25 April 2012

Photo:  Eagle Challenge Season 2007 champs!

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Tuesday 25 April 2012

League Women –Tracy Village Jets v Uni Rebels

The Uni Rebels inched one game closer to the League leading Tracy Village Jets with a nail biting 66-64 win over the ladder leaders. Jaylene Boundry (12 @ 7.5ppg) hit the last basket for the Rebels who had come from behind in the last quarter to snatch victory. Trailing 56-48 at the start of the last quarter the Rebels launched an all out effort to get back into the game with Boundry, Tamara Sheppard (21 @ 23.8ppg) and Justine Schmidt (12) combining for all but 2 of the teams 18 fourth quarter points while holding the Bombers to just 8. Sam Rioli (21 @ 14.3ppg), Georgii Howlett (15 @ 18.5ppg) and Kylie Duggan (13 @ 11.8ppg) had given last year’s Challenge Season premiers the lead after three quarters of play, but the Bombers failed to keep that drive as the momentum shifted in favour of the Rebels.        

Eagles v Ansett

The Eagles tightened their grip on third place with a 64-48 win against Ansett that keeps them still in the hunt for a double chance in the playoffs, now just six rounds away. Lillian Williams was in good form with a game high 20 points while Dana Walsh (13) and Katherine Hollis (11) also tallied double figures for the Eagles. The Birds had a 29-21 lead at half time, but powered away in the last quarter with a 21-14 run to claim the points. Kia Bond, Amelia Shanahan and Victoria Uhlig led the Blues with 13, 12 & 10. The Blues will have to regroup quickly as they face the red hot Rebels who are on a 4-0 run next Tuesday.

Warriors v Lightning

With the welcomed return of guards Kelli Sealy (10 @ 9.8ppg) & Lucy Murry (8 @ 4.5ppg) Lightning claimed their third win of the season as they bolted past the Warriors 47-41. The zippy guards had helped Lightning to what appeared to be a handy 43-27 lead after three quarters of play, but they then had to weather a strong fight back by the Warriors who outscored them 14-4 in the last quarter. Warrior Kate Smyth (16) found the range in the second half and combined with Chi Adachi (10) to inspire the comeback, but Lightning held fast and held on for the win. Sarah Carbone hit the last 4 points for Lightning to help seal the victory.

Ladder:                                           Tracy Village Jets 11-2, Uni Rebels 10-3, Eagles 9-4, Ansett 5-8, Lightning 3-10 & Warriors 2-10-1

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

 

League Men – Eagles v Tracy Village Jets

The Tracy Village Jets edged out the upset minded Eagles 79-76 despite a 42 point scoring effort from Eagle Charles Benning. While Benning was popping shots from everywhere the Bombers were not sitting back and watching as they matched the Eagles basket for basket. Five players hit double figures for the Bombers with Travis Ellis (26.6ppg) leading the pack with 19. Tracy Village jumped out to a 29-24 first quarter lead and kept that lead for the game, surviving a last quarter rally by the Eagles who almost pinched the game at the end. The Bombers held a 62-55 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter and had to hold off the Eagles who flew back into contention with a 21-17 run led by Benning who hit 10 of his total during the challenge. The 42 points are a League high so far this season with Benning now leading all League scorers with a 27.7ppg average. For the Jets Liam Maclachlan (12.3ppg) hit 16, Daniel Miller 15, Michael Maclean 11 & Sam White 10. Buster Perkins was the only other Eagle in double figures with 14.

Ansett v Lightning

A huge upset 87-74 win by Lightning over Ansett has given Lightning new hope that their campaign for the playoffs will provide more than just token resistance. Defense was the name of the game according to coach Jason Ivinson as the pressure exerted on Ansett’s shooters paid off in frustration and poor percentage shooting by the Blues. Cameron Bailey (15.4ppg) played a particularly good game with a team and game high 27 to go along with a double in rebounds. He was backed up by an impressive game from Jesse Bell (19.7ppg) who hit 15 points from the charity stripe in his total of 23. That’s all but one of the Lightning points from the free throw line and just 4 less than the Ansett team total! Tom Hunt (11.1ppg) led the Blues with 16 and his brother Matt (18ppg) had 14. The Blues fell behind early in the game and never recovered. They trailed 21-17 after one quarter and 41-31 at the half. A late run of 25-22 in the last quarter was not quite enough to bridge the gap as Lightning picked up their fifth win of the season and gives them a three game advantage over the Warriors in the run for fourth place on the ladder.   

Warriors v Uni Rebels

The Warriors ran roughshod over the luckless Uni Rebels, dumping them 85-38 in one of their worst defeats in recent memory. Phil Collins (32 @ 26.8ppg) and Ben Muvirimi (21 @ 9.09ppg) provided the fireworks for the Warriors as they combined for 53 points in a win that gives them an outside chance of making the final four. A 23-13 first quarter start by the Warriors quickly moved out to a game winning 43-26 lead at half time and more of the same awaited the Rebels in the second half when they were outscored 42-12. Rohan Cropley (16.2ppg) & Jamie Hamill (10.2ppg) were the best for the Rebels with 9 each.     

Ladder:                   Tracy Village Jets 11-2, Ansett & Eagles 9-4, Lightning 5-7-1, Warriors 3-10, Uni Rebels 2-8-3

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