2 November 2011

Photo:  Katherine Hollis from Eagles played her 400^th League game

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Tuesday 1 November 2011-Round 16

League Women –Uni Rebels v Ansett

Ansett came from behind in their match with the Uni Rebels to cause a major upset in overtime 87-83.  Trailing 44-30 at the halftime mark most spectators would have expected Ansett to fold and the Rebels to carry on for the victory, but the Blues staged a stirring comeback in the second half that saw them tie the game up at the end of regulation 77 all.  Tamara Sheppard (16.8ppg) had put the Rebels up by two with only seconds remaining before Sam Drescher (22ppg) countered with a basket that tied the game up! The ensuing overtime was all Ansett needed to claim the win and a share of first place on the ladder.  The two teams have split the season’s matchups with two wins apiece from the four games they have played.  The League’s leading scorer, Sam Drescher, hit a game and season high 30 points to lead the Blues with Kia Bond adding 13 and Amelia Shanahan 12.  Tamara Sheppard from the Rebels also hit her season high of 26 with support from Jaylene Bonson (16 @ 16.6ppg), Justine Schmidt (15), Delsey Ah Wang (14) and Francis Clarke (10).  With the game winding down the Rebels lost a number of key players to foul problems, shifting the advantage to the Blues who hit 18 points from the charity stripe (9 from Drescher).

Tracy Village Jets v Warriors

Tracy Village Jets stayed in touch with the ladder leaders with a easy 56-25 win against the Warriors.  Kylie Duggan (8.7ppg) hit a season high 26 points, 10 in the first quarter as the Jets overpowered the Warriors for a 13-2 lead.  A short lived revival by the Warriors in the second quarter got them within 3 at 21-18 at half time, but the second half was all Jets as they kicked in the after burners to out score the Warriors 35-7, limiting the Maroons to just 2 points in the last quarter, defense being the key issue here.  Brianna Grazioli added 9 for the Jets, while Kate Smythe and Jennifer Kinsella led the Warriors with 11 and 10. 

Eagles v Lightning

The Eagles celebrated Katherine Hollis’s 400^th League game by beating Lightning 48-36.  The win gives the fourth placed Eagles a two game break between them and Lightning who will struggle to make the final four with just four rounds remaining.  Megan Fitzpatrick (13.3ppg) was the only Eagle in double figures with 13, Hollis had 7, but everyone scored in the celebration.  The two livewire guards from Lightning, Kelli Sealy and Lucy Murray, top scored with 16 and 12.  The Eagles put the clamps on Lightning’s leading scorer Chelsea Cook (12.2ppg) who did not score a point.  Neither team has an easy road to the playoffs with some very difficult games coming up.

Ladder:                               Uni Rebels & Ansett 13-3, Tracy Village Jets 12-4, Eagles 5-11, Lightning 3-13 & Warriors 2-14

Saturday Games:               Eagles v Tracy Village Jets 5pm, Uni Rebels v Warriors 6:30pm & Lightning v Ansett 8pm

 Next Week:                        Lightning v Uni Rebels 6:15pm, Ansett v Tracy Village Jets 7:45pm & Eagles v Warriors 9pm                 

League MEN – Ansett v Tracy Village Jets

Ansett weathered Tracy Village’s attempt to upset them by staging a second half comeback for a close 71-64 win that keeps them in first place.  The Jets trailed 16-12 after one quarter of play but stormed back behind the inspired play of Travis Ellis (22) and Michael MacLean (24) to hold a slim 33-30 half time lead.  However, after the break Ansett muscled their way ahead as Matt Hunt (14 @ 16.4ppg), Daniel Florance (11) and Adam Miller (16) found the range, out gunning the Jets 24-11 to take a handy 10 point lead at the end of three quarters 54-44.  The Bombers tried to find a way to close the gap, but Ansett had the answers with Rashad Chase (20.9ppg) nailing 9 of his team high 21 in the quarter and the Blues closing out the game from the charity stripe.

Uni Rebels v Lightning

The Uni Rebels slapped down Lightning 93-66 to keep their minor premiership aspirations alive.  Stamping their authority on the game early with a 29-13 first quarter lead due in part to a 14 point outburst from the League’s leading scorer, Andre’ Moss.  Moss (33.5ppg) finished up with a game and team high 33 followed by 17 from Michael Jones, 16 from Jarrod Sheppard, 12 from Zane Meehl and 11 from Jake Kirby.  The first quarter did most of damage for Lightning and they never fully recovered despite the efforts from Jesse Bell (18 @ 14.5ppg) and Tony Halikos (12) who always take the game to their opponents no matter what the score may be. 

Warriors v Eagles

The Eagles won their second game in a row with a testing 102-80 win against the Warriors.  Newcomer to the Warriors, Phil Collins, is proving to be a pivotal player who can score points in bunches.  Collins hit a team high 29 and helped to keep the Warriors in the game until the second half.  The Warriors led 21-19 after one quarter of play and trailed by just 2 at the break 41-39.  The Eagles took charge in the second half to out score the Warriors 61-40 mainly due to the hot handed Larry Williams (28.2ppg) who put up 25 of his game high 34 during the run.  Buster Perkins (25.1ppg) added 18 and Joseph Johnson 17.  Ben Muvirimi continued to play exciting ball by chipping in with 18 for the Warriors while player/coach John Culbertson added 12.

Ladder:                   Ansett 14-2, Uni Rebels 13-3, Tracy Village Jets & Eagles 9-7, Lightning 2-14 & Warriors 1-15

Saturday Games:   Ansett v Warriors 5pm, Uni Rebels v Eagles 6:30pm & Tracy Village Jets v Lightning 8pm

Next Week:            Tracy Village Jets v Uni Rebels, 6:15pm, Lightning v Warriors 7:45pm & Ansett v Eagles 9:15pm