14 September 2011

Photo: Barbara Teakle from the Eagles played her 300^th League game, putting her on the Players Honour Board

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Tuesday 13 September 2011-Round 9

League Women –Uni Rebels v Tracy Village Jets

The Uni Rebels handed the Tracy Village Jets their second loss in a row with a cliff hanging 61-60 effort that put the Rebels into a three way tie with the Jets & Ansett for the competition lead. After seven straight wins the Jets had dropped their first game of the season on Saturday against Ansett 61-45. The game against the Jets Tuesday night may prove to be pivotal as the Rebels still have Jamie-Lee Paris to add to their lineup and she can put up big scoring numbers and will cause matchup problems for most teams. The Jets were clinging to a very narrow lead as the clock wound down in this match before Trish Graham (11) and then Vanessa Kurnoth dropped in three point’s shots to knot the game up at 58 all with just less than a minute remaining. A basket by Graham from the Rebels and then a counter by Demi Cubillo (16) from the Jets had the game tied at 60 before Tamara Sheppard made one of two free throws giving the Rebels the winning margin. The Jets did have a number of shots in the last 15 seconds, but couldn’t get the ball to drop. Sheppard finished with a game and season high 27 + 12 rebounds while Georgii Howlett led the Jets with 17pts & 23 rebounds. Rebels hit 35% from the field to the Jets 28%.

Ansett v Eagles

Ansett almost let their game slip away, but held on to edge past the fast finishing Eagles 64-56. The Blues had a 37-24 half time advantage, but the Eagles stiffened up on defense and a few more of their shots found the mark as they outscored Ansett 32-27 in the second half, but the damage was done back in the second quarter when the Blues put in a 15-6 run for the big lead at the break. Sam Drescher was the main scorer for Ansett again with 21 points & 14 rebounds, but got help from Olivia Birkett and Lauren Flanegan who both hit 14. Flanegan played a particularly good game of ball control. The Eagles looked unsettled in the first half, but put it all together in the second as Rachel Watchorn (13), Barbara Teakle and Katherine Hollis (12) found the range, giving the Eagles hope as they edged ever closer to the Blues who were finding it hard to score. Teakle (who had 5 steals in the game) was playing in her 300^th League game, but unfortunately for her the Eagles couldn’t provide the celebration the milestone warranted. Lillian Williams also put in a good effort for the Eagles. The win by Ansett lifted them into a three way tie for the competition lead.

Warriors v Lightning

Lightning picked up their second win of the season with a very disciplined game against the Warriors for a 56-52 victory. The Warriors were fresh from their first win last Saturday night, but found it hard to stick with the quicker and more elusive Lightning who never stopped running. The Warriors jumped out to a 11-8 first quarter lead as Carolyn Nyhouse (29 rebounds!) worked her stuff inside the keyway, but the young Lightning outfit struck back in the second quarter with a 19-11 run that put them in front 27-22 at the half. The game see-sawed during the second half with the Lightning hanging on for a much deserved win. Chelsea Cook top scored for Lightning with 17 and was backed up by Sarah Carbone with 11. The Warrior’s Nyhouse, who is proving to be a powerhouse inside the keyway (she had 25pts in Saturday nights game), took game honour’s with a season high 30.  

Ladder:       Tracy Village Jets & Uni Rebels & Ansett 7-2, Lightning 3-6, Eagles 2-7 & Warriors 1-8

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

League MEN – Eagles v Tracy Village Jets           

Best game of the night on Tuesday was the arch-rival matchup between the Eagles and Tracy Village Jets. The Bombers won this affair, but needed a flurry at the end of the game to clinch it. The final score line of 67-64 tells the tale. After Saturday night’s loss to the Rebels the Jets needed to make amends and Captain Michael MacLean did just that as he made three critical free throws at the end of the game to seal the win. MacLean (13) and Travis Ellis (22) forged the win, scoring the last 15 points for the Bombers as they overhauled the Eagle lead. Buster Perkins from the Eagles was the thorn in the side for the Jets as he kept the birds in front until he fouled out with just minutes remaining. And the Jets jumped ahead as soon as possible, applying pressure to any Eagle with the ball in his hands. Perkins finished with a team and game high 33. The win by the Jets puts them with the Eagles in a tie for third on the ladder. Half the Bombers points were scored by the bench whereas the Eagles only got 2 from theirs.

Ansett v Lightning

Ansett stayed on top of the ladder with a 115-50 win against Lightning who were further demoralized but the serious ankle injury sustained by Cameron Bailey early in the game. The Blues enjoyed a fairly easy win with five player’s putting up double figures with Daniel Florance backing up his 25 point performance in Saturday night’s win with 28 in this game (23 in the first half). The writing was on the wall after a 32-14 run by Ansett in the first quarter sparked by Florence who hit 12 of his game high during the run. Brodie Hertel (10) and Tony Halikos put in solid efforts for Lightning, but there was no containing the running Blues as they racked up the points. Dean Peachey also put up double figures for Lightning with 10.

Uni Rebels v Warriors

Andre Moss dumped 50 points on the Warriors as the Uni Rebels cemented second place on the ladder with a 127-51 win. Moss had 36pts in the Rebels win on Saturday night and the scoring spree keeps Moss just over 40 points per game at 40.5! This is the largest ever average for League men at this stage of a competition.  Rebels dominated the paint 72pts to 32. Moss had plenty of help with four other players in double figures with newcomer Zane Meehl dropping in 23 to lead the rest. Coach John Culbertson led the Warrior scoring with 11. The game was virtually over in the first quarter as the Rebels piled on 40-15.

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

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