Harbour Breeze and Wellington Swish into Semi's
The Harbour Breeze and Wellington Swish were the first teams to book places in the semifinals at the North Harbour Tournament of the Women’s Basketball Championship on Friday.
The hometown Breeze, coached by Brett Goebel, went through section A play unbeaten at 3-0 after an 80-75 win over the Swish on day two, earning top spot for Saturday morning’s final four match-ups.
Tall Ferns forward Charmian Purcell top-scored for Harbour with 16 points, assisted by Chelsea Terei with 13 points, former Tall Fern Karlene Kingi with 12 and Justin Reed with 11 points.
For the Swish (2-1), who will get the top-ranked team from section B in their semifinal, Donna Fermanis led the way with 14 points. Melissa LeToa provided 12 and Renee Leota 10.
Harbour went up by nine points after the first quarter and held that margin into the fourth quarter, before Wellington threatened a comeback.
Section B remains wide open, with four of five teams still alive for semifinal spots.
The Taranaki Trojans picked up their first win and kept their hopes alive with a 71-67 upset of the previously unbeaten Waikato Cougars, getting 22 points from Amber Bellringer.
With 22 points from former Junior Tall Fern Erin Rooney and 19 points from both Shea Crotty and Georgina Richards, the Canterbury Wildcats picked up a 73-54 win over the winless GABBA Gators.
The Otago Gold Rush (2-0) remain the only undefeated team in section B but face the Wildcats and Cougars to close out Friday’s section play.
Women’s Basketball Championship
June Tournament
AUT, NZ Breakers Gym
Friday, June 19
Section A
Waikato Wizards 76 (Natasha Lenden 20, Alana Auld 18, Ashleigh Cargo 17, Sharee Hamilton 11) NZ Academy 64 (Milika Nathan 19, Anna Lacey 16, Sian Telfer 10)
Harbour Breeze 80 (Charmian Purcell 16, Chelsea Terei 13, Karlene Kingi 12, Justine Reed 11) Wellington Swish 75 (Donna Fermanis 14, Melissa LeToa 12, Renee Leota 10)
Section B
Canterbury Wildcats 73 (Erin Rooney 22, Shea Crotty 19, Georgina Richards 19) GABBA Gators 54 (Stevee Theyers 18, Emma Bryant 11, Adoniah Lewis 10)
Taranaki Trojans 71 (Amber Bellringer 22, Jenna Kensington 13, Caitlin Preston 13, Terai Sadler 10) Waikato Cougars 67 (Letava Whippy 19, Kalani Purcell 15, Veshae Wilkinson 13)
3pm: Otago Gold Rush vs Canterbury Wildcats, AUT1
6pm: Taranaki Trojans vs GABBA Gators, AUT1
8pm: Waikato Cougars vs Otago Gold Rush, AUT2
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