Basketball New Zealand

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Point guard Noni Wharemate showed the benefits of her Beijing Olympic campaign by steering Harbour Breeze to a 93-57 win over Otago in the final of the North Harbour Invitational Women’s Tournament.

The hosts gave their rivals no chance of competing, running out to a big lead early and never allowing them back into the contest.

Wharemate led all scorers with 19 points, but found ample support from fellow guard Chelsea Terei and veteran internationals Jody Tini and Charmian Purcell. Olympian Suzie Bates was the best of the southerners with 16 points.

Otago had qualified for the final by edging New Plymouth 85-80 in the semifinals, overcoming 37 points from guard Zoe Kensington. Harbour had overcome Waikato Cougars 76-61 in their closest game of the three-day tournament.

North Harbour Invitational Women’s Tournament

North Shore
Saturday, September 20
Semifinals
Otago 85 (Elise Cassidy 26, Suzie Bates 25) New Plymouth 80 (Zoe Kensington 37, Molly McCullum 20)
Harbour 76 (Charmian Purcell 27, Noni Wharemate 16) Waikato 61 (Austen Rarere 10)

Playoffs
Counties Manukau 60 (Aleesha Coulter 13) Massey 59 (Karmyn Wynyard 18)
Wellington 77 (Melissa Letoa 31, Sezen Mercan 15) Waitakere 58 (Emma Gillespie 14, Mieke Elkington 12)

Final
Harbour 93 (Noni Wharemate 19, Chelsea Terei 14, Jody Tini 11, Charmian Purcell 10) Otago 57 (Suzie Bates 16, Natalie Purcell 12)