The NZWNBC concluded in Wellington at the weekend with defending champions North Harbour Breeze successfully defending their title despite losing the opening game of the tournament to the Taranaki Trojans

The preceding rounds in Auckland and Dunedin determined the seeding for the Wellington tournament. The top four teams, North Harbour Breeze, Taranaki Trojans, Canterbury Wildcats and Otago Breakers Gold Rush competed for the Championship title whilst the remaining six teams battled it out for the Plate title.

The Breeze beat Canterbury Wildcats 73-65 and Otago Breakers overcame Taranaki 63-50 in the semi finals to set up a north versus south clash in the final.

Harbour started strongly and led by double figures midway through the opening quarter but Otago Breakers, with Suzie Bates making a couple of threes reduced the deficit to just a single point at quarter time (18-17). Early in the second stanza Otago Breakers led by 5 points however, the Breeze boasting a number of former internationals turned up the defensive intensity and took a 49-28 lead into the half time break.
The Breeze maintained the pressure in the third period and with the interior presence of Karlene Kingi starting to tell finished the third period with a 28 points buffer, eventually winning 80-53. Kingi finished with a game high 22 points whilst tournament MVP Charmian Purcell had a double double of 21 points and 10 rebounds.

The result was a fitting climax for coach Brett Goebel and a number of his senior players who may not return for another campaign next year. They leave having won three consecutive championships and an impressive 58 wins, 2 loss record over the past four years.

The Plate Final was contested by the two Waikato teams the Wizards and the Cougars with the Wizards led by Leanne Walker prevailing 73-65 over their local rivals.

A number of the players on show in this tournament now head into the NZ Tall Ferns training camp to prepare for the FIBA Oceania Championships against Australia being held at the end of this month.

SEMI FINALS
North Harbour Breeze 72; Charmian Purcell 23, Karlene Kingi 12
Canterbury Wildcats 51; Megan Shea 14, Georgina Richards 10
Otago Breakers Gold Rush 63; Suzie Bates 25, Janet Main 11
Taranaki Trojans 50; Zoe Kensington 9

FINAL
North Harbour Breeze 80; Karlene Kingi 22, Charmian Purcell 21, Chanel Pompallier12
Otago Breakers Gold Rush 53; Suzie Bates 14, Elise Cassidy 13, Samara Gallaher 11

PLATE FINAL
Waikato Wizards 73; Miriam Slatter 21, Leanne Walker 19
Waikato Cougars 65; Moengaroa Subritzki 19, Letava Whippy 18

7th/8th CLASSIFICATION
Wellington Swish 88; Molly McCullum 19, Renea Leota 17
NZ Academy 83; Jelena Vucinic 24, Milika Nathan 14, Anna Lacey 14

9th/10th CLASSIFICATION
Greater Auckland (GABBA) 72; Stevie Theyers 24, Adoniah Lewis 13
Hutt Valley 53; Mariana Cowan 14, Iva Filipo 10,