Saturday 23rd May                                             

CBA Winter Club Basketball Results 2009

Defending champion Atami shares a three-way lead for the Hoben Trophy after comfortably beating a lack-lustre Wolverines 87-49 in Men’s Premier grade club basketball played at the QE11 Leisure Centre on Saturday.

Early front runner Checkers had the bye but now share the lead with Atami and also Royals which repulsed a strong challenge from High School Old Boys before winning 80-73.

Nat Connell (22) and Pip Johnston (20) shared the honours for Royals in the absence of Ben Van Oosten.

Old Boys came back in the second quarter to outpoint Royals 20-13, led by strong efforts from Craig Wilson and John O’Leary but Nat Connell splashed in 13 of his 22 points in a third-quarter recovery. Wilson slotted 10 opf his 24 points as Old Boys rapidly closed the gap in the final quarter.

Scott Howell dominated the boards with 23 points for Atami with support from Paul McFarlin and College returnee Sam Dobbs. Howell ran in 14 of his 23 points with a strong barrage in the second half to give Atami a strong 42-26 half-time lead while strong team work carried Atami in the second spell. James Holland recently returned home, from high school ball in the USA showed great form with a valuable 16 points for Wolverines against stout Atami defence.

Christchurch Cougar Matt Stevenson slotted 20 points for Gators with support from Sam Evans and Sam Paulin as Gators notched their second win in the competition, being a lack-lustre Kiwihoops University 71-52. Gators outstripped University 24-10 with a strong second quarter and repulsed any recovery from the students in the second spell after leading 38-17 at the break.

Atami plays Checkers next Saturday and Checkers clash with Royals the following week in key match-ups that will decide the Hoben Trophy.

Last year’s club finalists, Wolverines and University, will clash in next Saturday’s Patron’s Trophy final after both recorded wins on Saturday. Erin Rooney scored a key 20 points to enable Wolverines to dominate Minties 70-48 while University shrugged off a strong challenge from North Canterbury to win 53-44. Royals beat Halswell 51-44 in the bottom-of-the-table match up.

Minties will meet North Canterbury to battle out third pace.

Gameface Wolfpack, encouraged by Mr Gameface himself - Joe Hammond - from the bench, staived off a gallant fight-back from the Craig Wilson player-coached Atami to narrowly win the Men’s Division one encounter 74-72. Placemakers Wolves got the better of arch-rival Gameface Wolverines 66-58 while Royals recorded their first win, downing Checkers 83-79. Wolfpack leads the grade unbeaten on eight points while Wolves and Atami share second with six ponts.

Aranui Blue continues to be the team to beat in Women’s Division One, repulsing University 49-34 while Cashmere High ended Checkers winning street, ahead 58-45. Royals climbed into second place, beating Rangi Ruru 57-40.

A well prepared Cashmere High team leads Pool A in the Men’s Under 23 competition unbeaten, despatching Rangiora High 64-39. Aranui Academy despatched St Bedes U20 108-38 and Royals beat North Canterbury 89-50 to share the lead along with Kiwihops University in Pool B, all on eight points.

Aranui High, Cashmere and Christchurch Boys HS Blue remain unbeaten at top of the Under 17 table with Aranui High pushing Middleton Grange White into fourth place, winning 82-61, Cashmere thumping St Bedes Red 83-38 while Boys High hammered Linwood/Royals 111-33.

Results were:

MEN

PREMIER Grade: Alan Hoben Trophy Round

Atami 87 (Scott Howell 23, Paul McFarlin 14, Sam Dobbs 14, Joel Hart 10, Ritchie Howell 10) Wolverines 40 (James Holland 16). HT: 42-26. Royals 80 (Nat Connell 22, Phillip Johnston 20) 

HSOB 73 (Craig Wilson 24, John O’Leary 17). HT: 40-34. Gators 71 (Matt Stevenson 20, Sam Evans 18, Sam Paulin 16) Kiwihoops University 52 (Keisuke Yahata 12, Willem Tolhoek 10). HT: 38-17.

Bye: Checkers   

Points table after round five with games played in brackets: Checkers 8 (4), Royals 8 (4), Atami 8 (5), Gators 4 (5), Wolverines 2 (4), HSOB 0 (4), University 0 (4).  

DIVISION ONE:

Placemakers 66 Gameface 58, Royals 83 Checkers 79, Wolfpack 74 Atami 72.  Bye: Young Bloods

Current placings: Wolfpack 8, Placemakers 6, Atami 6.

Under 23 Grade:

Pool A: Aranui Academy 88 Shirley BHS U20 56, Cashmere HS 64 Rangiora HS 39, Wolverines 86 St Andrews U20 55,  Middleton Grange Gators 50 HSOB 45.        Current placings: Cashmere 8, Aranui Academy 6, Wolverines 6.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Pool B:

Gators 69 Ch Ch BHS 39, Atami 108 St Bedes U20    38, Royals 89 North Canterbury 50, Shirley BHS U23 81 Christs College U20 45.           Current placings: Atami 8, Royals 8, University 8, Shirley BHS U23 6.

Bye teams game: Kiwihoops University 82 Checkers 76.

Under 17 Grade:

Ch Ch BHS Blue 111 Linwood/Royals 33, Cashmere HS 83 St Bedes Red 38, St Andrews A 61 Hillmorton HS 19, St Andrews B 106 Middleton Grange Green 33 Non Competition,  Aranui HS 82  Middleton Grange Gators White 61, Christs College 78 Shirley BHS 69.                 

Current placings: Ch Ch BHS Blue 10, Aranui HS 10, Cashmere HS 10, Middleton Grange Gators White 8.                                        

Mid-week

Checkers White 59 University 51,  Atami 119 Special Olympics 53, Raiders 44 Hustlers 41,  326ers 43 Burnham 42. Current placings: Checkers White 8, Atami 8, Raiders 6, University 6.

WOMEN

PREMIER Grade Patron’s Trophy:

Royals 51 (Bridgett Salkeld 17, Sue Bennie 10) Halswell 44 (Jessica Grosskreutz 11).

Wolverines 70 (Erin Rooney 20, Shea Crotty 12) Minties 48 (Hayley Gray 11, Sia Ah Tong 11). HT: 31-23. University 53 (Katherine Snook 19, Kim Furlonger 8) North Canterbury 44 (Courtney Hamblin 16) HT: 23-15. 

Points table: Wolverines 10, University 8,  Minties 6, North Canterbury 4, Royals 2, Halswell 0.

This week’s Patron’s Trophy Final:  Wolverines v University

DIVISION ONE:

Royals 57 Rangi Ruru 40, Aranui Blue 49 University 34, Halswell 49 Minties 41, Cashmere High 58 Checkers 45. Current placings: Aranui Blue 10, Royals 8, Cashmere HS 6, Rangi Ruru 6.

Mid- week Competition

CYA 72 Halswell Green 28, Royals 34 Checkers Blackhawks 32, Checkers Chicks 44 Rebels 38, Aranui 36 Burnham 31.  Bye: Brighton Babes.   Current placings: CYA 8, Aranui 6, Rebels 6.