Winter Club Basketball 2015 by Bruce Martin

Wolverines, championship top qualifier and Hoben trophy winner, succumbed to bottom qualifier Lincoln University 63-57 in the Men’s Premier championship basketball quarter-final, a low scoring but very competitive encounter played in Cowles stadium on Saturday. In another giant upset the defending champion Checkers was knocked out of the championship when it was upset by a strong finishing Atami, going down 73-67 after leading 58-52 at three-quarter time. Atami, a long term finalist, led by veteran Rich Howell with 22 points, scored 21-9 points in a hectic last quarter to claim a surprise semi-final berth this Saturday.

Gators which finished bottom of the Hoben trophy competition but now reinforced by four Canterbury Rams including master tactician Marques Whippy and the tall Sam Timmins, held out a determined challenge from Universityof Canterbury 76-65. Timmins slotted 17 points and took nine rebounds while closely marked and Whippy commanded both ends of the court with his usual authority, taking 20 rebounds (9 offensive, 11 defensive). Jackson Stent stepped up with a useful 11 points. University had a strong second quarter levelling the match 34-34 at the turnaround with Brent Fisher (14) and Karl Magon (12) contributing to the action but, without the services of the experienced Jeremy Hancock, the students struggled in the challenging third quarter. Gators went ahead by nine points (59-50) by three-quarter time with Whippy and Timmins in control and maintained a tight defence in the last period.

Unbelievably, Gators became top qualifier for the semi’s this weekend and will match up with highest seeded loser - Wolverines, while Atami and a determined Lincoln University will shape up in the other semi this Saturday. In current form any team could win on the day with Gators struggling a little, possibly without the sevices of Timmins, Stent and Sam Lees who are at the Secondary schools Premierships in Dunedin with Middleton Grange school.

 

Women’s Premier championship top qualifier North Canterbury eventually beat bottom qualifier Minties 66-40 but had several anxious moments as Minties lifted its game and North Canterbury started to miss some close in baskets in the first and third quarters. Defending champion Lincoln University continued to show that it was in top form to retain its title with a decisive 75-35 win over a flat Gators while Patron’s trophy winner University of Canterbury showed similar determination against arch-rival Halswell, leading all the way to a strong 95-60 win with six players hitting double figure scores led by teenager representative Sapphire Wairau with 17 points. Terai Sadler replied with gritty 21 points for Halswell.

University had four current Wildcats in its side with Pip Connell (12) directing action, Laken Wairau (10) and Darcy Rose (12) while two former Wildcats Anna Williams (11) and Cecilia Zambrini (13) added to the efforts of Sadler for Halswell.

Courtney Hamblin led a buoyant Lincoln University with 18 points, penetrating the slack Gators defence while Fran Edmondson (14) worked hard about the boards, feeding of the hard work of Maja Burry. Gators had left all their energy the previous week when it upset North Canterbury with Paige Willman the only player to hit double figures.

The lively Gemma Hazeldine (17) kept the score ticking over for a less than energetic North Canterbury but in the second quarter Ashlee Fane ran in a flurry of baskets to pick up the teams pace to go to the break ahead 33-18. Minties began to challenge in the third quarter but Fane continued her good run of form to finish with 19 points. In the final quarter it was Rangiora High’s Jenna Heap that rebounded both ends and slotted most of her 16 points. North Cantabrian Sally-Ann Tull played a key role for Minties with 11 points.

These results leaves North Canterbury to face highest seeded loser Halswell and Lincoln University to clash with Canterbury University in the semi-finals on September 12^th.

 

In the competitive Men’s Under 23 grade the unbeaten defending champion Lincoln University Bulls had its toughest game this season in the semi-finals before beating fourth placed Gators Green 83-75 while Wolverines came from behind to upset University in the other semi-final. Lincoln Bulls and Wolverines U23 sides become the first teams to qualify for Grand Final play on Saturday September 19^th.

 

The Wolverines Lincoln Premier clash was a low scoring affair with tight defence adding to the shooting wows of both teams. Woeful shooting from either side saw Wolverines sink 21-71 (31%) while Lincoln was worse at 20-78 (26%).Wolverines classic teamwork went out the door too, under the pressure asserted by Lincoln, who were determined to make it the best season for the Lincoln University and match its Rugby and Netball club counterparts.

The game ebbed and flowed with only a few points ever between them, the lead changing 11 times and tied on 10 occasions. After trailing by three at quarter-time Wolverines had a better second with David Gibb (10) and Shou Nisbet in charge but by three-quarter-time it was all square at 44-44 with Xavier Shaw and James Cawthorn contributing to the action for Lincoln. Aled Jones (19R) was busy rebounding and setting the moves for Lincoln but, after Keiran Ball opened a mile wide gap in the Lincoln defence to give Wolverines a momentary lead 57-56 a minute out, it was Cawthorn (15) that finally shot a pressure basket after numerous misses with 27 seconds remaining hitting a mid range jumper as he was fouled, forcing Wolverines to foul to stop the clock and Lincoln extended its lead to six point from the charity line, the biggest lead in the game and a surprise semi-final berth. Mike Kinley only managed a mear 13 points but did take 15 rebounds for Wolverines while Ben Williams proved valuable for Lincoln with 16 critical points as the other Lincoln scorers had an off day.

Josh Petermann used a range of skills to set the Atami moves as Checkers appeared heading for an easy victory. All too often it was left to Rams utilty Ethan Rusbatch to carve his was through tight Atami defence, slotting 26 points but with little support, especially with the court wise Nat Connell still crook. Petermann slotted 18 points but feed the eager hands of Rich Howell (22) while his brother Scott (10) put in his best effort of the season as Atami took control in a hectic final quarter.

 

The Mid-week women’s final was played along side the Thompson trophy finals last Wednesday with a determined Halswell Red retaining their title over arch rival CYA, winning a tight encounter 36-28 after narrowly ahead 14-12 at the break. It was Halswell’s fourth championship since 2006.

 

Results were:

MEN

PREMIER Grade Championship Quarter-Finals:

Lincoln University 63 (Ben Williams 16, James Cawthorn 15) Wolverines 57 (Mike Kinley 13, 15R,Kieren Ball 10, David Gibb 10). HT: Wolverines 33-31, Atami 73 (Ritchie Howell 22, Josh Petermann 18, Rusty Thomson 14, Scott Howell 10) Checkers 67 (Ethan Rusbatch 26, Pip Johnston 10). HT: Checkers 40-38, Gators 76( Sam Timmins 17, 9R, Marques Whippy 12, 20R, 6A, Jackson Stent 11) University 65 (Brent Fisher 14, Karl Magon 12, Willem Tolhoek 10, Justin Kent 10). HT: 34-34. This Saturday’s Semi-Finals: Gators plays Wolverines, Aami plays Lincoln University.  

 

Under 23 Semi-Finals:

Lincoln University Bulls 83 (, Ben Bowie 18, 7R, Ben Williams 18, 7R, James Levings 18, 8R, Nick Erwood 16, 15R) Gators Green 75 (Barclay Miller 17, Sam Lees 12, 8R, Liam Mulvihill 10, 8R). HT: 45-29, Wolverines 89 (Keiran Ball 24, Shou Nisbett 15, George Love 12, Carl Isitt 11) University 81 (Karl Magon 16, Paul Stephenson 15, Rohan Russo 12). HT: 44-41. Grand Final September 19^th: Lincoln University Bulls plays Wolverines.

 

Under 20 PoolA: Wolverines 20 St Thomas College 0 by default, St Andrews College 97 (Amosa Faitaua-Nanai 28, Jayden Chan 19, Alistair Burnett 18, Sam Cockran 13) Papanui HS 89 (Carl Isitt 39, Logan Woodhill 18, Jaylen Hemopo 16), Deferred: Burnside HS v Gators Green. Pool B: Christs College 65 (Hunter Aarts 18, Max De Geest 16, Sam McGuire 13) Gators White 64 (Brandon Pook 17, Stephen Granada 14), Pioneer 20 Checkers 0 by default, University 69 (Jack Ansell 23, Josh Campbett 14) Rangiora HS 55 (Ben Hall 9). Current points and placings: University 31 (16), Burnside HS 30 (15), Rangiora HS 28 (16), Gators Green 25 (15), Papanui HS 25 (16), Pineer 25 (16).

 

WOMEN

PREMIER Grade Championship Quarter-Finals:

North Canterbury 66 (Ash Fane 19, Gemma Hazeldine 17, Jemma Heap 16) Minties 40 (Anastasia Ah-Tong 14, Sally-Ann Tull 11). HT: 33-18, 2^nd: Lincoln University 75 (Courtney Hamblin 18, Fran Edmondson 14, Maja Burry 11) Gators 35 (Paige Willman 10). HT: 48-17,

University 95 (Sapphire Wairau 17, Barrine Ross 14, Pip Connell 12, Darcy Rose 12, Bianca Aguiar 12, Laken Wairau 10) Halswell 60 (Terai Sadler 21, Cecilia Zambrini 13, Anna Williams 11). HT: 51-34. Semi-Finalists September 12^th: North Canterbury plays Halswell, Lincoln plays University.

 

Mid-week Grand Final: Halswell Red 36 (Jess Grosskreutz 8) CYA (Penny McCanley 8, Ingrid Kaptein 8).

 

Photo courtesy Graeme Campbell