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Harbour guard Tai Webster scored 31 points as the NZ Men maintained their unbeaten run through the Australian U16 State Championships at Logan with an 80-65 win over last year’s beaten finalists, Victoria Country.

The Kiwis, playing their second game of the day, jumped on their previously undefeated opponents with an eight point run at the end of the opening period and stretched their advantage out to 21 points as they cruised to their fourth victory of the tournament.

Webster shot 12/20 FG, 4/8 3pt, 3/6 FT to lead all scorers. New Zealand scored 22 points more in the paint and shot 52% FG.

Earlier, they had rallied from 10 points down at halftime to roll South Australia Country 74-59.

Immediately on the restart, they produced a 13-0 run that carried them past their rivals. By the end of the quarter, the Kiwis were seven points up and gone.

Waikato’s Kurt Heatherley led his team with 18 points/11 rebounds. Winless SAC actually created more scoring opportunities, but shot just 29% FG and NZ controlled their defensive boards and enjoyed a 50-32 scoring advantage in the paint.

On Wednesday, they take on Queensland South (2-2), before facing New South Wales Metro (4-0) in their final pool game on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Kiwi women, who barely survived a scare against West Australia Metro on Monday night, had to dig deep to overcome Queensland North 71-70.

They conceded 13 straight points just before halftime and trailed 27-44 at the break, but clawed their way back over the game’s dying stages.

Harbour forward Deena Franklin scored with 41s remaining to finally snatch the lead, QN tied it up with a free throw, but Waitakere forward Penina Davidson responded in kind with 16s left.

She missed her second attempt from the line, but Stella Beck grabbed the offensive board and the Kiwis played out the clock.

Davidson, who had come up the crucial three-point play the previous night, recorded another double double with 18 points/12 rebounds, while Franklin also had 18 points (9/16 FG).

New Zealand made their comeback even tougher than it should have been with an anemic 6/22 (27%) return from the charity stripe, but battled hard to create chances elsewhere.

They also have two more games in pool play, against Northern Territory (0-4) on Wednesday and New South Wales Country (2-2) Thursday.

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Tuesday, July 6
Men
New Zealand 74 (Kurt Heatherley 18, Sesilili Palei 14, Tai Webster 12, Delroi Heu 11) South Australia Country 59
Q1 12-15
HT 25-35
Q3 52-45
FT 74-59

New Zealand 80 (Tai Webster 31, Sesilili Palei 13, Logan Poloai 10) Victoria Country 65
Q1 24-13
HT 40-28 (16-15)
Q3 60-44 (20-16)
FT 80-65 (20-21)

Women
New Zealand 71 (Deena Franklin 18, Penina Davidson 18, Stella Beck 17, Veshae Asaua-Wilkinson 10) Queensland North 70
Q1 15-18
HT 27-44 (12-26)
Q3 49-60 (22-16)
FT 71-70 (22-10)