May 24, 2014

Photo:  Ansett's Jake Feeney taking the ball to the hoop.

Challenge Season

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Friday 23 May 2014

League Women Round 15 – Tracy Village Jets v Palmerston

Tania Dhu, Sam Rioli and Abby Cubillo tore the Palmerston defense apart with their accurate shooting as minor premiers Tracy Village Jets ran over the Power 76-38 for their 13^th win of the competition. The Bombers rattled off 19 points to just 9 for the Power in the first quarter and the rout was on. Court captain Rioli had 16 of her total by the half time mark as the Bombers stretched their lead out to 37-21. After the break Cubillo came out firing to hit 8 of her 17 points during a 20-7 Bomber run to seal the contest early. Jennifer Kinsella was the only Power player to hit double figures with 14. Dhu finished up leading all scorers with 21 and Rioli had 20. For the record: Rioli became only the 4^th women’s player to crack the 5000 points scored barrier. She now has 5003 at an average of 14.4 point per game for 347 games played. The best by far of any women’s player on the Players Honour Board.

Uni Rebels v Ansett

The Uni Rebels secured the double chance with an easy 66-35 win over Ansett. The first half was a close affair as the Blues jumped out to a 10-5 first quarter lead before the Rebels regrouped to take charge in the second quarter with an 18-10 run for a 23-20 half time lead. The second half was all Rebels as they went into overdrive to blow away the Blues with a dominant 43-15 run. Rebel Jaylene Bonson was again the ‘go to player’ for points. Bonson hit a team and game high 17 with Danielle Ponter adding 15 and Kahlisha Rioli 10. It was the fifth straight game that Bonson has led the team in points. Guard Carla Jones led the Blues with 11.

Lightning v Eagles

The Lightning paid the Eagles back for knocking them out of the playoffs last week by soundly thumping the Birds 62-42. Lightning player Kymira Woodberry from the US of A hit a season and game high 33 to send the Birds tumbling. It was 33-19 at the break with the Lightning looking like winners. After the break the Eagles did bounce back a bit with a challenge, taking the third quarter 15-8, cutting the lead down to 41-34 with a quarter to go, but the Lightning kept the scoreboard ticking over with a statement 21-8 run in the fourth quarter for the win. Yasmin DeCurtins lent support to Woodberry as she chipped in with 13. Michelle Friel was the lone standout for the Birds with 16.

Ladder after Round 16:     Tracy Village Jets 13-1, Uni Rebels 11-3, Palmerston 7-7, Eagles 6-8, Lightning 3-11 & Ansett 2-12

30 May Round 17:             Ansett v Lightning 6:15pm, Eagles v Tracy Village Jets 7:45pm & Uni Rebels v Palmerston 9:15pm

24 May Round 6 rescheduled game:       Uni Rebels v Ansett 6:15pm

League Men – Lightning v Tracy Village Jets

The resurgent Tracy Village Jets knocked off the league leading Lightning with a gutsy 73-62 effort that makes them the spoilers heading into the upcoming playoffs. The Bombers set the tempo of the game with a 16-4 first quarter advantage, holding the Lightning to just one field goal and two free throws. The Lightning responded with a 23-19 run in the second quarter led by Christian Williams, but still trailed by 8 at 35-27 at half time. It was pretty much level pegging during the second half as the Bombers covered all the challenges that the Lightning threw at them. Jayden Adams led the Bombers with 18, Darrin Weetra hit 14 and Alex Weetra added 13. Craig Martin topped the Lightning scoring with 13 while team mates Williams and Shane Thorne hit 10 each. Unfortunately for the Bombers even if they knock off the Rebels in their last two games they will still miss out on the playoffs.

Ansett v Eagles

The Eagles took full advantage of the loss the Lightning suffered to the Jets by knocking off Ansett 74-67 and leapfrogging over Lightning into first place on the ladder, claiming the minor premiership. Tom Hunt got Ansett off to a great start with a trio of treys and help from Jake Feeney as the Blues built a 17-13 first quarter lead. However, the Birds flew back with a run of their own (24-10) that gave them a 37-27 lead at the break. That run was sparked by James Silvie, Daniel Reid and Reece Turner who combined for 18 of the 24 points. The Eagles built the lead up to 60-47 after three quarters of play and then had to withstand a charge by the Lightning as they tried to bridge the gap. They failed despite winning the last quarter 20-14. Silvie took scoring honour’s with a game high 32 with Jesse Williams-Hook netting 12. Four players from the Lightning hit double figures with Matthew Van Pelt getting 20, Hunt 12 and Feeney & Cameron Parnham 11 each.

With the round 3 games rescheduled for tonight and only one round left next week the Eagles have claimed the minor premiership due to the fact that the Lightning have the bye for the next two games and Ansett cannot catch them even if they (Eagles) lose next week’s game against the Razzle. The Razzle had already called in a forfeit for tonight’s match against the Eagles.     

Uni Rebels v Razzle    

Razzle forfeited to the Uni Rebels 20-0 for failure to field a team.  

Ladder after Round 16:                 Eagles 9-5, Lightning 9-4, Ansett 8-4, Uni Rebels 7-6, Tracy Village Jets 5-6, Palmerston 4-7 & Razzle 1-12

30 May Round 17:                         Razzle v Eagles 6:15pm, Uni Rebels v Tracy Village Jets 7:45pm & Ansett v Palmerston 9:15pm. Bye: Lightning

24 May Round 3 rescheduled games:           Razzle v Eagles 6:15pm (Razzle have forfeited), Uni Rebels v Tracy Village Jets 7:45 & Ansett v Palmerston. Bye: Lightning