If they hoped to sneak into the 2013 Womens Basketball Championship playoffs without fanfare, Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers have gone the wrong way about it.
The Wellington region representatives in the competition obviously learnt nothing from last year, when they were top qualifiers out of the preliminary rounds with a 9-1 record, but came a cropper over finals weekend [read more]
If they hoped to sneak into the 2013 Womens Basketball Championship playoffs without fanfare, Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers have gone the wrong way about it.
The Wellington region representatives in the competition obviously learnt nothing from last year, when they were top qualifiers out of the preliminary rounds with a 9-1 record, but came a cropper over finals weekend.
Because this year, despite suffering their first loss of the season to Oceana Gold Rush Otago last night, they have again emerged as the team to beat.
Last year, we had a couple of injuries to key players that took the steam out of the last tournament, reflects coach Shawn Beck , who was then assistant to current assistant Denise Morgan.
Thats just part of the game. But this year, Im extremely happy with the way theyre playing and loving the intensity theyre taking to the court.
Theyre gelling together really, really well. There are no weak spots on the whole squad and were able to use a deep bench.
Leading the way is the coachs daughter Junior Tall Fern Stella Beck (177-F-95) who has emerged as the competitions leading scorer this weekend.
But while dad is obviously proud of his girl Shes a nice balance between aggression and smarts he insists shes far from a one-woman band.
Shes got a fantastic group around her. Quite a few of the other players have stepped up in their fitness and playing ability.
After last year, I think they decided that wasnt going to happen again.
Beck was one of those to fall during the WBCs home stretch, a blow to the mouth knocking loose teeth and requiring eight stitches. Forward Jess Slade blew out a knee in the preliminary rounds and has had to restrict herself to support duties so far this season.
That was just a bit of bad luck, really, says Coach Beck.
This year, the first two tournaments have really been about making the top six, developing the team and developing the game, and getting ready for the final tournament.
Thats when the rubber really hits the road. Everything that happens up to that point is pretty much irrelevant.
If that sounds like a competition leader desperately still trying to claim underdog status, its because the Flyers have been here before and it didnt work out so well.
A closing win over Harbour Breeze today would see Hutt Valley-Porirua match their 2012 regular-season success.
But last year was full of lessons for the upstarts and one of them was not to get too far ahead of yourselves.
Teams change from one round to the next, says Coach Beck. You cant take any game for granted and you dont know what teams will look like when they turn up for the next round.
Keep watching this space.
WBC Game On Newsletter, May 5
Delayed streaming available here.
Womens Basketball Championship Christchurch Sunday, May 5
Auckland Lady Hawks 79 (Stevee-Rose Theyers 18, Amanda Buck 15, Emma Gillespie 10, Penina Davidson 10) Rotorua Lady Vols 61 (Aroha Haumaha 22, Nadine Stone 11, Gaby Adams 11)
Oceana Gold Rush Otago 67 (Kali Bennett (195-F/C, college: Arizona St.) 20, Suzie Bates 14, Samara Gallaher 11) Nelson Sparks 50 (Hana Wilkinson 16, Jodi Hikuroa 10, Nicki Rampton 10) Harbour Breeze 83 (Jaycin Tini 19, Deena Franklin 19, Anna Lacey 15, Hope Thompson 11) Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers 61 (Jacinta Beckley 18, Stella Beck 14, Margaret Scott 10)
Waikato Wizards 64 (Miriam Slatter 16, Jaimee Agnew 13) Good Home Taranaki Thunder 36 (Toni Sharader 12)
The 2013 Womens Basketball Championship lost its last unbeaten team, as Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers fell 70-84 to former champions Oceana Gold Rush Otago in Christchurch.
Twenty-four hours after dispatching previously unbeaten Waikato Wizards to take sole possession of top spot on the competition table, the Flyers trailed throughout the game, but finally lost contact with their southern rivals when they conceded nine unanswered points in the third quarter [read more]
The 2013 Womens Basketball Championship lost its last unbeaten team, as Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers fell 70-84 to former champions Oceana Gold Rush Otago in Christchurch.
Twenty-four hours after dispatching previously unbeaten Waikato Wizards to take sole possession of top spot on the competition table, the Flyers trailed throughout the game, but finally lost contact with their southern rivals when they conceded nine unanswered points in the third quarter.
Former Olympian Suzie Bates led the way for Otago with 21 points (6/12 FG, 2/5 3pt, 7/8 FT) and six assists, while Danielle Calnan contributed 20 points and Kali Bennett had a double double of 16 points/11 rebounds.
Margaret Scott (176-G-90) had 18 points/eight rebounds for the Flyers.
After their loss yesterday, Waikato had their hands full again with home team Canterbury today, trailing for most of the contest, before finally emerging 71-66 ahead.
Behind by 10 points at halftime, the Wiz finally took their winning lead with little more than two minutes remaining. Forward Miriam Slatter (178-F-90) led all scorers with 19 points.
WBC Game On Newsletter, May 4
Womens Basketball Championship Christchurch Saturday, May 4 Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers 81 (Margaret Scott 17, Stella Beck 16, Donna Fermanis 12) Good Home Taranaki Thunder 40 (Toni Sharader 9)
Harbour Breeze 76 (Anna Lacey 15, Brooke Blair 13, Chelsea Terei 12) Rotorua Lady Vols 52 (Aroha Haumaha 13)
Auckland Lady Hawks 50 (Penina Davison 18) Nelson Sparks 46 (Nicki Rampton 14, Kat Jones 12, Lily Hospers 10)
Waikato Wizards have overcome the politics to finally put themselves back in contention for the New Zealand womens basketball crown.
After progressing unbeaten through the 2013 Womens Basketball Championship opening round in Rotorua last month, the Wizards lost their unblemished sheet yesterday in a top-of-the-table clash with Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers, falling 54-64 [read more]
Waikato Wizards have overcome the politics to finally put themselves back in contention for the New Zealand womens basketball crown.
After progressing unbeaten through the 2013 Womens Basketball Championship opening round in Rotorua last month, the Wizards lost their unblemished sheet yesterday in a top-of-the-table clash with Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers, falling 54-64.
Forward Stella Beck starred for the Flyers with 24 points/12 rebounds, while Junior Tall Ferns team-mate Rhaiah Spooner-Knight had 16 points for the Wiz.
After opening up a 17-point lead before halftime, Waikato were still up by eight heading into the home stretch. But HV Porirua reeled off 17 unanswered points in the final period to leave their opponents standing.
Still, its a far cry from recent seasons, when the powerful Waikato association with a proud record of achievement in womens competition fielded two rival teams in the WBC, one filled with experienced campaigners and the other with promising teenagers.
That was one of the things I said when I took over, reflects coach Puke Lenden, another with tremendous playing experience in the mens NBL.
I wanted the best players on the team and I told them to just player let me deal with all the politics.
In his first season at the helm, Lenden guided his team to the WBC plate essentially the consolation prize for finishing just outside the top six but that was just a hint of the potential within his roster.
This year, its been ever better its awesome.
Young talents like Chelseah Savage, Dionne Martin, Kalani Purcell and Spooner-Knight have combined with the old heads like former Tall Ferns captain Leanne Walker (169-G-68) and Natasha Lenden (169-G-81) to produce the best from both worlds.
Purcell, in particular, was a revelation at Rotorua, putting up huge games against Harbour Breeze (18 points/15 rebounds/six assists/six steals) and champions Oceana Gold Rush Otago (26 points/14 rebounds), and featuring prominently in most statistical categories for the weekend.
But Waikato achieved their 4-0 record without the services of Spooner-Knight, who had starred (21 points/11 rebounds) in last years plate victory over Canterbury Wildcats. She sprained an ankle the week before this seasons opening round, necessitating a change to Lendens starting five, but shes back for this weekend.
I was surprised by our performance in Rotorua, but probably more surprised by other teams that werent as strong as last year, he said.
But one thing we learned last year was that every game matters. Last year, we lost three or four games by 5-6 points and you cant do that.
We also learned that each round is completely different from one month to the next, which is quite good. It gives you a chance to go home, take a break and think about what you did right or wrong.
A lot of girls play in the States and they come back in for the next round, which is what you want you want the best players out there. Courtesy of: http://www.basketball.org.nz
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