Club Basketball Grand Finals Day

Written By Bruce Martin

17 September 2016

 

 

Gators basketball club claimed its first Men’s Premier Basketball Championship Grand Final but had to hold off a sustained and strong second half challenge from Lincoln University before scraping home 76-75 in an entertaining match played in Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

Canterbury basketball can boast one of the best competitions in the country with fourteen Finals keenly contested throughout the day. New champions were found in most grades apart from Lincoln University Bulls, which retained its Men’s Under 23 title for the third time in dominant fashion, beating off a strong challenge from Pioneer Yellow to win 84-77 and Burnside-Checkers which scooped the Men’s Under 20 title again, beating UC-Christs College 82-55.

Lincoln University captured a second crown, comfortably beating Halswell in the Women’s Premier Grand Final, winning 61-43 while Lincoln’s Women led the first half in the Women’s Under 20 Grand Final only to be run down by the strong finishing Wolverines 63-59, both teams showing strong potential in years to come in our women’s programme.

The Men’s Division One title was re-claimed by the Placemakers Pioneer team, beating arch-rivals Wolverines Blue comfortably 75-43. Two of the Costley brothers, Fraser and Gareth, dominated the match with 20 and 21 points respectively. Under the Wolverines banner Placemakers won the championship in 2008/9 and 2011/12 while under Pioneer they claimed the title in 2014 with many of the same players involved. Wolverines Blue led by Jamie Graham captured the title in 2010 and 2013 with Graham well off target on Saturday, slotting just nine points.

Burnside High upset defending champion Cashmere Maroon with a last second basket 56-55 to take out the Boys Under 17 title while Cashmere held off a strong challenge to win the Boys’ Under 15 title, beating Wharenui Gators 67-64.

In the Midweek Men’s Grand Final Checkers White couldn’t add to their six titles in seven years when they were outplayed by stalwarts University 51-45. University, led by David Baird and MVP Jason Rivett, won the title in 2008 and 2012. In the Women’s Midweek Final, the Pioneer Saints upset front-runners University Minions 42-32 with MVP Holly Cadzow slotting 18 points for Pioneer.

Gators, unbeaten in the championship round, was highly favoured to take the Men’s Premier Championship title but Lincoln University, a club on the build, had other ideas and a very entertaining Grand final evolved.

Gators coach Tim Bennetts said his team did a great job of contesting Lincoln’s shots in the first half, making it really hard for Lincoln to get anything going on offensive but in the second half it was all about survival as aging legs got tired down the stretch, and their offensive efficiency dropped way off as Lincoln (as expected) started to hit their shots. Gators led 24-18 at quarter-time and by half time break had stretched it to 44-28 before the younger bodies on Lincoln, despite many having played in the U23 final earlier, came storming back, led by quick baskets to James Levings, James Cawthorn and U23 MVP Ben Bowie. Later, Ben Williams (18) and Canterbury Ram Xavier Shaw (22 pts and nine rebounds) continued Lincoln’s fightback in the second half as Lincoln steadily closed the gap.

The on-court nous of Jeremy Kench was a huge factor as he controlled the tempo at key moments for Gators to ensure they held on to their lead until the final buzzer. The tall American Stephen Nosworthy, who is expected back next year, stood his ground collecting 18 points and 10 rebounds while Ram Inga Solofuti (13) was always a threat for Gators.

MVP Marques Whippy (21 points and 12 rebounds) carried Gators home by attacking the rim aggressively, often slicing through strong Lincoln defence with ease. It was a great way for Blase Dowell and Kench to finish their Men's Prems careers in what was likely their last premier season, Bennetts concluded.

Halswell, after putting out long term champion University in the semi’s last week, was expected to give the unbeaten Lincoln University a closer run in the Women’s Championship Grand final but Lincoln prevailed comfortably 61-43 to regain the title they first won in 2014.

Wildcats Captain Shea Crotty (12), just announced she will leave to join Kennedy Kereama’s Sunbury Melbourne side in January, marshalled Lincolns’ moves with her usual authority. Fran Edmonson and Tessa Burry proved a power of stopping with 14 points apiece while MVP Caitlin Grice with nine points and 10 rebounds did a lot of back ground work for Lincoln. Courtney Hamblin was another threat for Lincoln all about the court.

New Junior Tall-Fern Esra McGoldrick stood tall for Halswell with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Wildcat Terai Sadler was kept from the boards, slotting only five points but was busy grabbing 16 rebounds. Former Wildcat Bridget Salkeld showed some touch with a 10 point return for Halswell. Lincoln took an early 18-5 lead by quarter-time and 30-19 by the turnaround and after that was never seriously challenged.

The Lincoln Bulls Men’s Under 23 side last lost a game in the 2013 Grand Final to Gators and now has gone three seasons without a loss with many of the same core players. The Bulls led 49-39 by half-time and soon after, two baskets apiece to James Levings (16 pts, 11R, 5A) and Ben Williams (10, 17R) pushed them ahead 59-41. MVP Ben Bowie 11 points and 17 rebounds was a consistent threat for the Bulls.

In industrious Oli Davies was on-fire for Pioneer Yellow slotting 22 off his 28 points in the first half, bringing Pioneer back to trail 59-69 by the end of the third. Harley Campbell was always a threat and worked hard for his 21 points while Dan Mulder added 11 points and eight rebounds for Pioneer. As baskets dried up in the final quarter players began to foul but Lincoln managed to drop six of 10 free throws in the last six minutes while Pioneer missed too many chances, missing nine free shots in a row before sinking just one in the same period.

 

Results were:

Grand Finals Day Results were:

Men's Premier Championship:

Gators 76 (Marques Whippy 21, 12R, Stephen Nosworthy 18, 10R, Jeremy Kench 14, Inga Solofuti 13) def Lincoln University 75 (Xavier Shaw 22, 9R, 3A, Ben Williams 18, James Levings 12, 8A, James Cawthorn 10, 8R). HT: 44-28. MVP: Marques Whippy.

 

Women’s Premier Championship:

Lincoln University 61 (Tessa Burry 14, Fran Edmonson 14, 8R, Shea Crotty 12, Caitlin Grice 9, 10R) def Halswell 43 (Esra McGoldrick 20, 10R, Bridgett Salkeld 10). HT: 30-19. MVP: Caitlin Grice.

 

Men’s Under 23: Lincoln University Bulls 84 (James Cawthorn 20, James Levings 16, 11R, 5A, Ben Bowie 11, 17R, Ben Williams 10, 17R, Nick Erwood 10, 16R) def Pioneer Yellow 77 (Oli Davies 28, 6R, Harley Campbell 21, Dan Mulder 11, 8R). HT: 49-39. MVP: Ben Bowie.

 

Men’s Under 20: Burnside-Checkers 82 (Cameron Malone 17, Isaiah Morris 15, 7R, 5A, Simon Lafaele 13, 11R, Liam Reekie 13, 7R) UC – Christs College 55 (Max De Geest 22, Hunter Aarts 13, 11R). HT: 38-22. MVP: Cameron Malone.

 

Men’s U17A: Burnside HS A 56 (Isaiah Morris 28) Cashmere Maroon 55 (Takeru Wakayama 19, Quinten Conner 13). HT: Cashmere 26-20. MVP: Cameron Malone.

 

Boys Under 15: Cashmere HS 67 (Lachie Lionel 15, Joshua Dela Cruz 15, Liam Golding 15, Alfie May 13) Wharenui Gators 64 (Ah-Li Fenika 18, Yusuke Saito 16, Zach Hannen 12). HT: 32-25. MVP: Joshua Dela Cruz.

  

Men’s Division One: Placemakers 75 (Gareth Costley 21, Fraser Costley 20) Wolverines Blue 43 (Nick Purcell 11, Johny Lung 10). HT: Wolverines blue 31-29. MVP: Fraser Costley. 

 

Junior All Stars Yr 7-8 Boys Final: Pioneer Pacers 48 (Cadyn Grant 12) Bishopdale YMCA 43 (Jalen Dickel 11, Ryan Pringle 10). HT: Pioneer 21/20. MVP: Ryan Pringle.

 

Junior All Stars Yr 5-6 Boys Final: Eastern Wolverines 46 (Mania Wharepapa 25) Pioneer Pacers 38 (Louie Gordan 17, George Teear 12). HT: Pioneer 22-17. MVP: Mania Wharepapa.

 

Women’s Division One: Royals Dark Horses 47 (Helen Neighbours 18) Halswell Red 33 (Sonja Akkerman 12). HT: 25-20. MVP: Helen Neighbours.

 

Women’s Under 20: Wolverines 63 (Megan Ellis 16, Sam Irvine 14, Rachel Pullan 14, Chelsea Jones 12) Lincoln University 59 (Sophie Schrader 20, Caitlin Grice 12, Lottie Eglinton 12). HT: Lincoln 31-17. MVP: Megan Ellis.

 

Girls Under 17: Christchurch Girls HS 74 (Olivia McIntyre 25, Malia Faitaua-Nanai 20, Violet Eaton 12, Helen O’Connor 10) Wharenui Gators 45 (Izzy Orr 15, Hannah Mischewski 13). HT: 32-17. MVP: Malia Faitaua-Nanai.

Junior All Stars Yr 7-8 Girls Final: Wharenui Gators 40 (Grace Neilson 19) North Canterbury Tar Heels 34 (Elsie McRobb 10). MVP: Maddie Morrow.

Junior All Stars Yr 5-6 Girls Final: North Canterbury Tar Heels 53 (Ivy Brown 20, Lauren Whittaker 15) Wharenui Gators 27 (Annette Patea 9, Milly Harrison 9). MVP: Ivy Brown.

 

Mid-Week Men Grand Final: University 51 (David Baird 9, Jason Rivett 9, Nigel Stevens 9) Checkers White 45 (Paul Isitt 21). HT: Checkers 24-19.  Cross-over: Relics 62 (Michael Tutko 20, Glen Lang 14) Slam Dunks 43 (Joseph Jerard 12). HT: 23-19. 

 

Mid-week Women Grand Final: Pioneer Pacers 42 (Holly Cadzow 18) University Minions 32 (Lori Hasty 10). HT: 26-20. Play-off 3rd place: CYA 43 (Ingrid Kaptein 17) Gators 37. HT: 23-19.  Play-off 5th place: Checkers 41 (Katelin Russ 16) Lincoln University 36 (Ruby Cochrane 12, Katelyn Moore 11). HT: 35-34. Play-off 7th place: Halswell 46 (Jen Duncan) Royals 23 (Olly Nicholas 12). HT: 24-2.