Harbour Breeze and Harbour Zephyr made encouraging starts to the 2019 Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) played at Cowles Stadium, Christchurch over the weekend.

In Division 1 the Breeze, despite being without injured Tall Fern Penina Davidson, travelled back with a 2-1 record whilst the young Zephyr squad recorded two wins and two defeats in Division 2 play. 

The Breeze opened with a convincing 73-46 win against Waikato Wizards. The victory was secured in the third quarter when the Breeze rattled in 30 points – Ashleigh Kelman-Poto scored 15 of her game high 26 points in the period. Japanese guard Yume Negishi recorded 8 points and 5 assists on debut and Emme Shearer, also playing her first game, scored 11 points.

On Saturday in the live streamed game against hosts Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats the Breeze went down 69-62 after leading 49-45 at the three-quarter mark. Ella Fotu led the scoring effort with 15 points and Negishi was also in double figures with 10.

Third up for the Breeze were defending champions Otago Gold Rush. After a tight opening ten minutes the Breeze ran away with the game winning all four quarters on their way to a dominant 85-47 victory.

Kelman-Poto and Tayla Dalton both scored 15 points with Shearer, Fotu and Matangiroa Flavell also in double figures. Negishi, who leads the competition in assists, came up with 10 dimes to go with 8 points.

The Zephyr, playing in the WBC for the first time, got their campaign underway with a meritorious opening game win against the far more experienced Capital Swish on Friday. Tiarna Ckarke, Wuanyei Ah-Hing, Jess Moors and Raykesha Fiatau all scored in double figures in an exciting 71-64 win.

In the first of two games on Saturday they lost 77-55 to Wellington. Tiarna Clarke, working her way back to full fitness after suffering a broken arm earlier in the year, led all scorers with 23 points.

Clarke was again the leading scorer later in the day as Zephyr bounced back with a 71-46 win against fellow newcomers South Canterbury Stealers. Olivia Berry and Tessa Talo-Tomokino both scored 10 points and Fiatau threatened a double double with 7 points and 10 rebounds.

In arguably the best Division 2 game of the weekend Zephyr were pipped 78-75 by defending champions North Canterbury Spirit in an encounter where the lead changed or was tied on five occasions in the closing four minutes. The teenage quartet of Jordyn Maddix (14pts), Hannah Wentworth (12pts), Parehuia Delamere (12pts) and Fiatau (10pts) led the Zephyr scoring.

Next up the Breeze will visit top of the table Auckland Dream on Friday May 17 followed by a trip to New Plymouth to take on Taranaki Thunder the next day.

The following weekend (Sunday May 26) a double header will see the Breeze play Taranaki Thunder (2.30pm) preceded by the Zephyr entertaining Rotorua Lady Geysers at midday – both games being played at AUT Sports Centre.

WBC Division 1 Standings

3-0 Auckland Dream

2-1 Harbour Breeze, Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats

1-2 Waikato Wizards, AM I FIT Otago Gold Rush

0-3 Taranaki Thunder

 

WBC Division 2 Standings 

3-0 Wellington, North Canterbury Spirit

2-1 Capital Swish

2-2 Harbour Zephyr

1-3 Northland Phoenix, Rotorua Lady Geysers

0-3 South Canterbury Stealers

 

Day 1 (Friday) results:

Division 1

Waikato Wizards 46 - Krystal Leger-Walker 8 Miriam Stevens 7, Koha Lewis 6

Harbour Breeze 73- Ashleigh Kelman-Poto 26, Deena Franklin 11, Emme Shearer 11, Yume Negishi 8

 

Division 2

Capital Swish 64 – Letava Whippy 27, Arielle Parai 12, Dalen Pilitati 9

Harbour Zephyr 71– Tiarna Clarke 15, Wuanyei Ah Hing 13, Jess Moors 12, Raykesha Fiatau 12 

 

Day 2 (Saturday) Results

Division 1

Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats 69 - Marita Davydova 24, Aijah Pepe 17, Laken Wairau 10

Harbour Breeze 62- Ella Fotu 15, Yume Negishi 10, Ash Kelman-Poto 9

 

Division 2

Harbour Zephyr 55– Tiarna Clarke 23, Raykesha Fiatau 10, Jess Moors 6

Wellington 77 – Leah Mafua 20, Emilino Motu 12, Tanaks Gopare 11

South Canterbury Stealers 46 – Dallas Frederikson 10, Jorja Miller 9, Ellen Walsh 7

Harbour Zephyr 71– Tiarna Clarke 16, Olivia Berry 10, Tessa Talo-Tomokino 10

 

Day 3 (Sunday) Results

Division 1

Harbour Breeze 85- Ash Kelman-Poto 15, Tayla Dalton 15, Emme Shearer 11

AM I FIT Otago Gold Rush 47 - Nicole Ruske 13, Natalie Visger 9

 

Division 2

Harbour Zephyr 75-Jordyn Maddix 14, Parehuia Delamere 12, Hannah Wentworth 12, Raykesha Fiatau 10

North Canterbury Spirit 78 – Esra McGoldrick 25, Jodi Hikuroa-Jeffrey 19, Hannah Crabtree 9