League results and stats from Tuesday 7 June
8th June 2011
Photo: Letticha Clarke from Uni Rebels played her milestone 400th League game last night.
Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Tuesday 7 June 2011
Semi-Finals
League Women –Uni Rebels v Tracy Village Jets
Tracy Village made it two wins in a row against the minor premier Uni Rebels, winning the major semi final 72-57 to move straight into this years Challenge Season Grand Final. The Rebels were hoping to celebrate Letticha Clarke’s 400th league game, but Jet Tara Carroll used her size and strength to rack up a team and game high 21 points as the Jets powered into their first Challenge Season Grand Final appearance since 1997 when they defeated Mitsubishi 45-38. The Bombers ran over the Rebels in the second half after trailing 37-31 at the half time break. Trish Graham (20) & Justine Schmidt (8) put the Rebels in a good position at the major break as they combined for 20 of the Rebels 37 first half points for a 37-31 lead, but the momentum shifted to the Jets in the third quarter as they knuckled down to the task at hand. Demi Cubillo (14) and Annabelle Harbison (11) lifted their game as they spearheaded a Bomber 20-8 run in the third quarter that gave the Jets a 51-45 lead. The last quarter was a mirror image of the third as the Jets poured more fuel on the fire with another strong run, this time 21-8, as their defense stymied all attempts of a Rebel revival and sent the minor premiers to a ‘knock out’ Preliminary Final against the Eagles.
League Women – Lightning v Eagles
The Eagles upended the Lightning for the second week in a row with a 68-54 victory in the minor semi final ‘knock out’ match. Proving worthy of their ‘dark horse’ status the Eagles led at the end of every quarter, getting balanced scoring from Megan Fitzpatrick (20), Leonie Snowdon (15), Katherine Hollis (14) and Greta Hollis’-Stephensen (10). Young Fitzpatrick played exceptionaly well, scoring well above her season average of 7.2ppg. The Eagles took a commanding half time lead of 35-19 and never looked back although Chelsea Cook and Tahnee Lew Fatt (15 each) led a sprirted chase in the second half, accounting for 24 of Lightning’s 35 second half points. The Eagles now move on to their match up with the Uni Rebels in next Tuesday’s ‘do or die’ Preliminary Final, the winner to advance to the Grand Final.
Ladder: Uni Rebels 12-3-2, Tracy Village Jets 11-1-5 & Lightning 7-3-7, Eagles 6-1-10 & Ansett 1-2-13
Next Week Preliminary Final: Uni Rebels v Eagles 6:30pm
Semi-Finals
League MEN –Tracy Village Jets v Ansett
Ansett finally got the win they have been fighting so hard for all season long. They beat the minor premier Tracy Village Jets 69-58 to head directly into this seasons grand final. Ansett’s last grand final win was in the ‘Cyclone Season’ of 1999 against the same Jets outfit…the Blues won 68-57. This win was particularly sweet as Ansett had lost the previous two meetings this season by slim margins. Four team members hit double figures for Ansett with Cameron MacKenzie (11.1ppg) leading the way with 18, Bryce Whitaker (14.7ppg) added 15, Jake Feeney 13 and Tom Hunt 10 as opposed to only two Jets who broke into double figures. Ansett managed to shut the door on the Bombers leading scorer, Nick Pattrick, holding him to just 6 points, well below his average of 18.5ppg. After a close fought first half the Blues led 29-28, but after the break the over zealous Bombers paid the price for their contact with opposing players. The Blues hit 18pts from the chairty stripe (14 in the second half) as they slowly pulled away from the frustrated Bombers. By the end of the game three of the Jets had fouled out and Ansett was into the grand final for the first time in 11 years. Daniel Miller led the Jets with 14 and Michael MacLean had 13.
League Men –Uni Rebels v Eagles
The Uni Rebels kept on marching towards the grand final with a decisive 84-76 win against the Eagles. The Rebels have been the ín form’ team in the last month of competition and they have their sights set on defending the title they won last Challenge Season against the Jets (a 65-63 victory). Andre’Moss (32ppg) was again the ‘go to’man as he led the Rebels with 37 points, getting support from Aaron Richie (22ppg) and Jarrod Sheppard (20ppg) who both tallied 17. The Rebels out scored the Eagles 48-22 in the second & third quarters for a 68-47 lead at three quarter time, but then had to weather a strong come back by the Eagles led by sharp shooting Buster Perkins (37 @ 24ppg). Perkins kicked off the fourth quarter with three straight treys that had the Rebels scrambling for stability that they needed to run out winners. Joseph Johnson (16ppg) added 16 for the Eagles but the Rebels held on for the win, getting a match up with last years grand final foes in next Tuesday’s Preliminary Final…the Tracy Village Jets. It should prove to be an exciting game. Should the Rebels win it would put them into only their third Challenge Season grand final appearance since 1996!
Ladder: Tracy Village Jets 16-1-2, Ansett & Uni Rebels 12-2-5, Eagles 9-2-8, Lightning 5-1-12, Warriors 3-2-13, Razzle & 2-2-14
Next Week Preliminary Final: Tracy Village Jets v Uni Rebels 8:00pm
Comments
Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.