Basketball New Zealand

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Both New Zealand teams ended pool play with losses and will play off for fifth place in the Australia U16 State Championships at Logan.

The women came unstuck early against New South Wales Country, giving up 11 straight points from tipoff and trailing by 15 after the opening quarter.

They hung tough through the rest of the encounter, battling their rivals even over the final three periods. With 4m 31s, the Kiwis were just three points adrift, but could not complete the comeback, finally succumbing 47-62.

Hutt Valley’s Stella Beck led her team with 14 points (5/12 FG, 4/9 FT), while Harbour forward Deena Franklin compiled a double double of 10 points/17 rebounds.

Meanwhile, the men fell off the pace during the second quarter against New South Wales Country, who extended their advantage out to 22 points before prevailing 84-70.

In the final analysis, the Kiwis could not compete with their opponents from the perimeter, shooting just 3/17 (18%) 3pt. NSW Country finished 12/23 (52%) from the arc, including 10/12 (83%) in the first half.

Harbour’s Tai Webster and Western Bay of Plenty’s Mark Kelly scored 12 points each.

Both NZ teams finished pool play with 4-2 records

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Thursday, July 8
Men
New South Wales Metro 84 New Zealand 70 (Mark Kelly 12, Tai Webster 12, Kurt Heatherley 11)
Q1 26-19
HT 55-43 (29-24)
Q3 71-52 (16-9)
FT 84-70 (13-18)

Women
New South Wales Country 62 New Zealand 47 (Stella Beck 14, Penina Davidson 12, Deena Franklin 10)
Q1 21-6
HT 34-19 (13-13)
Q3 43-36 (9-17)
FT 62-47 (19-11)