Week Five - Saturday 27 May 2017

Written by Bruce Martin

Photo courtesy of Mark Smith

 

The defending champion Gators notched up its first win of the season, staving off a spirited challenge from Atami to win the encounter 83-74 in the Celebration stadium.

American Stephen Nosworthy (23p) and Jordan Duggan (22, 10R) led the Gators challenge while Inga Solofuti was also a powerful force. Derek Albertson led Atami’s play with 17 points.

Josh Petermann guided University of Canterbury to a narrow 84-79 win over Wolverines, making the play and slotting a valuable 31 points and seven rebounds.

Wolverines started with great energy but tired as the game went on after having to play Taylor Britt (19) and Shou Nesbit (9) 40 mins in the morning for the U23's, which showed in the second half of the premier game.

The astute Varsity coach Piet Van Hasselt changed UC’s defense to a zone, after struggling to stop Wolverines with their man to man defence, nor Taylor Britt one on one. Two of the three losses by Wolverines have come from teams playing zones, so coach Jamie Graham has three weeks to get that sorted. Kieran Ball was a monster about the boards for Wolverines, slotting 17 points and taking nine rebounds while Paul Stephenson continued his huge efforts for the students with 23 points.

Pioneer had its work cut out to maintain its unbeaten record stemming a strong challenge from Lincoln University before winning 71-62. Marty Davison (16p, five rebounds and three assists) was here, there and everywhere as he set the moves, drove the lanes to lead Pioneer to a win. He had good support from Oli Davies (15) and the tall Mike Townsend, who returned home to Christchurch late last year, contributed 11 and seven rebounds. LU coach James Lissaman was really proud of the fight by his guys showed in James Levings' last game before heading overseas. The teams struggles to make relatively open shots and free throws were ultimately too much to overcome against a tough Pioneer team. 

The North Canterbury Women’s Premier basketball team rose to the top of the Patron’s trophy after a nail-biting fightback from the defending champion Lincoln University saw North Canterbury edge the students 58-57 with Canterbury Wildcat Ashlee Fane sinking the first of two crucial free throws with seconds remaining. North Canterbury started strongly against Lincoln University, running the ball quickly and dominated by strong play from its two National junior Tallferns, Esra McGoldrick (18) and Charlotte Whittaker (9) taking a useful 17-10 lead by quarter-time. 

Wildcats Connie Poletti (15) and Fran Edmonson (16) showed strength for Lincoln as they began to claw their way back into the game but the country girls held firm to still lead 38-24 by the break. Turnovers and poor shooting cost North Canterbury dearly in the third quarter with Lincoln closing the gap to 43-50 by the third break. Pressure mounted as McGoldrick picked up her fourth foul, having to be rested. The usually lively Gemma Hazeldene, after a quiet first half, stepped up her efforts for North Canterbury but the pressure came from Lincoln in the fourth, scoring 10 unanswered points to level 77-77. A late LU foul with seconds remaining saw Fane seal the win to go top-of-the-table after five rounds.

Earlier in the week North Canterbury had their work cut out on Wednesday at Ohoka, playing a tough Halswell team in a catch-up game. Both teams struggled to get into an offensive rhythm early as each squad defended strongly. Whittaker (18) and McGoldrick (10) anchored North Canterbury’s scoring and both had monster games on the defensive end with block shots and excellent rebounding. After leading 26-19 at half time North Canterbury pulled ahead in the third quarter with 10 unanswered fast break points, going on to win 59-38.

Both teams are now likely to meet in the Patron’s trophy final on June 24^th with only lower placed teams still to play.

Pioneer, Gators and Halswell now share third place after Gators edged Pioneer 66-64 after Pioneer led 34-32 at half-time and the lead change hands numerous times. Paige Willman (25) and Megan Ellis (24) stood out for Gators while Olivia Clark slotted 18 for Pioneer. Halswell downed Wolverines 78-26 and University of Canterbury recorded its first win, beating Minties 63-45.

 

Results were:

Men's Premier Grade Hoben Trophy Round five:

Gators 83 (Stephen Nosworthy 23, Jordan Duggan 22, 10R, Jackson Stent 15, Inga Solofutu 10, 11R, 4A) Atami 74 (Dan Pau’u 19, 8R, Derek Albertson 17, Zac Dwan 15, 5A). HT: 40-27,

University of Canterbury 84 (Josh Petermann 31, 7R, Paul Stephenson 23, 7R, Willem Tolhoek 10) Wolverines 79 (Taylor Britt 19, Keiran Ball 17, 9R, Jahnim Campbell12, Croyden Thompson 11). HT: Wolverines 38-36,

Pioneer Pacers 71 (Marty Davison 16, Oli Davies 15, Mike Townsend 11) Lincoln University 62 (Ben Williams 19, James Cawthorn 12, Ben Bowie 10). HT 39-27.

Bye:Checkers.

Points Table: Placings with games played in parenthesis: Pioneer 8 (4), University 8 (5), Atami 7 (5), Checkers and Lincoln Univ 6 (4), Wolverines and Gators 5 (4).

 

Men’s Under 23:

Checkers 113 University B 43, Lincoln University Bulls 88 Pioneer Pacers 72, Atami 73 Gators White 41, Gators Green 86 UC-Christs Coll 79, Wolverines 83 Pioneer -Cashmere 69, University A 88 North Canterbury 58. Placings Round 5: Lincoln Bulls and Gators Green 10, UC A and Wolverines 9, Atami, Checkers and Pioneer Pacers 8 points.

 

Women’s Premier Patron’s Trophy Round Five:

North Canterbury 59 (Charlotte Whittaker 18, Esra McGoldrick 10, Ash Fane 10) Halswell 38 (Darcy Rose 14, Terai Sadler 10). HT: 26-19,

North Canterbury 58 (Esra McGoldrick 18, Ashlee Fane 11) Lincoln University 57 (Fran Edmonson 16, Connie Poletti 15). HT: 38-24

Gators 66 (Paige Willman 25, Megan Ellis 24) Pioneer 64 (Olivia Clark 18, Poly Hill 11). HT: Pioneer 34-32

Halswell 78 (Alidia Pohatu-Barnes 18, Jess Baker 15) Wolverines 26 (Kendal Hastie 5, Candice Moir 5). HT: 41-11

University of Canterbury 63 (Georgia May Jenson 15, Lily Nicol 14) Minties 45 (Sarah Mason Mason 25). HT: 33-28.

Points Table: North Canterbury 10, Lincoln Univ 9, Pioneer, Gators and Halswell 6, Minties 5.