1 June 2011

Photo: Claire O’Bryan from Lightning…heading off to college in the USA next week

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Tuesday 31 May 2011

Round Twenty- Challenge Season

League Women –Uni Rebels v Tracy Village Jets

Tracy Village Jets slammed the door shut on the Uni Rebel attempt for a undefeated season with a 67-42 upset that spoiled the show for the Rebels. Missing the speed and finishing touch of injured Jaylene Bonson and the lightning quick reflexes of Michelle Friel the Rebels were hard pressed to stay with the rampant Jets who put it all together in a match up that will be played out again next week in the major semi final. The Jets put together four quarters of consistent play for the first time this season and held the Rebels to no more than 11pts in each quarter while they lit up the score board. Georgii Howlett (16.8ppg) led the way for the Jets with a team and game high 21 while Demi Cubillo (15 @ 10.3ppg), Tara Carroll (13 @ 12.9ppg) and Keisha Tinley (10) took a bit of the load off of Howlett’s shouders with their scoring opportunities. Justine Schmidt (9ppg) led the Rebels with 11, but no team mates managed to hit double figures. The loss by the Rebels will no doubt have a short term effect, but they will, as they have in the past, shrug off the loss and be ready for the rematch next Tuesday and it should be a ripper.

League Women – Lightning v Eagles

The Eagles wasted no time in putting their cards on the table against Lightning as the birds shot out to a   13-5 first quarter lead and never looked back in a 53-43 win that should do wonders for their confidence going into next weeks semi final when the two teams meet again. The Eagles played one of their better games of this season with a more balanced scoring effort, getting 12pts from both Leonie Snowdon (9ppg) & Greta Hollis-Stephensen (13.6ppg) plus 10 from Donna Peters. Lightning lifted their game in the second quarter and stayed with the Eagles for the rest of the match, but couldn’t breech the gap set in the first quarter. Chelsea Cook (9.1ppg) had a team high 16 for the Lightning and Claire O’Bryan (23ppg) had 13 in her last game before heading overseas to college in the USA next week.

Ladder:        Uni Rebels 12-3-1, Tracy Village Jets 10-1-5 & Lightning 7-3-6, Eagles 5-1-10 & Ansett 1-2-13

Next Week Semi Finals:      Lightning v Eagles 6:30pm, Uni Rebels v Tracy Village Jets 8:00pm

Round Twenty One-Challenge Season

League MEN –Uni Rebels v Tracy Village Jets

Andre’ Moss (30.2ppg) tallied 41pts on the score sheet to lead the Uni Rebels to a upset 86-78 win against the Tracy Village Jets who were undefeated with 16 straight wins. The Rebels denied the Jets a chance of a perfect season with a second half come back led by 25pts from Moss who teamed up with Aaron Richie (19 @ 23.2ppg), Marcus Ch’ng (12) and Matt Fagg (10) to bring to a halt another run at the record books by the Jets. This was probably a preview of a League Grand Final by the two teams. It isn’t too far fetched as the Rebels have proved throughout the last half of the competition that they have the firepower to match the Jets and they have swept aside all other contenders in recent rounds. Nick Pattrick (18.1ppg) led the Bombers with 24, 16 in the first half, with Daniel Miller adding 14 and captain Michael MacLean 13 @ 14.2ppg. The Jets will take on Ansett in the major semi final next week and going on what has happened throughout the season Ansett will need luck and a concerted team effort to keep the Bombers out of another Grand Final.

League Men –Warriors v Ansett

Ansett ensured their second place finish with a easy 92-57 win against the Warriors. The win paid off as the Blues get a second bite of the apple if they fail to upset the Jets in the major semi final next week. Matt Hunt (17.7ppg) kept his recent scoring form as he led Ansett with 23 and got plenty of back up from Jake Feeney (20 @ 9.4ppg), Bryce Whitaker (17 @ 14.4ppg) and Mitchel O’Donoghue (12). The Blues have won their last three games since a loss to the Uni Rebels in Round 17, but if they continue to share the scoring around as they did in the last couple of games they have a legit shot at the title. For the Warriors it is back to the drawing board for the Championship Season. Christian Williams led the Warriors for the second week in a row with a team high 14 with Emerson Nieva chipping in with 13 and Rob Oliver 12.

League Men –Lightning v Eagles

The Eagles accounted for the Lightning in a high scoring affair 103-91 thanks to a big game from Buster Perkins who nailed 8 treys in his game high 27. Perkins (23.6ppg) has proved to be a good fit for the Eagles this season and with Joseph Johnson (21 @ 16.3ppg) having more impact on the game offensively the birds have become a potential championship team. Lightning have been unfortunate not to be ranked higher in the standings. They still take it to the opposition, but have lost a few close ones this competition that would have been the difference in making the playoffs or not. Jesse Bell (10.4ppg) had his best game of the season for Lightning with a 23 point output and Cameron Bailey (12ppg) & Brodie Hertel added 16 each. A big 33-17 score line at the end of the first quarter was all that was needed by the Eagles to bring home the win.

Ladder:      Tracy Village Jets 16-1-1, Ansett & Uni Rebels 11-2-5, Eagles 9-2-7, Lightning 5-1-12, Warriors 3-2-13, Razzle & 2-2-14

Next Week Semi Finals:        Tracy Village Jets v Ansett 6:30pm, v Uni Rebels v Eagles 8:00pm