Sam Watkins recaps the Foot Locker Women’s U20 National Basketball Championship, held over King’s Birthday
This preview is reproduced with permission from the Author (Sam Watkins), original article can be seen here
Banner Image “2024 U20 National Champions: Canterbury Basketball. Photo BBNZ”
The Canterbury Women’s U20 side have defended their National title against a gritty Tauranga side. Appearing in the last four finals, Canterbury seems to have put the heartbreak of the first two losses behind them to improve their finals record to 2–2.
A strong start by the home team was countered early as Tauranga was able to put aside some early nerves and settle into the game well, getting some much-needed scoring from their role players as Canterbury did their best to tame the three-headed monster of Olivia Lassey, Rangikahiwa Cooney and Anika Hyland. After being all tied up at the end of the first, the outside shooting that kept Tauranga in the game started to dry up and Canterbury began to look as though they were about to run away with the game, going on a 28–12 run into the early stages of the third quarter.
Tauranga wasn’t finished and was determined to prove that they were just as deserving of a national title, using a combination of pressuring defence and more hot outside shooting to go on a 24–8 run to tie the game at 56–56 with 4:37 left to play. Canterbury was left looking for an answer to the response from Tauranga and found life in the play of Junior Tall Fern Kavanah Lene, responsible for 8 of Canerbury’s final 12 points including a tough 3-point dagger with just under a minute to play. Canterbury’s play down the stretch enough to hold off the last-ditch efforts from Tauranga, and secure their second title in as many years.
Early on Canterbury looked like they would once again be the team to hoist the trophy at the end of the weekend, winning their first four games by an average of 66 points before entering the Semi-finals against a quick Waikato side. The repeat of the previous year’s final didn’t disappoint as we were treated to yet another instant classic between the two sides. 29 turnovers forced by Waikato gave them every opportunity for revenge as they put up 30 more shot attempts than the Cantabrians but couldn’t consistently find a way to crack the defence to take any clear advantage. Consistent play from All-Star 5 members Hana Lacey and Ashlyn Rean kept Canterbury in control of the game and into a 76–86 victory.
In other South Island action, Canterbury B put a couple tough days behind them to finish with a couple greats win to finish their tournament on a high. Their 5th/6th playoff was a match-up with fellow Southerners Otago. After being all tied up going into the final quarter the young Canterbury side was able to string multiple strong possessions on both ends of the floor to earn themselves a 69–57 victory and finish 5th overall.
