Australiabasket.com All-New Zealand WBC Awards 2012 - Aug 28, 2012
Finals MVP:Jessica Bygate (187-F-92) of Nelson S. Player of the Year:Jessica Bygate (187-F-92) of Nelson S. Guard of the Year:Aroha Jennings (179-F/G-84) of Rotorua LV Forward of the Year:Jessica Bygate (187-F-92) of Nelson S. Center of the Year:Nicky Rampton (186-F/C-77) of Nelson S. Junior Player of the Year:Stella Beck (177-F-95) of Hutt Valley Coach of the Year:Tatjana Zizic of Nelson S.
Nelson Sparks have taken out the 2012 Womens Basketball Championship, trouncing Waitakere West Auckland 61-40 in the final at Dunedin.
Last years runners-up maintained their unbeaten record through the playoffs tournament, taking the initiative with a nine-point run in the opening quarter and never looking back. They had a 17-point lead at halftime and their advantage never fell below 14 over the final 20 minutes.
Nelson Sparks have taken out the 2012 Womens Basketball Championship, trouncing Waitakere West Auckland 61-40 in the final at Dunedin. Last years runners-up maintained their unbeaten record through the playoffs tournament, taking the initiative with a nine-point run in the opening quarter and never looking back. They had a 17-point lead at halftime and their advantage never fell below 14 over the final 20 minutes.
In a line-up filled with experienced performers, Nelson were led by youngsters Jessica Bygate (187-F-92) (10 points/12 rebounds) and Shannon Perrett (11 points), supported by the balanced scoring of Jodi Hikuroa, Lisa Book and Jane Gowans (eight points each).
The Sparks dominated the boards, grabbing 20 offensive rebounds and outscoring their rivals 20-8 in the paint. Defensively, they held the Rangers to just 20% shooting from the field, blocking six shots in the process five by veteran centre Nicky Rampton.
Only Junior Tall Ferns forward Penina Davidson (189-F-95) offered any answer for debutants Waitakere, scoring 15 points from 9/11 free-throw shooting.
Defending champions Otago Oceana Goldrush defeated previous champions Harbour Breeze 54-49, while Waikato Wizards took out the plate final, overrunning Canterbury Wildcats 68-46.
Womens Basketball Championship Edgar Centre, Dunedin Saturday, August 25 9am Ninth/10th playoff Southland Kelvin Hotel Pearls 51 (Elise Cassidy (171-G-87) 15, Te Huinga Selby Rickett 13) Rotorua Lady Vols 53 (Danielle Marks (168-G-97) 18, Hana Tapiata 12)
Nelson Sparks will face Waitakere West Auckland for the 2012 Womens Basketball Championship in Dunedin tomorrow.
Runners-up last year, the Sparks earned a spot in the final, beating former champions Harbour Breeze 62-57 in the first semifinal.
After an opening half where the lead was never more than a few points, Harbour was up by three at the break and stretched their advantage to seven soon after play restarted.
They couldnt hold it. Brooke Blairs three-pointer on the buzzer gave the Breeze a two-point lead into the final quarter, but a 12-1 run midway through the period propelled the Sparks into a strong position and they were able to close the contest out.
Nelson centre Nicky Rampton dominated around the basket for 16 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, while Jelena Vucinic shot 7/10 from the free-throw line among her 13 points.
The other semifinal went down to the wire, with debutants Waitakere gaining an upper hand over defending champions Otago Oceana Goldrush in the second quarter and held a 12-point advantage just after halftime.
Otago closed to within a point with 21 seconds remaining, but had to foul to get the ball back and Westie point guard Amanda Buck made their free-throws for a 57-52 victory.
In the plate division, Canterbury Wildcats became the last unbeaten team left in the playoffs, toppling Waikato Wizards 59-46 in the afternoon. But they lost their unblemished record with a loss to Southland Kelvin Hotel Pearls in the evening.
Womens Basketball Championship Edgar Centre, Dunedin Friday, August 24 9am Waikato Wizards 74 (Rhiah Spooner-Knight 17, Aimee Firmin (175-F-80) 11, Miriam Slatter 11, Leanne Walker 10) Rotorua Lady Vols 34 (Makayla Daysh (180-F-95) 16)
Kelvin Hotel Southland Pearls 75 (Morgan Hunter 16, Elise Cassidy (171-G-87) 16, Te Huinga Selby-Rickett 14, Bailey McDougall 14) Palmerston North Storm 56 (Bridgette Lawn 16, Danielle Pomare-Mackay 15)
Palmerston North Storm 31 (Shanice Swain 8) Rotorua Lady Vols 54 (Makayla Daysh 24, Tania Neale 10)
5pm Semifinal one Nelson Sparks 67 (Nicky Rampton 16, Jelena Vucinic 13, Kat Jones 10) Harbour Breeze 57 (Rebecca Van Kuyk 14, Brooke Blair 13, Shinae Blair 10) (G3)
7pm Semifinal two Otago Oceana Goldrush 52 (Danielle Calnan (176-G-85) 14, Soraya Umaga-Jensen 12) Waitakere West Auckland 57 (Te Oramae Soloman 14, Adoniah Lewis 11) (G4)
