Darwin Airport Resort League

Champion Season

Women

The TV Jets have won back to back games for the first time this season knocking off another likely playoff bound team in the Eagles 62-48. With the game tied at 25-25 at half-time it was the Jets who capitalized in the third quarter with a 22-9 quarter and from there they never allowed the Eagles back into the game. The Jets had nine different scorers in the game with Jessica Eason again leading the way with 13 points. For the Eagles who only had five players available Patricia Graham continued her great late season form with 21 points while her daughter Michelle Friel played strong and finished with 14 points. The Eagles now face two big tests leading into the finals and control their own destiny as two straight wins would ensure second spot (Lightning and then Ansett). The Jets will look to build towards next year with a third straight win when they match up against Warriors.

Despite wrapping up the minor premiership last week the Lightning women have not eased up with a big 88-38 win over a sliding Razzle. After leading by 15 at half-time the Lightning women put the foot down in the second half both on the offensive and defensive end winning the half 49-14. Claire O’Bryan led all scorers with 27 while Tamara Sheppard dominated the first half with 16 and finished the game with 26. Taylor Silas (15) and Claire Humphrey (11) also contributed well on the scoresheet. For Razzle Rian Smit led the way with 12 points to finish as the only Razzle player in double digits. Lightning will face the Eagles next week, while Razzle who still have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs will match-up against a rampaging Ansett.

The Ansett women have kept their chances of a second placed regular season finish alive with a season sweep of the Rebels (3-0) in their biggest win of the season 95-54. Despite leading by just four at the first break the Ansett women exploded in the second and third quarters (49-18) to set up the easy win. Sam Drescher was at her best scoring 32 points, while sister Eli produced one of her best games of the season with 25 points (12 in the third quarter), Nina Randle also had one of her best games since arriving in Australia with 23 points and a big bag of rebounds. For the Rebels Justine Schmidt was a clear standout with 26 points. Jaylene Bonson had a relatively quiet night finishing as the second highest Rebels scorer with 9. Ansett looking to try and charge into second place will now need to win their last two games against Razzle and Eagles to make that a reality, while the Rebels desperately trying to hold onto second spot have the bye and will have to rely on results falling their way next week before playing Razzle in the last round.

Women’s Ladder:
Lightning 13-3
Uni Rebels 10-7
Eagles 10–6
Ansett 9-7
Razzle 7-9
Warriors 5-11
TV Jets 3-14

Round 20  – Tuesday 17th November
6:15pm –Lightning v Eagles (court 1)
7:45pm –TV Jets v Warriors (court 2)
9:15pm – Razzle v Ansett (court 1)
Bye – Uni Rebels

Women 2nd Place Playoff Scenarios (4 main scenarios):
•    If both Ansett and Eagles lose in round 20 the following scenario exists for round 21: If Uni Rebels beat Razzle in round 21 then Uni Rebels will finish second, irrespective of other round 21 results. If Uni Rebels lose to Razzle in round 21 then; the winner of the Eagles v Ansett game will finish second.
•    If both Ansett and Eagles win in round 20 then the following scenario exists for round 21; the winner of the round 21 clash between Eagles and Ansett will finish second.
•    If Ansett win and Eagles lose in round 20 then the following scenario exists for round 21; If Ansett defeat the Eagles in round 21 they will finish second irrespective of other results, if Eagles defeat Ansett and Uni Rebels defeat Razzle then Uni Rebels will finish second. If Eagles defeat Ansett and Uni Rebels lose to Razzle then Eagles will finish second.
•    If Eagles win and Ansett lose in round 20 then the following scenario exists for round 21; If Eagles defeat Ansett they will finish second, irrespective of other results, If Eagles lose to Ansett and Uni Rebels defeat Razzle then Uni Rebels will finish second, If Eagles lose to Ansett and Uni rebels lose to Razzle then the Eagles will finish second.
•    If Razzle win their last two games and Ansett lose their last two games then Razzle will finish fourth.
•    If Razzle lose one of their last two games or Ansett win one of their last two games then Razzle will officially be eliminated.
•    Lightning are guaranteed first place.

Men

Uni Rebels are now at 14 straight wins but not without a few scares from Ansett with an 80-70 win. The scores were tied at 19 after the first quarter but the Rebels class shone through in the second as they established an 11 point win. Ansett continued to fight in the second half and made numerous runs to within 1 or 2 baskets but the Rebels just proved a little too strong down the stretch. Daniel Briglia led the Rebels again this week with 21 points closely followed by Jarrod Sheppard with 16. Nick Freer had his quietest game of the season with just 10 points. For Ansett Arjen Smit played his last game of the season (he is off to Kilsyth in Victoria) and top scored for Ansett with 17 (including four threes). Ansett will now move from the top team to the bottom team in a search for their fifth win of the season against Razzle, while the Rebels will have the bye.

The TV Jets have severely dinted the Eagles playoff hopes with a dominating 116-66 victory. Travis Ellis produced a personal season high with 39 points and was strongly supported by Dan East with 27. Eagle’s leader Timmy Duggan failed to reproduce his monster effort from last week and finished with a relatively quiet 21 as did Matt Bakunowicz. The Eagles will now need to win their last two games against Lightning and Ansett to have any chance at the playoffs. The TV Jets will face off against the Warriors in the match of the round next week.

Despite a fighting effort from Razzle chasing their first win, Lightning have proven too good in an 85-63 win. Lightning led by just 10 points at half time before putting their foot down in the third (23-6) to set-up the win. Cameron Bailey starred with 35 points, including 16 in the second quarter alone. Jess Angus (15) tried to rally Razzle in the fourth quarter with 9 points but the big Lightning lead was always going to be hard to peg back late. Razzle will chase their first win against the second last placed Ansett men, while Lightning will meet a desperate Eagles side.

Men’s Ladder
Uni Rebels 16-1
TV Jets 14-3
Lightning 9-7
Warriors 8-8
Eagles 6-10
Ansett 4-12
Razzle 0-16

Round 20  – Tuesday 17th November
6:15pm – Razzle v Ansett (court 2)
7:45pm – Lightning v Eagles (court 1)
9:15pm –TV Jets v Warriors (court 2)
Bye – Uni Rebels

Men’s 4th Place Playoff Scenarios (2 main scenarios):
•    If Warriors win one of their last two games or the Eagles lose one of their last two games then the Warriors will make the playoffs and the Eagles will be eliminated.
•    If the Warriors lose their last two games and the Eagles win their last two games then the Eagles will finish fourth and the Warriors will be eliminated on tie-breaker.
•    Uni Rebels will meet TV Jets in the 1 v 2 final and Lightning are guaranteed a placing of third or fourth.