Club Basketball Trophy Final Preview by Bruce Martin

The unbeaten Pioner Pacers Men’s Premier club basketball team will meet last year’s beaten championship finalist Lincoln University in this Saturday’s (today’s) Hoben trophy final in Cowles stadium. Pioneer will be too strong but Lincoln never go down without a fight so should be a good game!

Lincoln has the chance of pulling off a rare double with its Women’s Premier side up against the unbeaten North Canterbury team in the Patron’s trophy final but both sides are devoid of their key players with the Wildcats off to play Otago in a WBC encounter and it was a one point ballgame to NC in the first round.

This is Lincoln’s first Hoben trophy final and could well be the team to give Pioneer a strong run for the Hoben trophy.

Four teams Lincoln, Atami, University and Wolverines were tied for second place on 9 points such has been the closeness of the competition to date with Lincoln winning a place in the final on countback.

Pioneer haven't really been pushed so far this season and have more depth than most other teams. Mike Townsend is unstoppable on the boards and he is ably backed up by the returned Sam Evans.  They are led by playmaker and inspirational leader Marty Davison and have plenty of fire power from Harley Campbell, Elliot Noble and Oli Davies. Other players in the team are former Filipino professional Ariel Mepana, Dan Mulder and Cam Costley.

Lincoln will be close to full strength with only Hunter Aarts out with injury and will be stronger now that Ben Williams is back from Rams duty. Ben Bowie has been playing really well but struggles with foul trouble. James Cawthorn had a quiet game last week so is due for a big one and Jayden Chan is playing some of his best basketball. Other main players are Josiah Williams, Panashe Nyashanu and Stuart Erskine.

The uinbeaten North Canterbury Women’s  team will be hard pressed to win the Patron’s trophy for the first time against defending champion Lincoln University having to play the final with five leading players absent. Four of them, Ash Fane, Hayley Gray, Terina Wanoa and Junior Tallfern Esra McGoldrick will be away with the Wildcats while Charlotte Whittaker is resting from shin splints prior going to Guam with the NZ Under 18 Women’s basketball team in July. Lincoln will also be missing their three key Wildcats, Connie Poletti, Fran Edmondson and Courtney Hamblin but would have the slightly stronger bench.

Lincoln will be powered by Tessa Stewart-Morrison, home on leave from her Southern New Hampshire University, Tessa and Maja Burry, Bailey McDougall and Bianca Malifa while key NC players to step up would be former Tactix player Gemma Haseldine, Connie Taylor, Helen Mathews and Emily Baker.