March 16, 2013

Photo: Veteran Barb Teakle had 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks and 2 steals in win over the Uni Rebels.

Challenge Season

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Friday 15 March 2013

League Women – Palmerston v Ansett

Palmerston followed the lead of their men’s team when they won their first game of the season, a minor upset 44-43 win against Ansett. The nail biting finish had everyone one the edge of their seats. Morgan Johnston proved to be the hero at the finish hitting a basket with just 7 seconds left in the game for a one point 44-43 lead. Ansett immediately called a time out to set up a play, but the outcome didn’t get the result needed for the win. The game was close all the way with the teams locked up at 20 all at half time before the Blues opened up a 4 point gap heading into the last quarter. The Blues struggled without one of their playmakers, Sam Drescher, but still looked confident with a quarter to go. Palmerston got a big break with 5 minutes to play when Reina Shean nailed a three pointer to put Palmerston up 42-39 however it was the last time they scored until Johnstons basket sealed the win. Shean & Christine Cooper led Palmerston with 10pts each and Cooper added 16 rebounds as well. Amelia Shanahan hit 18pts with 20 boards while Lauren Flanegan added 17. For the record Palmerston did not shoot a single free throw for the game.

Lightning v Tracy Village Jets

And the beat goes on. The Jets from Tracy Village rumbled past Lightning 64-36 for their 15^th straight win. Kylie Duggan paved the way with a double-double, hitting 16pts, 16rebs and 4 steals. 10 of her rebounds were on the offensive glass giving the Bombers extra shots at goal. Tara Maxwell & Tikesa Docherty-Cole chipped in with 12 each. The Jets held a 27-20 lead at the half and added an extra 4 by the end of three quarters of play despite the solid play from Lightning’s Tahnee Lew Fatt. Lew Fatt hit 17 points for her best showing of the season and gave Lightning a faint glimmer of hope, but the Bombers took to the sky in the last quarter with a 23-6 burst that put the game well out of reach. The Bombers hit 33% from the field to just 20 for Lightning.

Eagles v Uni Rebels

Elyse Videon hit a personal League best 21 points to help the Eagles overcome the Uni Rebels 57-50 for their second win of the competition. Michelle Friel dropped in 18 and Lillian Williams help the cause with 14 and 13 rebounds. Friel also grabbed 15 rebounds and had 5 assists. The Rebels charged out to a 15-9 first quarter lead and built that up to a 32-23 half time lead behind the play of Jenny Low Choy (19pts & 19rebs) and Jaylene Boundry (12). After the break, however, the Birds took wing with Videon hitting 8 of her total points during a 14-6 run that put the Eagles within one point going into the last quarter. The last quarter was a see-saw affair until Williams put the Eagles up for good at 52-50 with just 3:06 left to play. Barbara Teakle from the Eagles added 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks while Jaylene Bonson had 15 points, 5 assists and 11 rebounds for the Rebels.

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

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

League Men – Palmerston v Ansett

The Palmerston men caused the first upset win of the night when they edged out last season’s champions 61-59. The Blues from Ansett suffered their second loss of the season against a determined Palmerston outfit looking for a scalp. They led for the whole game due to some hot shooting from Robert Wilson and Jesse Bell who both hit 19pts during the encounter. Daniel Florance from the Blues led all scorers with 27 but the defense from Palmerston played a most important part as it held the Hunt brothers, Matt (12) & Tom (6), well below their season averages (21 & 14ppg). Ross Vasic stepped up for the Blues with 4 shots from outside the arc for his 12 points, but it was all for naught despite a last quarter 19-9 blitz that failed to get them into the lead.

Eagles v Uni Rebels

The Eagles cracked the tonne for the third time this season as they dispatched the Uni Rebels to the tune of 101-58. The Rebels had taken a 19-16 first quarter lead, but that was completely erased in the second quarter as the Eagles went on a 31-12 tear that set up the win. Jesse Williams-Hook (30), Shondale Robinson (29), Domi Kabangu (12), Joseph Johnson & Chris Stewart (11ea) did most of the scoring for the Eagles and Stewart added 22 rebounds. The Birds hit 47/100 from the field for 47% to the Rebels 28. Jamie Hamill led the Rebels with 21 points, all from outside the arc (7/17). Jake Kirby had 16 and Marcus Ch’ng 15. The Eagles dominated the boards 76-34…they got 68 of their points inside the paint.

Lightning v Tracy Village Jets

Phil Collins hit a season high 29 points to lead the Tracy Village Jets to a 92-64 win against the Lightning. The win kept the Bombers undefeated streak intact at 5-0 and just a game out of first place. Collins had plenty of help from the rest of the team as 5 other players hit double figures during the rout. Alex Weetra stayed in form with 10pts, 9rebs, 6 assists and 3 steals. Collins added 8 boards, 5 assists and 6 steals to his point tally. The Bombers blasted away from Lightning in the first quarter with a 34-17 run and never looked back. Cameron Bailey hit a team high 30 for Lightning and Tony Halikos added 17. The Jets hit 42% from the field to 35 for Lightning.

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

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