Club Basketball Report from Bruce Martin                                            Saturday 25th April                                          

CBA Winter Club Basketball Results 2009

Club Basketball looks set for a challenging season with some intriguing match ups and results on the opening day on Saturday. Total team numbers were only four down on last season.

Although games were started at 9am, basketballers respected Anzac Day with the New Zealand flag hung up, a minutes silence observed and the referees wore poppies for the early games.

Royals set the Men's Premier competition alight with a narrow upset win over the defending Hoban trophy and Club Champion Atami with a pulsating 74-71 win in the closing minutes. Royals, a fill-in team last season, put together a number of its 2005 Championship winning team with Nat Connell (25 points), Ben Van Oosten (15), both former NBL players for various teams and Pip Johnston (11) and Tom Drumm all back together and playing like they hadn't been apart. In the 2005 Final Royals disposed of Atami in similar fashion 85-75 with most of Atami players also present.

Atami led by Cougars bench player, Paul McFarlin (19 points) led the first quarter 23-19, Royals tied the game 35-35 by half-time, Joel Hart and Scott Howell gave Atami the lead 57-52 by three-quarter time but Royals out-stripped Atami in the final quarter 22-14 to record the win.

Gators, a new club entry in the Men's Premier basketball and part of a wider development plan based on Middleton Grange school, came away with a forceful second half effort to down Gameface Wolverines, the former Aranui club, 83-67. Gators were led by former Canterbury Ram Dave Langrell (19 points) and spear-headed by a rapid 22 points from Cougars bench player Matt Stevenson, playing against his former club.

Lionel Hopgood (22 points), another Cougar and stalwart Dean Le Warne slotted 13 for Wolverines. The match was in the balance with Gators narrowly leading 42-37 at the break but the Gators outpointed Wolverines 24-16 and 22-9 in the remaining quarters.

Checkers, last years beaten Grand-Finalist, looked another side to beat this season when it crushed a depleted and new-look Kiwihoops University lineup 70-48 with a powerful second half effort. University lead by the Yahata brothers, Kosuke and Keisuke, lead 30-27 at the break while a busy Justin Kent (13 points) marshalled a Checkers onslaught in the second spell.

Last years champion University set the benchmark in the Women's Premier action with a strong third quarter to demolish the veteran Royals line-up 70-43. Melissa Harrison shot a lively 26 points with support from Ashlee Rigter and Katherine Snook while former Canterbury Wildcats, Sue Bennie (12), Bridget Salkeld and Anna Williams toiled hard for Royals.

Gameface Wolverines, formerly Aranui, outplayed North Canterbury in the final quarter to win 75-54 with new-comer Olivia Irvine, recruited from Halswell, slotting a valuable 24 points for Wolverines while Fran Edmondson worked hard in support. Elizabeth Hayman and Emily Baker were the more experienced players among the youthful North Canterbury team.

Minties made a strong start to their season, leading arch-rival Halswell 26-12 by quarter-time with Sara Phillips and Hayley Gray to the fore while Melissa Robinson (19 points) lead Halswel efforts among a number of new faces.

Results were:

MEN

PREMIER Grade: Alan Hoben Trophy Round

Royals 74 (Nat Connell 25, Ben Van Oosten 15, Phillip Johnston 11)  Atami 71 (Paul McFarlin 19, Scott Howell 16, Joel Hart 10). HT: 35-35.  Checkers 70 (Willy McVitty 14, Justin Kent 13, Wade Parata 11)

Kiwihoops University 48 (Kosuke Yahata 8, Keisuke Yahata 8, Willem Tolhoek 8). HT: University 30-27.

Gators 83 (Matt Stevenson 22, Dave Langrell 19) Wolverines 67 (Lionel Hopgood 22, Dean Le Warne 13). HT: 42-37.  Bye: HSOB  

DIVISION ONE:

Gameface 76 Royals 62, Atami 72 Placemakers 65, Young Bloods 74 Checkers 54. Bye: Wolfpack

Under 23 Grade:

Pool A:  Checkers 100 St Andrews U20 41, Wolverines 20 Shirley BHS U20 nil by forfeit, Aranui Academy

56 Rangiora HS 50, Cashmere HS 73 HSOB   32. Pool B: Kiwihoops University 100 St Bedes U20 16,  Shirley BHS U23 90  Ch Ch BHS 52, Royals 66 Gators 63,  Atami 106 Christs College U20 58

Bye teams: Middleton Grange Gators 63  North Canterbury 58

Under 17 Grade:

Ch Ch BHS Blue 116 Christs College 40, Aranui HS 64 St Bedes Red  48, Middleton Grange Gators White 71

Ch Ch BHS Black 54, Cashmere HS 101 St Andrews 37,  Shirley BHS 109 Middleton Grange Green 32, 

Hillmorton HS 20 Linwood/Royals nil by forfeit.                       

                                               

WOMEN

PREMIER Grade Patron's Trophy:

Minties 72 (Sarah Phillips 19, Hayley Gray 17, Libby Bensley 13, Gina Cameron 10) Halswell 58 (Melissa Robinson 19, Christine Fenika 10). HT: 42-30.  University 70 (Melissa Harrison 26, Ashley Rigter 12, Katherine Snook 11, Connie Dick 10) Royals 43 (Sue Bennie 12, Bridgett Salkeld 10). HT: 28-19. Wolverines 75 (Olivia Irvine 24, Fran Edmondson 13) North Canterbury 54 (Emily Baker 9, Elizabeth Hayman 8). HT: 36-28.

DIVISION ONE:

Rangi Ruru 54 Checkers 35, Aranui Blue 45 Minties 37,  Royals 44 Halswell 29, Cashmere High 39 University 36.