Metro and Country Finish U23 Second and Third
National U23 Basketball championships
National U23 Basketball championships
By Bruce Martin
The Canterbury Metro Men’s Basketball team, coached by Dave Langrell, fought back bravely against the strong Counties Manakau side to almost clinch another National title in the Grand Final of the National Under 23 basketball championships ASB Arena in Tauranga.
After jumping out to a 30-16 first quarter lead Canterbury suffered a second quarter melt down scoring just 9 points to Counties 28 to be behind 39 - 44 at the half.
Chris Duthie and James Cawthorn lead a fight back in the third to restore the ballance to 64 - 64 at three quater time.
Derone Raukawa was having a fantastic game for Counties almost unstopable off the dribble with plenty of screens getting set for him along the way pushing the lead back out to as many as 8. In the closing minute Canterbury pulled back to be within 1 point 91-92 but were forced to foul and Raukawa was rock solid from the line. Counties winning 99 - 91. Raukawa almost single handedly dismataled Metro with 44 points in the game and was named tournament MVP. Joining him in the tournament team were Canterbury Metro players Ethan Rusbatch and Chris Duthie while Canterbury Country got Sam Smith and Jozef Knottenbelt in as well.
The Fraser Costley Coached Canterbury Country team pulled out a great win in the 3rd/4th playoff to beat Hutt Valley 83 - 79
The Pina Lissaman coached Canterbury Metro Women inished in fifth place after beating host Tauranga City 79- 69 in the play-offs. The team was playing without new Tall Fern Shea Crotty who is off in China and Tessa Boagni who has gone to US of A on a High school scholarship.
Results from Friday and Saturday were:
Mens Semi-Finals: Canterbury Metro 118 (Ethan Rusbatch 31, 12R, James Cawthorn 22, Chris Duthie 18, 6S, Will Utley 14, 8R) Canterbury Country 72 (Sam Smith 15, Regan Burnett 13). HT: 50-38. Counties Manukau 101 (Shea Ili 33, 11R, Derone Raukawa 27, Nick Barrow 13, 18R) Hutt Valley 90 (Nico Buckrell 31, Elliot Stubbins 22, Jackson Stubbins 14). HT: 62-49.
Mens 7th & 8th Playoff: Waikato 82 (Dyson King-Hawea 20) Otago 76 (Oliver Smith 17, Thomas Ingham 16, Fergus Bevin-McCrimmon 15).
Mens 3rd & 4th Playoff: Canterbury Country 83 (Samuel Smith 23, Jordan Duggan 15, Jozef Knottenbelt 14) Hutt Valley 79 (Jackson Stubbins 28, Lachlan Fenwick 14, Victor Groom 12).
Mens Grand Final:
Counties Manukau 99 (Derone Raukawa 44, 9R, Taleni Seu 19, Joseph Reddish 10, Nick Barrow 10) Canterbury Metro 91 (Chris Duthie 28, 7R, 4S, Ethan Rusbatch 25, 7R, James Cawthorn 18). QT: Canty 30-16, HT: Count Man: 44-39, 3QT 64-64. FT: 99-91.
Mens Tournament Team:Chris Duthie, Ethan Rusbatch (Canterbury Metro), Jozef Knottenbelt, Sam Smith (Canterbury Country). MVP: Derone Raukawa (Counties Manukau).
Mens Final Officials:Matt Bathurst (Canterbury)
Women’s Pool play: Waikato 63 (Danielle Paenga 15, Chevahn Morris 14, Bayley Ross-Waitai 12) Canterbury Metro 58 (Laken Wairau 15, Bailey McDougall 12, Johanna Bates 11). Tauranga City 71 (Kelcy Ballantyne 24, Kaatia Watene 23) Canterbury Metro 68 (Johanna Bates 23, Laken Wairau 19, Bailey McDougall 10).
Womens 5th & 6th Playoff: Canterbury Metro 79 Tauranga City 69,
Womens 3rd & 4th Playoff: Counties Manukau 73 Waikato 70, 7th place: Rotorua.
Womens Grand Final
North Harbour 79 (Anna Lacey 19, Tera Reed 17, Camece Salmon 11) Porirua 45 (Laykin Paenga 13, Breeze Leonard 10).
Womens Tournament Team:Johanna Bates Canterbury Metro. MVP: Anna Lacey North Harbour. Womens Final Officials:Marty Davison, Elliott Duncan (Canterbury) Brent O’Hagan (Nelson).
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