Marc Juntilla top-scored with 26 points for his Ashburton College side in their win over Lincoln High School on Tuesday night. Photo Erin TaskerAshburton College’s senior girls’ basketball team ticked off one of their 2018 goals on Tuesday night, beating Cashmere 86-51 at the Oxford Street Stadium to see them into the Whelan Trophy’s play-off for sixth spot.

Ranked last in the division one competition heading into the Canterbury secondary schools’ basketball competition, next week’s play-off for sixth against Middleton meant they would finish higher than their seeding, which coach Mark Douglas said was one of their goals at the start of the competition.

Douglas said the win over Cashmere was his side’s best defensive effort of the season.

“After making some adjustments at halftime and increasing the work-rate the team were able to apply pressure up the court leading to scoring off turnover ball.

“Swish Pierce and Raspberry Strawbridge did a great job of getting in the passing lanes and disrupting their flow, along with Sam Tuck and Sophie Adams in the middle of the press,” Douglas said.

“Summer Anderson and Tessa Thompson were rocks at the back and along with Taryn Douglas passing bullets to the post, Alena Patterson driving the lane and Tessa Thompson making shots, the whole team were locked in and playing some exciting basketball.”

After taking on Middleton in the play-off next week, the Ashburton girls would head to the South Island championships in Invercargill with the goal of qualifying for the nationals.

Meanwhile, in the boys’ Thomson Trophy division two competition, the Ashburton College boys picked up an impressive 116-56 win over Lincoln High School.

Lincoln were vying for a play-off position and on a 3-0 run heading into the game, with guard Cody Wareham averaging close to 36 points for those last three games, and Ashburton’s key to success was negating his effectiveness, Ashburton College coach Brian Kerr said.

Ashburton employed a full court zone press and caused major problems for Lincoln as they regularly turned the ball over gifting easy layups.

Along with the easy fast break baskets, Abel Wilson slotted a trio of three pointers to help his side gallop away to a 32–6 lead at the end of the first quarter, with strong defensive play by the Ashburton guards only allowing the Lincoln danger man a solitary basket.

The second quarter continued in the same vein, with the Ashburton guards smothering Wareham, while their offence found the mark from the perimeter, landing six more three- pointers.

Only when Ashburton’s zone press began to tire a little did Lincoln find a bit more freedom to score, but the damage had been done and Ashburton went into the halftime break up 68–25.

Kerr said it was a game that virtually ended after the first quarter.

“This was the best the boys had run the zone press this season.  They were hungry and just played good trapping defence,” Kerr said.

“They also transitioned well once we scored to get into their positions to run the press.  The best parts were when changes were made to the starters – the guys off the bench kept up that transition and intensity.”

Kerr said Quinn Ritchie did a particularly good job of not allowing Wareham any space, while Abel Wilson had a good return knocking down five three pointers for his tally of 21.

Marc Juntilla also terrorised the Lincoln guards, top-scoring with 26 points and Penuel Pantaleon added 16 with another good all-round display. Fotu Hala also netted 23 points.

“He’s got a complete game.  He’s a strong rebounder, is a good perimeter shooter and dangerous on the drive to the basket, plus he has a good read of the game,” Kerr said.

“He is a pivot in the transition from defence to offence which allows our fast break to function. Most pleasing is his consistency.”

He said it was a good game for building confidence and for all players, including the bench, to feeling part of that overall team dynamic.

“We had a plan for this game, which the boys implemented and then stuck to it really well.  Really pleased with the effort.”

 By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 7 August 2018