounds, Josh Petermann 18, 7R and 6A while Brent Fisher plotted 18 points and 12 rebounds.

 

Lincoln University Women continued to dominate the Women’s Premier championship battle with a solid fourth quarter finish over UC. After trailing Canterbury 35-36 early in the second half, LU notched 22 more points in the fourth to thump University 72-50. Canterbury Wildcats Fran Edmonson (33) for Lincoln and Sapphire Wairau (20) for University were the standouts.

 

North Canterbury, reinforced by Mary Golding in her final appearance this season (20) had a little too much power for Minties pulling away in the second spell to win 58-39 after trailing 24-26 at the break. Halswell took care of Gators with a narrow 57-50 victory while Pioneer had a comfortable 73-39 win over Wolverines. Ashley Gayle slotted 16 and Bree Cumming 15 for Pioneer while Junior representative Kendal Hastie featured for Wolverines with 15.

 

Halswell, North Canterbury and University shared second place with 5-2 record behind Lincoln University.Minties in sixth place now meets Lincoln , Halswell with its big win the previous week over University now meets Pioneer in the 2 v 5 quarter while North Canterbury in third place takes on University which dropped to fourth placing on countback.

University of Canterbury has been in 10 successive championship finals, winning eight while Lincoln University was the 2014 champion.

 

Men's Premier Final Championship Round:

Lincoln University 91 (James Cawthorn 27, James Levings 18, 8R, 5A, Ben Williams 17, Nick Erwood 13, 10R) def University 88 (Dan Pau’u 22, 12R, Josh Petermann 18, 7R, 6A, Brent Fisher 18, 12R, Matt Campbell 13, 7A, Karl Magon 11). HT: 51-46

Checkers 83 (Ethan Rusbatch 40) def  Wolverines 71 (Jeremy Hancock 15, Dave Gibbs 13, Mike Kinley 13)

Pioneer Pacers 81 (Oli Davies 26, Ariel Mepana 18, Harley Campbell 17) def  Atami 74 (Derek Albertsen 32, Patrick Roger 11, Ritchie Howell 10). HT: Atami 44-42. 

Bye: Gators.  

Final championship points table: Gators 12, 1^st; Lincoln Univ 10, 2^nd; Checkers 9 (+6), 3^rd; Pioneer 9, (+4), 4^th; Wolverines 9 (-10), 5^th; Atami 7, 6^th; University 7, 7^th.

 

Women’s Premier Championship round six:

Lincoln University 72 (Fran Edmonson 33) def University of Canterbury 50 (Sapphire Wairau 20). HT: 33-27

North Canterbury 58 (Mary Golding 20) def Minties 39 (Amiria Rule 12) 

Halswell 57 (Terai Sadler 16, Bridget Salkeld 13, Sarah French 11) def Gators 50 (Tsubasa Nisbet 13). HT: 31-28.

Pioneer 73 (Ashley Gayle 16, Bree Cumming 14, Molli Daly l2) def Wolverines 39 (Kendal Hastie 15). HT: 35-18. 

Final championship points table:  Lincoln University 14, 1^st; Halswell 12, (+11); 2^nd, North Canterbury 12, (+1), 3^rd; University 12, 4^th, (-12); Pioneer 10, 5^th; Minties 9, 6^th; Gators 8, 7^th; Wolverines 7, 8th.