The Miles Toyota Premier League Championship games will perfectly mirror our mid-season Hoben and Patron Trophy Finals
1-2 September 2018 Weekend Club Semi-Finals Report. Written by Bruce Martin and James Lissaman. Photos courtsey Lisa Rooney
Miles Toyota Premier Men’s League
The University of Canterbury and Gators will face off on Saturday September 15th to decide the Miles Toyota Premier Men’s Club Basketball Championship after both sides won their respective Semi-finals on Saturday in Cowles stadium.
It has been a long patient wait for UC head Coach Piet Van Hasselt. University last won the championship in 1997, 98 and 99.
University had the greater depth on its bench and played a more consistent game as it beat Atami 81-66 after leading 48-37 at half-time. Atami were not done then though, as they closed to trail 55-60 by the third break but University held strong. University also landed a 27-18 point advantage from three-point territory and also led 17-5 with second chance points, a decided advantage as the pressure rose.
Spearheading the students attack was Canadian Konrad Tota who shot from all over the court, including 3-4 triples. Tota totalled a polished 25 points while Nathan Campbell 16, Josh Petermann 14, Brent Fisher 14 all added depth to University’s scoreline and defence.
Atami had their chances but the depth of the UC bench and their starting five were just too good on the day. Atami did gain 26-6 from points off the bench players. Joel Jeffrey (14) and Paul McFarlin (12) plugged away for Atami with support from Zacc Dwan 10 and Patrick Roger 10 but lacked accuracy when it mattered most. Derek Albertsen was well contained, restricted to just six points instead of reprising his match-winning role from last week.
Gators clinched the other Grand Finals berth with an 81-71 victory over Pioneer Pacers. Gators’ moves were set up by the evergreen Dave Langrell. Although Langrellonly scored 10, he was a major threat at all times, especially on defence. Langrell collected 13 rebounds, 12 at the defensive end and added seven assists for good measure. Gators also scored from the charity line, sinking 22 against Atami’s 10. Middleton Grange’s Ben Carlile-Smith showed heaps of potential with 16 points while the experienced Jozef Knottenbelt added 14 to Gators’ cause.
Chalmers who played nearly the whole 40 minutes for Gators was unstoppable (24 points and nine rebounds) while Pioneer’s shooting percentage just wasn’t good enough on the day.
Pacers’ Marty Davison was well contained by Gators, restricted to just seven points but he managed eight rebounds and a huge 12 assists. Nick Erwood was also strong about the boards with 12 rebounds and eight points.
Miles Toyota Premier Women’s League
Patron’s trophy winner Lincoln University will face the defending champion North Canterbury in the Grand Final of the Miles Toyota Premier Women’s Basketball League.
North Canterbury came to play to reverse a recent loss to Halswell and carried out the first semi-final with a 70-48 win. North Canterbury’s Coach Wade Parata had his players chasing every loose ball and trapping the Halswell defence time and time again, forcing errors from which North Canterbury capitalized.
North Canterbury’s two National junior representatives Charlotte Whittaker and Helen Mathews each slotted 20 points in contrasting styles. Mathews made the plays especially in the first half while Whittaker, well-marked by Halswell, found range from just inside the arc in the second spell. Ash Fane along with Sila Morris, Northern Irish International Caoimhe Colgan, and Reneee Tuhikarama added to the depth on the North Canterbury bench while the Wairau sisters, Laken and Sapphire, each scored 14 points, as they carried the workload for Halswell. Halswell’s other key players, Rachel Pullan, Alice Sproat and Grace Love were tightly contained.
Lincoln University had a slightly more comfortable 70-46 win over Wolverines but it was a courageous effort by Wolverines which finished the season strongly, upsetting Lincoln 69-68 along the way and Minties 65-57 to win a semi-final berth.
Canterbury Wildcat Connie Poletti was at her best, scoring an impressive 35 points and dominating the boards while former Tall-Fern Shea Crotty (14) organized the Lincoln attack. Caitlin Grice and Ajiah Pepe also worked hard to maintain LU’s control.
Letitia Mullaly (18) was the mainstay for Wolverines while Canterbury Wildcat Tessa Stewart-Morrison scored 12 points for Wolverines.
Men’s U23
The four year reign in the Men’s U23 grade has officially come to an end with the defending champion Lincoln University Bulls edged 80-78 by a buzzer beating triple pointer by Gators Green’s Josh Nickel.
Connor McLaughlan (25) and Jarred Burnett (21) led the way for Gators Green while Ben Bowie (24) and Josiah Williams (14) stood out for Lincoln University Bulls. Lincoln held a narrow 39-37 at the turnaround and extended it to 67-55 by the third quarter. Pressure in the final quarter mounted as Gators came back strong to level 77-77 before Nickel struck his match-winning basket.
The University of Canterbury remained unbeaten in the MU23 grade this season but was pushed hard by fourth placed qualifier Pioneer-Cashmere before winning 79-76.
Simon Reeves (23), Josh Petermann (17) and Jesse Campbell (17 points) carried the workload for the students while Finn Barclay slotted 20, Thomas Webley 17 and Nic Wenmoth 16 in reply for Pioneer-Cashmere.
University led 16-12 by quarter-time while Pioneer-Cashmere came back to trail 33-34 at the turn-around. The lead changed hands numerous times in the third quarter as Pioneer-Cashmere extended its lead to 58-53 but half-way through the final quarter the students regained a match winning advantage 79-76.
Other Grades
Sunday saw a series of surprises in several Semi-finals with the MD1 defending champion Atami Casa de Banos being outpointed 104-99 by fellow side and 6th seed Atami Wizards after three periods of extra-time. Atami Casa de Banos contains the former Premier players Ritchie Howell, Scott Howell and Nathan Hyde while Jason Lee (31) and Damen Waitere (25) suited for the Atami Wizards, a side which contain remnants of the Atami 2015 championship side.
Atami CdB’s Scott Howell reports “that it was a long game that’s for sure. Good performances by both teams, but the younger legs won out on the day.”
Filipino professional Ariel Mepana (16) led his fourth seeded Law Hub Checkers to victory in the other semi, disposing of second seed Pioneer Blue 82-77. His 2014 side Pilipina Askals was runner up in the 2014 championship side to Placemakers Pioneer. Placemakers, a team with a huge tradition in MD1 currently plays as Pioneer Scorpions and finished fifth in round robin play but was eliminated by Law Hub Checkers in the quarters 75-55. Key members of the Scorpions today are the Costley trio, Gareth, Duncan and Fraser and between them have won more titles than any other team, Another key team in the competition for many years is Wolverines Blue, under Jamie Graham and Nick Purcell, were the champions in 2010 and 2013 but could only manage 8th this season before being eliminated by Atami Casa de Banos in the quarters in a thrilling game.
In Women’s Division One the Cathy Hyland coached Royals upset Halswell Green 47-44, a side containing the former Canterbury representatives Sonja Akkerman and Marinda Van Vuuren while Halswell Red had a more comfortable victory over Royals Dark Horses 59-36.
The WU21 grade saw Halswell sneak home 73-72 over Gators in one semi while Lincoln University had a more comfortable victory over North Canterbury, winning 78-42.
Results were:
Miles Toyota Premier Men’s League Semi-Finals
Gators 81 (Cam Chalmers 24, 9R; Ben Carlile-Smith 16, 9R; Jozef Knottenbelt 14; David Langrell 10, 13R, 7A) Pioneer Pacers 71 (Oli Davies 23, 7R). HT: 41-33.
University 81 (Konrad Tota 25, 6R; Nathan Campbell 16, 11R; Josh Petermann 14, 6R, 7A; Brent Fisher 14, 7R) Atami 66 (Joel Jeffrey 14, 9R; Paul McFarlin 12, 4A; Zacc Dwan 10, 8R; Patrick Roger 10, 8R). HT: 48-37.
Grand Final: University vs Gators
Miles Toyota Premier Women’s League Semi-Finals
North Canterbury 70 (Charlotte Whittaker 20, Helen Mathews 20) Halswell 48 (Sapphire Wairau 14, Laken Wairau 14). HT: 31-20,
Lincoln University 70 (Connie Poletti 35, Shea Crotty 14) Wolverines 46 (Letitia Mullaly 18, Tessa Stewart-Morrison 12). HT: 38-23,
Grand Final: North Canterbury vs Lincoln University
Men’s U23 Semi-Finals
Gators Green 80 (Connor McLaughlan 25; Jarred Burnett 21) Lincoln University Bulls 78 (Ben Bowie 24; Josiah Williams 14). HT: LUB 39-37.
University 79 (Simon Reeves 23; Josh Petermann 17; Jesse Campbell 17; Jacob Mulholland 14) Pioneer-Cashmere 76 (Finn Barclay 20; Thomas Webley 17; Nic Wenmoth 16; Dylan Mahon 10; Luca Williams 10). HT: 34-33.
Grand Final: University v Gators Green
MU20A Second life Semi-Final
Gators vs Gators Green. Deferred till Tuesday 11th September
Grand Final: Pioneer-Cashmere v TBA
MU20 Dev Second life Semi-Final
Pioneer Blue 95 (Sam Campion 30; Oban Twist 26; Enda Brennan 24) UC-CBHS 78 (Isaac Dann 36; Keiran McAuley 18; Olly Kuhn 15). HT: 41-33.
Grand Final: Pioneer Blue v Gators White
Men’s Division One Semi-Finals
Atami Wizards 104 (Jason Lee 31; Damen Waitere 25; Gus Janssen 17; Stu Ramsay 13) Atami Casa de Banos 99 (Ritchie Howell 26; Scott Howell 16; Chris Johnston 16; Nathan Hyde 15; Callan Tucker 11). HT: 44-41, 3QT Atami CdB 56-55; FT: 72-72; 1OT: 84-84; 2OT: 92-92; 3OT Wizards 104-99.
Law Hub Checkers 82 (Ariel Mepana 16; John Quitiong 14; Hiram Cuyno 12) Pioneer Blue 77 (Thomas Falconer 23; Edmund Lim 22; Brian Kim 17). HT: Pioneer Blue 47-33.
Grand Final: Atami Wizard v Law Hub Checkers
Women’s Division One Semi-Finals
Royals 47 (Juanita Gear 19) Halswell Green 44 (Sonja Akkerman 10; Marinda Van Vuuren 10). HT: Halswell Green 22-18.
Halswell Red 59 (Bridget Salkeld 15; Georgia Onekawa 10) Royals Dark Horses 36 (Toni Smith-Hunwick 17; Jaclyn Parker 12). HT: 39-15.
Grand Final: Royals v Halswell Red
Women’s U21 Semi-Finals
Lincoln University 78 (Liv Clark 22; Megan Ellis 20) North Canterbury 42 (Caitlyn Woolman-Smith 10; Sinead McConchie 10). HT: 30-26
Halswell 73 (Ashlee Strawbridge 28; Violet Eaton 16; Michelle Scott 15) Gators 72 (Hannah Mischewski 29; Katie Jo van den Bogaert 13). HT: 42-29, FT: 66-66, 1OT: 73-72.
Grand Final: Lincoln University v Halswell
Special Olympics Basketball-athon Fundraiser
Saturday 8th September Avonside Girls’ High
The Special Olympics are running a bball-athon to raise funds to get Carlton Vivian to the SO World games in Abu Dhabi March 2019. All games are filled at Avonside Girls High 6am to 6pm on Saturday 8th September but Special Olympics Canterbury would appreciate some financial help as there is still a rather large amount to be raised.
Carlton is playing in all 24 games in the 12-hour period!
How can you help?
Directly sponsoring Carlton to complete this event. Special Olympics Canterbury Bank Account number is 03 0830 0356284 00 Westpac (Upper Riccarton). Please use “Carlton Donation” as a reference. If a receipt is required please email Helen Mitchell canterburyspecialo@xtra.co.nz
Many thanks – Bruce Martin and Al Robson
