Basketball New Zealand

Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/vhosts/basketball.org.nz/httpdocs/resources/uploads/2007/05/wharemate_nonila_151462-edit.thumbnail.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/bbnz/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /home/bbnz/domains/tallblacks.org.nz/public_html/wp-includes/post.php on line 3943

NZ Tall Fern Noni Wharemate (Photosport)

NZ Tall Fern captain Noni Wharemate led Curves Harbour Breeze as they ran their dominance of the Women’s Basketball League northern conference to 10 straight wins with an 83-44 result over nearest rivals Waikato.

Bolstered by the presence of five current or past internationals and now American Jennifer Lingor, the Breeze blew their guests away with a 26-5 second quarter and never allowed them the sniff of a comeback.

Wharemate led all scorers with 18 points (7/16 FG, 1/6 3pt, 3/3 FT), new Fern Natalie Purcell had 15 points, five rebounds and five steals, while centre Karlene Kingi contributed a ìdouble doubleî (10 points/12 rebounds) in 15 minutes off the bench.

Centre Jo Kailahi was the only scorer in double figures for Waikato with 17 points.

Harbourís advantage on the points table was consolidated when defending national champions Auckland, missing Tall Ferns Lisa Wallbutton and Jess McCormack, were upset for the second time in as many weeks, falling 62-73 to Massey Fever.

Meanwhile, veteran Nola Wainohu produced a pair of ìdouble doublesî as Wellington turned the tables on Hutt Valley in the second tournament of central conference play.

After falling by 26 points to the Hutt a week earlier, the girls from the capital emerged 76-49 victors in the rematch, also edging ahead on points differential. The conference winners will ultimately be decided in the third meeting next weekend.

Wainohu had 22 points (9/18 FG, 4/10 3pt) and 12 rebounds in the encounter and followed up with 12 points/19 rebounds in an 82-65 win over New Plymouth Girls High School to move to the top of the table.