June 7, 2014

Photo:  The 'Bear' shows how it is done v Razzle last week. He hit 34 this week in losing effort v Rebels.

Challenge Season

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Friday 6 June 2014

Semi-Finals

League Women –Tracy Village Jets v Uni Rebels

The Tracy Village Jets shut down the Uni Rebels 58-41 to take a huge step to repeating as Challenge Season champions for the 4^th straight year. Abby Cubillo (15.8ppg) and court captain Sam Rioli (19.9ppg) stepped up for the reigning champs with 22 and 16 points while the team shut down the big guns from the Rebel camp. The Bombers limited Rebels Jaylene Bonson (16.3ppg) to just 3pts and Tamara Sheppard (17.2ppg) to just 8 for the game and in the process also ended the Rebel 8 game winning streak that included the only loss suffered by the Jets this season. This game was locked up at 23 all at half time, but after the break the Bombers scooted away behind Cubillo who hit 10 of her total during a 19-8 Bomber third quarter run that put them out in front for good 42-31 with a quarter to play. The Bombers held on to the momentum generated in the third quarter as they cruised into their sixth straight grand final in the last 4 years (including Championship Seasons). Danielle Ponter (8.3ppg) led the Rebels with 11 points.

Palmerston v Eagles

Palmerston slipped past the Eagles 49-47 in a close affair that went into overtime before there was a clear winner. The game was decided from the charity stripe with Melissa Charlton hitting the last two points from the line. The Eagles had to stage a comeback just to get into the overtime and they did it with a 12-6 fourth quarter run led by Michelle Friel (15.2ppg) who dropped in 6 of her team high 19 during the run. The Birds were behind 37-31 at the end of three quarters of play. Palmerston’s Stephanie Pye (8.6ppg) was on fire during the match, hitting a team and season high 20 points for the game with Christine Cooper (12.1ppg) adding 8. The teams were tied up at 43 each at the end of regulation. In the overtime Skye King hit the first two buckets for the Power before Charlton nailed her free throws to seal the game.

Ladder after Semi-finals   Tracy Village Jets 15-1, Uni Rebels 12-4, Palmerston 8-8, Eagles 6-10, Lightning 4-11 & Ansett 2-13

Monday 9 June Preliminary Final:           Uni Rebels v Palmerston 6:15pm

League Men – Ansett v Lightning

After the euphoria of narrowly winning the minor premiership last week the Blues from Ansett were disappointed to find out that they lost out to the Lightning on a 20-0 forfeit because a disqualified player had taken to the court during their major semi-final. The game had been played and Ansett had won 86-75, but after checking the records Lightning was given the pass through to the Grand Final due to the disqualification (not enough games played during the regular season). However, the Blues get another chance to advance to the GF in the Preliminary Final on Monday against the Uni Rebels at 7:45pm.

Eagles v Uni Rebels

The Uni Rebels won the ‘cliff-hanger’ of the night 70-69 against the Eagles. A missed free throw put up with no time on the clock gave the Rebels a shot at minor premiers Ansett in Monday night’s Preliminary Final. The Rebels took a 15-13 first quarter lead before extending that out to 9 points at 36-27 at the half time break. Tim Morris (29.6ppg) from the Rebels and James Silvie (26ppg) from the Eagles were locked into a shooting contest with both players finishing up with 34 points for the game. Morris had the last laugh though with the Rebels advancing to the Prelim. The Rebels had pushed out their lead to 11 points heading into the last quarter when a momentum shift favouring the Birds enabled them to power back into the fray. With no time left on the clock Eagle Henry Bui was sent to the line with the chance to tie up the game and send it into overtime, but he missed the second of two chances handing the Rebels the game. Supporting Morris was John King (28.2ppg) on 14 and Jamie Hamill on 11 while Jesse Williams-Hook (14ppg) hit 15 and Bui added 10 for the Eagles.      

Ladder after Semi-finals:               Lightning 11-4, Ansett 10-6, Uni Rebels 10-6, Eagles 10-7,Tracy Village Jets 6-7, Palmerston 4-7 & Razzle 1-13

Monday 9 June Preliminary Final:                Ansett v Uni Rebels 7:45pm