Basketball New Zealand

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Curves Harbour Breeze WBL Champions (Syliva Wilkins)

Back at the scene of the crime, Curves Harbour Breeze made up for the disappointment of losing last yearís national final with a comprehensive 82-63 win over Waikato Lady Titans for the 2007 Womenís Basketball League title.

On the same AUT Northcote court that saw them bow to Auckland by a point less than 12 months earlier, the home side were several levels above their playoff opponents on this occasion, the scoreline in the final in no way reflective of their dominance.

ìWeíve had a year to get over that loss,î said coach Brett Goebel. ìWe werenít going to go down again.î

After annihilating Wellington Swish by 44 in the semis, the Breeze broke free of their northern conference rivals with 11 unanswered points to end the opening quarter, an outburst that featured three treys from Tall Fern forward Natalie Purcell. When they scored the first five points of the second term, the rout was on.

The lead was 51-32 at halftime, the Breeze had another 10-point outburst soon after the restart and stretched their advantage out to 35 points early in the fourth period, before Goebel gave his entire bench a taste of the game down the stretch.

Waikato had 17 straight points against the benchwarmers to lend some respectability to the score.

ìWe knew they definitely had the experience and would battle us all night to the end,î said Goebel. ìBut we also knew fitness would be a factor and they wouldnít have the legs to keep with us.î

Said Harbour captain Noni Wharemate: ìThey were smart and used the right tactics against us Ö they slowed the game down because they knew we were a running team.

ìThey just werenít scoring out of their offence.î

In truth, the outside shooting of Purcell and American Jenny Lingor paved the way for their teamís success. Purcell, who shot 6/6 3pt in the semi, went 7/10 from the arc for her 21 points in the final, while Lingor had four treys among her 18 points.

ìBefore Natalie and Jenny joined us late in the season, we probably werenít a great outside shooting team,î admitted Goebel. ìSince they arrived, it has been lights out.î

Purcell was deservedly named Most Valuable Player of the playoffs and will now take her hot form to China with the national team.

Centre Jo Kailahi was the best of the Lady Titans with 20 points (8/19 FG, 4/7 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and a block.

In the playoff for third/fourth, Turkish point guard Sezen Mercan exploded for 31 points (10/23 FG, 2/8 3pt, 9/9 FT), five rebounds, five assists and four steals as Wellington overran Otago Goldrush in the final quarter for a 81-62 victory.

Womenís Basketball League
North Shore
Saturday, June 9
Final
Curves Harbour Breeze 82 (Natalie Purcell 21, Jenny Lingor 18, Jody Tini 11) Waikato Lady Titans 63 (Jo Kalahi 20, Tasha Lenden 16)
Quarter 23-11
Halftime 51-32 (28-21)
Threequarter 73-45 (22-13)
Fulltime 82-63 (9-18)

Consolation Final
Wellington Swish 81 (Sezen Mercan 31, Nola Wainohu 21, Kate Hockings 10) Otago 62 (Elise Cassidy 23)
Quarter 14-15
Halftime 31-28 (17-13)
Threequarter 51-49 (20-21)
Fulltime 81-62 (30-13)

Tournament Team
Jo Kailahi (Waikato Lady Titans), Jenny Lingor (Curves Harbour Breeze), Sezen Mercan (Wellington Swish), Natalie Purcell (Curves Harbour Breeze), Noni Wharemate (Curves Harbour Breeze)

Most Valuable Player
Natalie Purcell (Curves Harbour Breeze)