June 15, 2014

Photo:  Tracy Village Jet Sam Rioli led the Bombers to a grand final win against the Uni Rebels

Challenge Season

Darwin Airport Resort League Results from Saturday 14 June 2014

Grand Finals

League Women – Tracy Village Jets v Uni Rebels

The Tracy Village Jets claimed their fourth straight Challenge Season Championship with a dominant 57-40 victory over the Uni Rebels. As expected the Bombers went on the attack from the outset, taking an 11-8 first quarter lead and never looking back. The Rebels were pinged by the referees for 9 first quarter fouls as they tried to take control of the game, but the effort only sent the Bombers to the line where they hit 7 of their 11 points to gain the upper hand. Sam Rioli and Tania Dhu then took charge for the Bombers in the second quarter when they combined for 13 points during a Bomber 17-10 run that gave them a 28-18 half time lead. After the break Jaylene Bonson and Tamara Sheppard tried to rally the Rebels before they slipped any further behind, but the Bombers weathered the challenge to win the quarter 12-11. Defensively the Bombers were on target holding Bonson and Sheppard to their season averages while the rest of the Rebels struggled to score. The Jets looked poised to claim another championship as the game swung into the last quarter with them leading 40-29. Tania Dhu put the Bombers on the path to victory with a three pointer to start the fourth quarter and the team responded with another polished finish, running out winners with a 17-11 run. Tracy Village Jet court captain Sam Rioli led all scorers with 19 points, Abby Cubillo hit 12 and Dhu finished up with 10. For the Uni Rebels Bonson had 13 points and Sheppard had 12. For the record the Bombers hit 17 points from the charity stripe to just 6 for the Rebels

Ladder after Grand Final:                           Tracy Village Jets 16-1, Uni Rebels 13-5, Palmerston 8-9, Eagles 6-10, Lightning 4-11 & Ansett 2-13

League Men – Lightning v Uni Rebels

The Uni Rebels flashed back into the winner’s circle with a comprehensive 107-81 Grand Final win against the Lightning. The Rebels hadn’t won or even appeared in a grand final since 2011. They won this one from fourth place on the ladder and did it convincingly with Tim Morris and John King dominating the scoring. Morris hit 33 and King 32 in another impressive display of their scoring talent. Jamie Hamill stepped up as well, nailing five treys in his total of 15 points and Lucci Cornelius (14) and Jake Kirby (10) rounded out the Rebel scoring. The first quarter was a battle with the Lightning taking a 23-22 lead, but that was short lived as the Rebels charged out into the front with a huge 36-19 run that put Lightning well back at half time 58-42. And the Rebels didn’t let up, powering away on a 31-19 third quarter run to put the game out of reach of the Lightning. The Lightning won the last quarter 20-18, but the night belonged to the Rebels. The Rebels put up 30 points worth of three pointers and 20 points worth of free throws during the game. Lightning had four players in double figures, but nothing to match up with Morris and King. Cameron Bailey hit 17, Craig Martin 15, and Karsten Oltrop & Thomas Godwin had 11 each for the Lightning.

The Rebels set a new Grand Final scoring record with 107 points eclipsing the old mark of 98 set by the Waratahs in 1989 and the total points for the game is a new record as well with the teams combining for 188 points.

Ladder after Grand Final:                          Ansett 10-6, Lightning 10-5, Eagles 10-6, Uni Rebels 11-6, Tracy Village Jets 6-7, Palmerston 4-9 & Razzle 1-13

Ladders have been left in final placings after completion of minor rounds