December 9, 2013

Photo: Eagles League Men…Grand Final Champs for 2013. Photo Darren Hunt

Championship Season

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Tuesday 3 December 2013

League Women – Grand Final - Uni Rebels v Tracy Village Jets

The Tracy Village Jets claimed the 2013 Championship Season Grand Final with a hard fought 64-56 victory over the Uni Rebels to end the competition with a 22-1 record, the one blemish on their record was a semi-final loss to the Rebels. However, the Bombers bounced back from that lone defeat to knock off the Lighting in the Preliminary Final and got their chance to avenge that loss with a Grand Final win. The Bombers set up the win with a 21-13 run in the first quarter that was sparked by Tikesa Docherty-Cole (1.5ppg) who dropped in 8 of her team high 17 points during the run. The Bombers then kept the Rebels in check for most of the game never allowing them time to build up any momentum that could have swung the game in favour of the Rebels. Keisha Tinley (4.5ppg) from the Jets stepped up with a solid effort from the point hitting 14 points in the process and guiding the Bombers to a ‘repeat’ performance of last year’s Grand Final win over the Lightning. Bomber Tania Dhu (8.6ppg) battled it out with Rebel Dana Rommel in the keyway and finished with 12 points in support of Docherty-Cole. Rommel (16.8ppg) hit 15 for the Rebels, but it was Tamara Sheppard (14.1ppg) who led the team with a game high 18 followed by Jaylene Bonson (13.3ppg) with 13.

Guard Sam Rioli from the Tracy Village Jets was named Most Valuable Player for the season.

Ladder:                                          Tracy Village Jets 22-1, Uni Rebels 15-1-6, Lightning 11-1-10, Ansett 8-13, Eagles 4-0-15-1 & Palmerston 3-17

League Men – Grand Final – Ansett v Eagles

The Eagles won their first Championship Season Grand Final in 13 years when they knocked off the Blues of Ansett 66-62. The Eagles last won in 2000 and the last appearance by the Birds was in a losing effort in 2007 and prior to that a similar disappointing loss in 2002. This match-up was indicative of the way the two teams played against each other all season long. The Eagles flew out to a 21-13 lead after one quarter of play due to the accuracy of Jarrod Sheppard and Buster Perkins who combined for all but 2 of the Eagles points in the quarter. The second quarter was almost even up and put the Eagles up at half time by 9 at 39-30. After the break the Blues powered back into contention with a 21-11 run led by John King and Daniel Florance (20.8ppg) who gave Ansett a slim 51-50 lead at the end of three quarters, setting up an exciting finish in the last quarter. Eagle forward Louis Ilton (18.6ppg) took charge of affairs for the Birds in the run home, scoring 8 of his 17 points (6 from the line) during a 16-11 run. He nailed his last three points from the charity stripe to seal the game and earned himself his first League Grand Final medal. Sheppard (17.7ppg) led all scorers with a game high 22 with Perkins (16.1ppg) and Ernest Holmes (11ppg) adding 10 each. For the Blues King (19.6ppg) finished with 20, and Florance 10. Jake Feeney and Matthew Barrett (11.8ppg) hit 9 each.

Guard Jesse Bell from the Palmerston Power was named Most Valuable Player for the season.  

Ladder:                                           Eagles 17-4, Ansett & Palmerston 13-7, Tracy Village Jets 11-8, Uni Rebels 8-10, Lightning 5-13 & Razzle 0-18