Club Basketball Report written by Bruce Martin and Sharon Erwood

Photo courtesy Arjan van Hasselt

Lincoln University took an iron grip for top qualifying spot in the Men’s Premier basketball championship play-offs with an 87-74 win over a depleted Wolverines in Cowles stadium on Saturday.

The Gators (defending champion) and Pioneer Pacers (Hoben trophy winner) were both winless in the championship round, with both sides needing a win or face possible elimination in the play-offs. Each time either team took a lead, the other would pull it back. Both teams had key players in foul trouble and Canterbury Ram Marques Whippy (12) was huge for Gators in his limited minutes. Sam Evans played well before fouling out for Pioneer.  Pioneer looked to have the game in hand with less than a minute to go when Cam Chalmers hit a three falling backwards leaving Gators only two points behind. He had the chance to be the hero and win the game for Gators when Pioneer's Cam Costley turned the ball over with eight seconds to go but Chalmers' shot failed to drop giving Pioneer the crucial win 79-77. Mike Townsend (15) and Oli Davies (11) topped the sheet for Pioneer while Chalmers (18) and Angus McWilliam (16) led Gators charge.

Checkers looked to be able to match up against the University of Canterbury, but sickness forced playmaker Nat Connell from the court before half time. A return to form for ‘Player of the Match’ Matt Campbell with seven steals and 22 points, along with another fine shooting performance by Paul Stephenson (15) early in the game, and the dominant plays of Tony Tolovae (11) kept the Uni team on line for a good play-off spot.  The final score-line flattered Checkers who had a good fourth quarter but the game was already gone, University prevailing 77-66. Bede Marsters slotted a handy 12 points for Checkers, UC led 44-37 at half-time.

Wolverines were without Taylor Britt (away), Shou Nisbet and Sam Smith (both back to the US) so was always going to be an uphill battle against the in-form Lincoln University. Wolverines were able to stick with LU for three quarters of the game but the dynamic duo of James Cawthorn (26) and Ben Bowie (23) made sure the win was out of Wolverines reach. Mike Kinley (16) and Carl Isitt 15 featured for Wolverines.

The NC Women’s Premier team beat Halswell 70-36 to retain its second placing behind the unbeaten Lincoln University. Earlier last Wednesday North Canterbury played Pioneer in a catch-up game with North Canterbury coming out on top 56-47 after a strong second quarter saw them leap ahead 32-24 at half time. Pioneer rallied in the third through the efforts of Wildcats import Ashley Gayle (18) while National Juniors Charlotte Whittaker (16) and Esra McGoldrich (12) saw NC home.

Defending champion and Patron’s trophy winner Lincoln University used its bench while having a comfortable win over cellar-dwellars Wolverines 91-69 with Wildcat Tessa Morrison exploding with 44 points, as she hit on 12 of 18 shots from three, supported by Sophie Schrader with 13.

Pioneer avenged its first round loss to edge Gators 60-54 after leading 32-20 at half-time. Gators with Wildcat Sam Duggan (15) and Megan Ellis with 22 closed the gap to trail 35-39 in the third quarter but Bianca Aguiar (13) saw Pioneer home.

 

Results were:

Men’s Premier Championship:   

Lincoln University 87 (James Cawthorn 26, Ben Bowie 23, Ben Williams 15, Josiah Williams 10) Wolverines 74 (Mike Kinley 16, Carl Isitt 15, Amosa Faitaua-Nanai 13, Kieran Ball 12). HT: 48-40

Pioneer Pacers 79 (Mike Townsend 15, Oli Davies 11, Ariel Mepana 10, Elliot Noble 10) Gators 77 (Cam Chalmers 18, Angus McWilliam 16, Marques Whippy 12, Matt Mischewski 12). HT: 39-31

University of Canterbury 77 (Matt Campbell 22, Josh Petermann 16, Paul Stephenson 15, Tony Tolovae 11) Checkers 66 (Bede Marsters 13, Nat Connell 12, Jordyn Kauta 11). HT: 44-37

Bye:Atami

Points table with games played in parenthesis: Lincoln University 10 (5), Checkers 8 (5), UC 7 (4), Wolverines 6 (4), Atami 5 (4), Pioneer 5 (4), Gators 4 (4)

 

 

Women’s Premier Championship:

North Canterbury 70 (Ash Fane 14, Charlotte Whittaker 13. Gemma Hazeldine 12) Halswell 36 (Natasha Van Vuuren 14). HT: 38-14

Catch-up game: North Canterbury 56 (Charlotte Whittaker 16, Esra McGoldrick 12) Pioneer 47 (Ashley Gayle 18). HT: 32-24.

Pioneer 60 (Bianca Aguiar 13, Polly Hill 10) Gators 54 (Megan Ellis 22, Sam Duggan 15).  HT: 32-20

Lincoln University 91 (Tessa Morrison 44, Sophie Schrader 13, Lucy Elizabeth Brown 11) Wolverines 49 (Letitia Mullaly 17. Kendal Hastie 15). HT: 31-20

Bye: University of Canterbury. 

 

Points table after five rounds: Lincoln University 10, North Canterbury and Pioneer 9, Halswell and Gators 8, UC 6, Wolverines 5.