Blue v Navy (93-81) - Recap provided by Dan Chan

Wellington based forward Zacc Dwan sparked his Blue team to a 93-81 W over Navy, notching up a Kevin Love-esque double-double with 32 points on 48% FG shooting and 22 rebounds, including 2 big three pointers and 4 assists. His ability to finish in the paint, while also stretching the defence with an outside shot was the difference in this game.

 Along with Dwan, Cashmere High School guard Harley Campbell notched his own double-double, (18 points, 12 rebounds), slotting three treys along the way. His Cashmere team mate, Alex Irvine, dropped 22 points on an efficient 8/14FG attempts. Canterbury U19 point guard, Bryn McLennan helped to seal the win with some clutch free throws on his way to 15 points.

For the Navy team, it was again the big man tandem of Kieran Ball and Nick Erwood who provided the bulk of the scoring, with Ball grabbing 19 boards to go with 22 points for his double-double, and Erwood netting 20 points.

 It was hard going for the Navy, as they were reduced to five players after only two minutes, as CBHS’s Daniel Mulder suffered a high ankle sprain and did not return to the game. He is listed as day-to-day. Emerging Junior Tall Black, Ihaka Pink, ran well in transition on his way to 14 points with his Middleton team mate, Zach Lilburne, scoring 16.

As has been the trend with Navy all season, it was the second half which really let them down. The game was all square at 45-45 at the half, but it was Blue’s ability to get to the hoop and Navy’s inability to get crucial stops which was the key factor in this game. 

 

 

Red vs White Final (80 - 75) - Recap courtesy Terry Brunel

In what was effectively the final, Red accounted for White after a late run to win 80 - 75. It was largely a battle of attrition as both teams were reduced to five players by the end. George Love struggled with fouls throughout the game for Red and eventually left the game early in the forth quarter with his fifth foul while white lost key guard James Cawthorn mid way through the third quarter when he started to feel unwell and was sidelined for the remainder of the game.

Guest appearances from Ethan Rusbatch (Red)and Inga Solufuti (White) lifted the intensity in what was essentially a game of two halves. White got rolling early with their free wheeling style providing a number of fast break scoring options. Oli Davies was at his lightning best early, on his way to 23points while Solufuti ran the game from point forward. Hitish Pretap was controlling Love on the boards and scored 11 points on the night. White lead 47 - 33 at the half.

Red seized the opportunity to gain control once Cawthorn left and put together two decisive runs that grabbed the game from White. Ethan Rusbatch scored at will on his way to a game high 32 and Matt Campbell found his range to add 17. A late revival was not enough and Red took out the SDL championship for 2012