Club Basketball Semi-finals Report

Written by Bruce Martin and Sharon Erwood

Photo Courtesy Arjan van Hasselt

 

Men's Premier

Pioneer Pacers, led by the athletic Marty Davison, qualified for its first Men’s Premier Championship Grand Final since the team joined the grade in 2014 when it comfortably beat Wolverines 91-58 in Cowles stadium on Saturday. Pioneer, founded by former Ram and Tall-Black Dave Langrell, still contains key members, Davison, Oli Davies and Harley Campbell from the inaugural team that won the Hoben trophy that year but was, put out of the championship race by Atami in the Championship semi-final. Fraser Costley now coaches the team.

Pioneer started strongly in Saturday’s semi with the unstoppable Davies carrying on where he left off in the Quarter Final along with his Burnside HS partner Nick Erwood who contributed 16pts and 9 rebounds to the Pioneer tally. While Davison set the pace of the game, cutting down the options of Wolverines Taylor Britt by frustrating his attacking options, Davies ducked and drove through slack Wolverines defence to slot 34 points with deceptive ease. After leading 23-16 at the first break, Davies slotted more baskets to push Pioneer out to a handy 48-23 lead at the turn around.

Nick Adcock and Britt led the rebounding for Wolves with nine apiece but as a team, they were out rebounded by the much bigger Pioneer team. Sam Evans and Mike Townsend each picking up 10 boards, and the team pulling down 63 rebounds to Wolverines 43.  

Pioneers defence was especially tight, restricting the free scoring Britt to just 17 points and nine rebounds. Pioneer restricted other Wolves players, Kieran Ball, Mike Kinley and Carl Isitt to below 10 points, while the young Amosa Faitaua-Nanai found space to slot 13 points as the pressure relaxed. As Pioneer stretched the lead to 65-41 by three-quarter time Erwood and Cam Costley (13) made strong contributions for Pioneer as they pulled the lead in the final quarter.

The game saw Dean Le Warne take the court for the last time for the Wolverines Premier team. Le Warne has been a key member of the club for over a decade and his tenacious gritty play will be missed. Pioneer will now meet the winner of the other deferred semi-final between Lincoln University and Checkers to be played this Thursday in Cowles at 7pm as Lincoln have four key members away in China contesting the FISU World 3x3 championships

 

 

Women's Premier 

North Canterbury demolished Halswell with a 117-41 victory and record margin in the Women’s Premier championship semi-final and will now meet 2014 and 2016 defending champion Lincoln University. Lincoln joined the Women’s Premier in 2012 and was knocked out in semi-finals in 2012, 2013 and 2015 whereas North Canterbury joined the Premier Women in 2015, finishing runner-up to UC in both the Patron’s trophy and championship finals that year and was eliminated from the championship Semi’s last year by Lincoln 54-56.

North Canterbury chose to rest Junior Tall-Fern Esra McGoldrick with a minor niggling injury while it was left to Wildcat Terina Wanoa (21, 9-15, 60%) and the veteran Wildcat Hayley Gray (25, 9-13, 69%) which included 4-6 from beyond the arc to set the pace for North Canterbury. Emma Hazeldine (18, 9-11, 82%) made some strong penetrating runs through slack Halswell defence. Junior Tall-Fern Charlotte Whittaker (15) was restricted after picking up three early fouls while Taneisha Nutira (13) and Ash Fane (11) made their presence felt.

Only Wildcat and American PHD student from Dartmouth, Darcy Rose (17) showed much resistance for Halswell, while the Baker sisters from Rangiora Emily (7) for NC and Jess (8) for Halswell had some moments one on one. Halswell contained North Canterbury to trail 12-20 at the quarter break with Gray and Hazeldine pushing NC out to a 45-19 half-time lead. Whittaker returned to rebound strongly and lead the charge for NC in the third quarter, leading 80-30. Nutira made valuable use of extra court time in the fourth slotting her 13 points.

Results were:

Men’s Premier Championship Semi-Finals:   

2 v 3: Pioneer Pacers 91 (Oli Davies 34; Nick Erwood 16, 9R; Cam Costley 13; Mike Townsend 10, 10R) Wolverines 58 (Taylor Britt 17, 9R; Amosa Faitaua-Nanai 13). HT: 48-23.

1 v 4 Deferred Game: Lincoln University v Checkers 7pm Thursday Cowles

 

Women’s Premier Championship Semi-Finals:

1 v 4: North Canterbury 117 (Hayley Gray 25; Terina Wanoa 21; Gemma Hazeldine 18; Charlotte Whittaker 15; Taneisha Nutira 13; Ash Fane 11) Halswell 41 (Darcy Rose 17). HT: 45-19.

2 v 3: Lincoln University 67 Pioneer Pacers 64 (Played Sept 10^th).

Grand Final this Saturday: North Canterbury v Defending champion Lincoln University

 

 

Men’s Under 23 Semi-Finals:

In the Men’s Under 23 semi-final University of Canterbury thumped Checkers 95-66 with strong contributions from Simon Reeves 19, Josh Petermann 16 and Rohan Russo 15 while Ben Harris (19) stood out for Checkers. UC A will meet the winner of the deferred semi this Wednesday night between Lincoln Bulls, undefeated over the last three seasons, and Wolverines in the Grand final this Saturday.

Results were:

University Canterbury A 95 (Simon Reeves 19; Josh Petermann 16; Rohan Russo 15; Paul Stephenson 14; Ben Anderson 14) Checkers 66 (Ben Harris 19; Hamsa Shire 16; Sam Riley 16). HT: 39-29. Deferred Game: Lincoln Bulls v Wolverines 6pm Wednesday Cowles

 

 

Men’s Under 20 Semi-Finals:

Ashburton’s consistent play earned its reward by upsetting the strongly favoured Atami side 103-95 in the semi-final on Saturday after losing to them in pool play 90-97. Team stats woman Linda Clarke reports that was a good win for Ashburton: “We’ve had some gutting close losses over the season and it was good to be on the right end of one for a change. Coach Pip Johnston has had the core of this group of players for three years and so a good reward for him too. Bring on the final!  We’ve really enjoyed the under 20 competition.”

The win goes a long way to help the team after its disappointing results at the SS Premierships the previous week where it beat Nayland College in the 11^th place play-off. Determination saw Ashburton lead 27/26 at Qtr time, Atami pulled away to lead 51-44 at the turnaround but strong games from Joshua Lowe 24, Gareth Hunt 24, Fletcher Arnold 17 ,and 10 pts from Mitchell Prendergast propelled Ashburton to victory.

In another tight encounter the defending champion Burnside Checkers led by strong games from TK Cooper (24) and Isaiah Morris 21pts saw them repulse a strong challenge from Gators A, scraping home 71-61 and a place in the Grand-Final against Ashburton. Atami has a strong display of developing talent soon to progress into the Under 23 competition with Eacan Westwood 25, Will Hollings 23 and Joel Jeffrey 18 pts in top form. Burnside High teams have an impressive record in this grade with the school taking the 2012, 2014 and 2015 titles before the grade became club orientated.

Men’s U20 results were:

Burnside Checkers 71 (TK Cooper 24; Isaiah Morris 21; John Quitiong 11) Gators A 61 (Ihaia Kendrew 15; Joshua Nickel 13; Jared Burnett 12). HT: 32-30

Ashburton 103 (Joshua Lowe 24; Gareth Hunt 24; Fletcher Arnold 17; Mitchell Prendergast 10) Atami 95 (Eacan Westwood 25; Will Hollings 23; Joel Jeffrey 18; Johnny Clay 14). HT: Atami 51-44.

Grand Final this Saturday: Burnside Checkers v Ashburton.

 

BU17A Semi-Finals:

A powerful second half team effort saw Rangiora High school record a massive upset in the Boys U17A semi-final, beating top seed Middleton Grange Green 93-88. Rangiora had lost twice to Shirley Spartans in qualifying matches, and drew Middleton Green in the semis as highest seeded loser. In pool play, Middleton had beaten Rangiora by 33 and 17 points.

It did not start well for Rangiora as it was soon trailing 19-26 at quarter-time and 38-49 at the turnaround. With two minutes remaining before the third break Rangiora found themselves trailing a massive 21 points (29-60) but strong words from Coaches Sam Watkins and Liam Connelly instilled the values that the school had been teaching to keep fighting along with a cultural change in attitude.

In a comeback to match all comebacks Travis Jennings (19), Blake Cunninghame (16) and Canaan Tarawa (14) put on 15 unanswered points and momentum built from there. Still trailing 60-70 at the third break the RHS fightback continued, finally levelling 79-79 with 3.52 minutes remaining. Tarawa and Cunninghame kept slotting baskets, then the MacFarlane brothers Conor (14) and Lachlan (11) pitched in as Rangiora held its nerve in the hectic last 30 seconds to take the semi much to the delight of coach Watkins, and a Grand Final encounter this Saturday against Cashmere Gold that had beaten Shirley Spartans comfortably 84-46 in the other semi. 

BU17A results were:

Cashmere Gold 84 (Finn Barclay 19; Tom Webley 14; Oki Tilaia 12; Willem Russ-Hofmans 10) Shirley Spartans A 46 (Loyal Patelsio 12; Michael Tusani 11; Josh Thomson 11; Jayden Watkinson 10). HT: 33-21.

Rangiora HS 93 (Travis Jennings 19; Blake Cunninghame 16; Canaan Tarawa 14; Conor MacFarlane 14; Lachlan MacFarlane 11; Noa Price 10) Middleton Grange Green 88 (Jimmy Williamson 23; Ben Carlile-Smith 17; Fabian Hoekendijk 12; Ah-Li Fenika 11). HT: MGG 49-38.

Grand Final this Saturday: Rangiora HS v Cashmere Gold.

 

 

BU17 Middle Grade - Grand Final:

St Thomas College 77 (Tanae Lavery 30; Mitchell Langley 12) Shirley Spartans B 69 (Boppy Halaifonua 20; Tautahi Briggs 19; Ryan Wood 12). HT: 46-35.

 

 

BU17 Development Grand Final:

Burnside B 58 (Kryan Tranter 22; Mustafa Nazari 11; Neihana Tuki 10) St Thomas College 55 (Josh Neilson 24). HT: 31-26.

 

 

BU15 Semi-Finals:

St Thomas College 94 (Tanae Lavery 54; Joshua Lacey 13; Sam Gallagher 13) Christchurch BHS Black 64 (Ryan Pringle 25; Perry Ratahi 13; Cameron Talbot 12). HT: 50-32

Shirley Spartans 61 (Tautahi Briggs 25) Middleton Grange White 51 (Ben Gracey 15; Riley Sa 10) HT: 26-22.

Grand Final this Saturday: St Thomas College v Shirley Spartans

 

 

Men’s Div. One Semi-Finals:

Two vastly different teams will contest the Men’s Div. one Grand final on Saturday. Wolverines, spearheaded by Jamie Graham has been in the grade for over a decade and has championship wins in 2010 and 2013. In 2008 and 2009, they were eliminated in semi-finals and have remained a top contender each season since.

On Sunday, Wolverines Blue came on strong in the final quarter of the semis to down Gators Red 76-58 after only leading 42-40 at the break. Players to lead Wolves efforts were Nick Purcell 17, Brian Kim 13 and Lionel Hopgood (12 points) while former Wolves member Paul Havill replied with 17 for Gators Red.

The other semi went to extra-time with the new boys on the block, Atami Casa de Banos, formed by the powerful duo of Ritchie and Scott Howell (25) stepping down after more than a decade in Men’s Premier. The Howells were backed by Simon Hodgson with 22 points, just enough to see them get to over-time against perennial champions, Pioneer Black after the game was locked 64-64 at full time, and had frequent lead changes throughout the entire game. Evergreen Dave Langrell and former led Pioneers scoring with 14 points alongside Gareth Costley 14, Brent Fisher 12 and Fraser Costley 11 points. 

Pioneer Black, formerly PlaceMakers Wolves, won the Championships in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 and under the Pioneer banner took the championship in 2014 and 2016.

Men’s Div. One results were:

Wolverines Blue 76 (Nick Purcell 17; Brian Kim 13; Lionel Hopgood 12) Gators Red 58 (Paul Havill 17; Aiden Ryan 15) HT: 42-40

Atami Casa de Banos 77 (Scott Howell 25; Simon Hodgson 22) Pioneer Black 73 (Dave Langrell 14, Gareth Costley 14; Brent Fisher 12; Fraser costly 11) in extra-time. HT: 33-28, 3QT: Pioneer 49-47, FT: 64-64. ET: Atami CdB 77-73.

Grand Final this Saturday: Atami Casa de Banos v Wolverines Blue.

 

 

Women’s Div. One Semi-Finals:

For the first time at least back as far as 2008 when Aranui Blue ran supreme, that Halswell had not one, but two of their Women’s Division one teams in the Grand final this Saturday. Old hands like Marinda Van Vuuren (21), former Tall-Fern Stacey Hickford (20) and Jessica Grosskreutz 14 carried Halswell Green to a comfortable 77-24 over a five-man Royals Dark Horses team, while former Wildcat Cecelia Zambrini (21) led Halswell Red to a 51-39 over former champion Royals side.

Women’s Div. one results were:

Halswell Green 77 (Marinda Van Vuuren 21; Stacey Hickford 20; Jessica Grosskreutz 14) Royals Dark Horses 24 (Leah McMaster 10). HT: 32-8

Halswell Red 51 (Cece Zambrini 21) Royals 39 (Juanita Gear 14; Pina Lissaman 12).

Grand Final this Saturday: Halswell Red v Halswell Green.

 

Women’s Under 23 Semi-Finals:

One of the two oldest women’s clubs in the CBA history has three teams in this year’s Grand finals but it took extra-time for Halswell to win the Under 23 semi, edging UC Maroon 62-60 after the game was tied 57-57. Halswell had a big lead in the first quarter 18-3 and still held to lead 37-25 at half-time. Aleni Chapman featured for Halswell with 17 points while Kaitlyn Stringer slotted 23 for the students. There were several lead changes in a hard fought final quarter.

Women’s Under 23 results were:

Halswell 62 (Aleni Chapman 17; Holly Iafeta 12; Te Amo Tamainu 12) UC Maroon 60 (Kaitlyn Stringer 23; Caitlin Johnston 12; Lily Nicol 12) in overtime. HT: 37-25. FT 57-57. ET: Halswell 62-60.

Deferred game Lincoln University v Wolverines-Royals this Wednesday 7.30pm Cowles.

 

 

GU17 Semi-Finals:

Both the NC Girls U17 teams succumbed to strong Wharenui Gators teams on Sunday in the semi-finals. The NC2 team was edged by Wharenui Gators Green 72-66 with Elsie McRobb 20 and Holly Monopoli 10 leading scorers for NC while Katie Jo van den Bogaert 20, Isabelle Orr 19 stood out for Gators green. An upset looked likely early as NC2 lead at the first break 26-16 but by half-tine Gators Green had nudged head 38-37 and by the third break held a 52-50 lead. It was point for point in the final quarter but Gators slipped clear in the closing moments.

NC1 also put up a bold effort in its semi-final against Wharenui Gators White, before going down 86-52 after Gators had recorded a strong finishing burst. Brooke Wolford 13 and Lauren Whittaker 11 points stood out for NC1 while Hannah Malaysay (36) was almost unstoppable for Gators White. The team also led 15-13 at the first break but held Gators White to a 37-31 half-time lead. The two Wharenui Gators teams will now meet in Saturdays final.

GU17 Results were:

Wharenui Gators Green 72 (Katie Jo van den Bogaert 20; Isabelle Orr 19; Annabel Lapworth 16) North Canterbury Two 66 (Elsie McRobb 20; Holly Monopoli 10). HT: 38-38

Wharenui Gators White 86 (Hannah Malaysay 36; Maia Williamson 19) North Canterbury One 52 (Brooke Wolford 13; Lauren Whittaker 11). HT: 37-31.

Grand Final this Saturday: Wharenui Gators White v Wharenui Gators Green