Cubillo Sparkles As Gems Claim World U19s Spot in Italy Jets’ Storm
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58 SPORT SUNDAY DECEMBER 11 2016 Cubillo sparkles as Gems claim world U19s spot in Italy Jets’ storm MARC McGOWAN of New Zealand in the grand drubbing of the Kiwis. She Cubillo’s best statistical per- Fiji (122-8) before they leaves final. picked up her first points in the formance of the week was her thrashed New Caledonia 137-8 ABBY Cubillo is in line to con- Darwin-raised Cubillo, 17, second quarter – after two 12 points, six rebounds, six as- in the semi-finals. Lightning test a world championships for was Australia’s starting point early fouls saw her go to the sists, zero turnovers and one Cubillo is a Basketball Aus- the second straight year, with guard, as she was for the bench in the opening period – steal in a 134-20 group success tralia Centre of Excellence her Australian Gems emphati- Sapphires in their under-17 via an aggressive drive and over Samoa. scholarship-holder and has ex- in the dark cally qualifying yesterday for world championship victory subsequent floater. That contest was the only perienced a whirlwind two the under-19 edition in Italy in this year. The Gems never looked game other than the final years since relocating from MARC McGOWAN 2017. The defensive specialist, back after roaring to a 16-3 against New Zealand that the Darwin to Sydney then The Gems were utterly who learned her craft with lead. Gems conceded double-digit eventually Canberra. THE lights went out – and dominant all week in Fiji and Tracy Village Jets, contributed Captain Chantel Horvat’s points. The Gems progress to the stayed out for 10 minutes – but capped the Oceania tourna- five points, four rebounds, two 18 points led five Australians Australia’s other group Under-19 World Champion- last night’s Darwin women’s ment with a 107-52 smacking assists and two steals in the with at least 10 points. scalps were Tahiti (125-5) and ships in Italy next July. grand final didn’t last even that long as a contest. The Tracy Village Jets didn’t so much shoot the lights MARC McGOWAN Ansett player Jerron Jamerson on out once play resumed as pro- the attack during the pulsating duce a masterclass on how to ANSETT silenced a pro-Palmer- Darwin League Men grand final handle a big occasion. ston crowd at Marrara last night to against Palmerston at Darwin Sixteen of the Jets’ first 21 win their first Darwin League Men Basketball Stadium last night points came inside, whereas basketball title in four years. Picture: HELEN ORR Lightning had little choice but The men in blue had to survive a to try and keep pace from the ferocious challenge from the de- outside, and found themselves fending champions to complete a 19-2 down inside five minutes. superb campaign, where they won They were never going to 18 of 20 games. chase down Tracy Village. Ansett were up for most of the The Jets harassed Lightning night but scores were locked four at the defensive end, where times in the last six minutes and league-leading scorer Tikesa they lost the lead with 2:23 on the Docherty-Cole (18 points, in- clock. But the Power failed to score cluding 12 in the second peri- again after going 81-79 ahead. od) set the tone, and found Teenager Freddy Webb coolly strength in their ever-reliable nailed two free throws to tie the transition game. scores again. They were the first The sport’s most dominant points of a 14-0 run — eight of Territory force eventually them to Jerron Jamerson — as powered to their record-oblit- they finished 93-81 victors. erating 36th straight triumph, Jamerson scored 27 points and 69-53, to capture a 10th League was the hero or villain, depending Women title in a row. on what side you were on. He had a Captain Sam Rioli twisted series of heated exchanges with his her left ankle late in the third Palmerston foes but ended his period and did not return but night with a euphoric dunk. that did not dull her reaction to Brad Davis had 23 points and the history-making moment. Matt Hunt chimed in with 19. Rioli was in tears post-game An Ansett loss would have been and restated it was her last a cruel result, given they were the match at League level. best team all season and had lost “It feels awesome,” Rioli three grand finals since 2010 by a said. “That’s it (for me), I’m total of nine points. done. I’m so happy, because we Coach Paul Rowse hailed his were all really nervous. players’ performance. “Lightning had been so “That was a hard-fought game,” close to us the last few games – Rowse told the NT News amid wild minus that first final, because celebration scenes. “All the year’s they didn’t have everyone – so planning has finally come to fru- we were not thinking this was ition — it was destiny.” going to be easy at all. Ansett scored the first seven “If we were switched on and points of the grand final and they brought our A-game and pre- went on an 8-0 run later in the first pared properly, I said to the quarter after the Power drew level girls we could make it a 20- with them at 11-11. But Palmerston point win if we wanted to. repeatedly hit back. “(Our success) really is Departing Power big man Shaq amazing and it’s not just about Hohipa-Wilson almost single- the talent you have; it’s the handedly kept his team in the bond we have and the standard match in the opening half, scoring we’ve set for each other ... we 23 of his match-high 36 points. play for each other and we are He ran himself to a standstill at family – that’s why we win.” one stage but a Jesse Bell three- Lightning refused to ever point dagger gave him a rest via a give in and rebounded from timeout and the Power their first their slow start to at least win lead at 37-34. It was one of only two the second half but the prob- times they were in that position. lem was they already trailed 47-24 at the long break. They started the third peri- od with a 15-5 run to close within 13 points but couldn’t get any closer. Fifteen-year-old Lightning guard Dom Carbone enhanced her blossoming reputation Ansett far too good with 18 points – nine of them in the first quarter. Hard-to-handle Randle sinks Kiwis Bullets shoot themselves in foot STAR import Jerome Randle lead at quarter-time in the fix- The Breakers, fresh from FRUSTRATED Bullets coach third-straight loss and a 7-8 re- many easy lay-ups for the in- shot a game-high 37 points as ture in Adelaide. beating the Bullets on Thurs- Andrej Lemanis says defensive cord with Hawks star Rotnei form Illawarra who have won the Adelaide 36ers downed the The brilliant Randle also day night, had Kirk Penney (25 breakdowns, sloppy turnovers Clarke leading the way for the four of their last five matches visiting New Zealand Breakers had four assists and was well points), Mike Vukona (16 and a lopsided foul count were visitors who enjoyed 32 free on the way to an 8-7 record. 102-92 in yesterday’s NBL supported by teammates points, five rebounds) and Akil at the heart of the 98-88 loss to throws to the home side’s 12. Brisbane star Cameron match. Mitch Creek (14 points, three Mitchell (12 points) prominent, the Illawarra Hawks at the Brisbane were not blame- Bairstow fouled out in less Randle helped the 36ers steals), Daniel Johnson (15 but they couldn’t prevent Brisbane Convention Centre less though. than 10 minutes on court after overcome a fast-starting points) and Nathan Sobey (12 Adelaide banking a fourth last night. They were guilty of 20 turn- nailing the first three buckets Breakers, who held a 10-point points, six assists). consecutive victory. The Bullets slumped to a overs and allowing far too of the match for the Bullets. NTNE01Z01MA - V1.