Youth overcame experience as the Ashburton College boys beat Team Donkey in the latest round of Basketball Mid Canterbury’s men’s A grade competition on Wednesday night.

The College side’s 79-76 win at the Oxford Street stadium was only their third of the competition, and just the Donkeys’ second loss, as the competition’s third round got under way.

It was an exciting encounter, with College A matching up to the more experienced Team Donkey side and holding them well, but Team Donkey were good at exploiting mismatches and took a 21-19 lead into the second quarter.

Team Donkey continued to work well offensively and edged further ahead in the second, but College finished well keeping the halftime score to 40–34.

The all telling third quarter was a game changer, College coach Brian Kerr said.

College started off well, managing to hit from range and increasing their speed up the court which allowed them to drive more freely.

Fotu Hala hit the first seven points for his side, but it was the diminutive Thomas Patterson who stole the show.

He hit a trio of three pointers in a row, as well as two audacious drives, netting 13 points in a two-minute spree and suddenly College were back in front and on a roll.

Like the good team they were, Team Donkey fought back and threatened the lead, but College maintained their cool, taking a 63–55 lead into the fourt.

Team Donkey challenged as College continued to hit early baskets, and eventually the Donkeys drew even, and a tense final few minutes ensued.

A Sam Pearce three-pointer gave College a five point lead, before Pip Johnston got one back to reduce it to two, before a late foul saw Liam Sullivan sink a free throw which pushed College out to a three-point lead.

With 13 seconds to go, Team Donkey called a time out and set up a play needing a three to draw, but College were up to the task and denied them a decent look at the basket to take it 79-76.

With Quinn Ritchie missing through injury, and the fact Fotu Hala fouled out halfway through the fourth, the win extra good, Kerr said.

He said Patterson’s third quarter shooting spree was the turning point, and he ended the game with 17 points, as did Pearce, while Hala added 20.

For Team Donkey, Pip Johnston again led the way with 34 points, but he was well supported by Brad van der Eik with 15 points.

The night’s other game saw Star Farmers Corner come out on top of their latest tussle with Nomads, 86-71.

Farmers Corner led 19–17 lead after the first quarter and neither side gave an inch in the second, with Nomads good inside and on the drive, and Farmers Corner shooting well.

By half-time Nomads led 38-37, but just like in the first game of the night, the third quarter was telling.

Farmers Corner outpaced Nomads, scoring freely on the fast break, whereas Nomads were unable to drop their shots and by the end of the third quarter Farmers Corner were out in front 69–48 lead. Farmers Corner won the third quarter 32–10.

From then on, Nomads were chasing hard. They managed to close up the gap to 13 points, but smart play by Farmers Corner allowed them to score points when they needed to and take the win 86–71.

For Farmers Corner, Randy Buenafe top scored with 30 points and was hugely successful on the fast break, while Marvin Agacer found his shooting form again, hitting 22 points.

For Nomads, Tony Gilbert worked hard inside top scoring with 20 points, Mikal Johnson  added 13 points, and Sam Moore finished with 12 points

© The Ashburton Guardian - 28 June 2019