22 August 2012

Photo:  Keisha Tinley (pictured v Ansett) helped Jets to a narrow 61-59 win against Lightning.

Championship Season

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Tuesday 21 August 2012

League Women –Lightning v Tracy Village Jets

The Tracy Village Jets held off a tenacious Lightning outfit bent on upset with a come from behind 61-59 win to keep their unblemished record intact. The Bombers now sit atop the ladder in sole possession of first place with a 5-0 record. Lightning dropped to 4-1 after the loss, but can hold their heads up high as they pushed the Bombers to the limit. The game was a real see-saw contest with the teams trading basket for basket throughout. Jacinda Lambert (44% from the field) knocked down a shot with 2:08 left in the first half to give the Lightning a 35-23 advantage before a flurry of shots from Kylie Duggan (13) and Sam Rioli (21) pulled the Bombers within 38-32 at half-time. The third quarter went the Bombers way as they closed the gap to within one point at 48-47 heading into the last quarter. Desiree Weetra put the Jets up 57-52 with 2:32 left in the game, but Lightning struck back quickly with a two-pointer from Lambert (20pts & 23rebs) and a three pointer from Tahnee Lew Fatt that tied the game up at 57 all with just 20 seconds left. The Jets took a time out and upon resumption of play Tara Maxwell was fouled in the act of making a shot and put in the ensuing free throw to put the Bombers up 60-57 with about 10 seconds left. Kelli Sealy (10) from Lightning hit a shot with 6 seconds to go for a 60-59 score line. Brittany Ward (14) then fouled Rioli when the Jets inbounded the ball and she sealed the game with a free throw for the final score.

Uni Rebels v Ansett

Uni Rebels walked all over Ansett 61-23 behind the hot handed Jaylene Bonson who potted a game and team high 21 during the rout. Bonson hit 10 of 16 from the field (63%) while the Rebels as a team enjoyed 40% shooting to just 12% by the Blues. The Rebels clamped down defensively against the Blues, allowing them only single digit numbers in each quarter of play. Lucy Adam and Delsey Ah Wang also hit double figures for the Rebels with 11 and 10. Ah Wang also pulled down 12 rebounds. Amelia Shanahan was best for the Blues with 8pts. Ball handling by both teams wasn’t great…both sides committing 22 turnovers.   

Eagles v Palmerston

Eagles got back on the winning track with a 56-39 victory against winless Palmerston. Young Michelle Friel led from the front for the Eagles with a game high 20. Palmerston had jumped all over the Birds in the first half taking a 23-20 lead at half time behind the duo of Kate Smyth and Nyssa Curwen who combined for 13 points during the run. After the break the Eagles regrouped to stamp their authority on the game as Friel, Lillian Williams (13) and Katherine Hollis (12) stepped up their games during a 14-6 third quarter run that put them in front for good. A strong 22-10 showing in the last quarter put the game out of reach for the fading Palmerston side.

Ladder:                   Tracy Village Jets 5-0, Lightning 4-1, Rebels, Ansett & Eagles 2-3, & Palmerston 0-5

Next Week:            Palmerston v Uni Rebels 6:15pm, Tracy Village Jets v Eagles 7:45pm &                                 Ansett v Lightning 9:15pm   

League Men –Eagles v Tracy Village Jets

Travis Ellis hit a League high 43 points during a stirring come from behind 87-82 win by the Tracy Village Jets against arch rival Eagles. Ellis hit 50% from the field and line and grabbed 19 boards for another double-double this season while taking his league leading scoring average from 34.6 to 36.7ppg the highest in the League for years. The Eagles had begun the game in earnest with Buster Perkins (37) knocking down 5 treys in the first half to help the Birds to a 44-36 half time lead. After the break however the Bombers rallied to turn the game in their favour during a 31-14 run that put them up 67-58 with one quarter to play. Perkins, Joseph Johnson (13) and Michael Pearce (10) scrambled to get back into the game, but when Perkins fouled out with 6:35 to play the Eagles lost their outside threat. At that stage Ellis was still dropping shots from all over the place to keep the Bombers in front despite the efforts from the Eagles. Johnson hit a shot with just 1:35 remaining to get the Birds within 2 at 82-80, but that was a close as they got as the Bombers managed to pull away at the end for the win. Jayden Adams and Michael MacLean also hit double figures with 13 and 11…MacLean also had 7 assists (the Jets had 22 overall).    

Palmerston v Lightning

Lightning knocked back Palmerston 75-55 for their fourth win in a row. Enjoying a 40% effort from the field and 48% from outside the arc Lightning just kept in front of the scrappy Palmerston outfit for three quarters before storming away in the last stanza. Lightning’s Jesse Bell continued his good shooting form, hitting a game high 22 points while team mate Zac White grabbed a double-double with 18pts,14rebs and 4 blocked shots. Cameron Bailey chipped in with 14pts. Palmerston kept the game close through the effort of Shaquille Hohipa who had a team high 21pts and 7rebs and Rhys Thomas (10), but 33% from the field overall by the team wasn’t doing them any good especially with the way Lightning was shooting. Lightning will be hoping to shoot as well next week as they match up with the Jets in a clash of the ladder leaders.

Razzle v Ansett

Ansett led at every quarter as they disposed of the Razzle 62-48 for their second win of the competition. Matthew Barrett just missed a double-double hitting 22 points with 9 rebounds. Daniel Florance and Tom Blake added 10 each to the cause as the Blues took full advantage of Razzle’s poor shooting percentage…only 26% to Ansett’s 35. A 17-10 first quarter run by Blues put them on the path to victory and they never looked back. Phil Collins led the green and gold with 20 and he had support from Pascoe Lawler who dropped in 15. The only stat Razzle won in the contest was rebounds, they had 50 to just 34 for the Blues.

Ladder:                   Tracy Village & Lightning 4-0, Eagles 2-3, Ansett 2-2, & Uni Rebels 1-3, Palmerston 1-3 & Razzle 0-5

Next Week:                 Lightning v Tracy Village Jets 6:15pm, Palmerston v Ansett 7:45pm & Eagles v Uni Rebels, bye: Razzle