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Defending Australia and its National Interests
Masthead :: NAVY News :: The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy
Sports
Full Tilt
By SBLT Peter Bounty

Volume 50, No. 1, February 8, 2007
 
OFF BALANCE: Western Australia point guard AB Andrew Boylen out-muscles a South Australian opponent during their clash at the national basketball championships in Townsville.
Photo: SBLT Peter Bounty
 
Seven Navy basketball players named in team for Arafura Games.

Rivals at the recent Australian Defence Force Basketball Association national championships have quickly become allies with the selection of representative men’s and women’s teams for the coming Arafura Games.

The Arafura Games will be held in Darwin from May 12 to 19 with four Navy women selected and three Navy men.

Debutante MIDN Kiri Northdurft led the way as the ACT/Wagga women’s team made history with its grand final success at the nationals at RAAF Base Townsville in early December after losing the previous two deciders to NSW, which gained some solace by winning the men’s crown for the fifth consecutive year.

“ACT/Wagga’s surprise package in the championship-decider was ADFBA newcomer MIDN Kiri Northdurft,” VIC/WA women’s coach FSGT Brian Lawrie said.

“She penetrated well against the VIC/WA defence and top scored for the game with 21 points.

It was a case of third time lucky for the ACT/Wagga women, who made history by winning the title for the first time since the competition began in 1983.

With four ADF representative players, some exciting new talent and two grand final losses fresh in their memory, the ACT/Wagga girls were always going to be tough to beat.

They were undefeated and met the combined Victorian/Western Australia team in the final.
“The women’s game was an entertaining game of basketball played with intensity and spirit with both teams battling hard throughout the game,” FSGT Lawrie said.

“ACT/Wagga went to an early eight-point lead towards the end of the first quarter and maintained that spread until the last quarter, when VIC/WA edged within five.

“The ACT/Wagga team’s experience and depth on the bench stopped the fightback and they went on to a solid 11-point victory.

“ACT/Wagga was controlled well on court by ACW Karen Herbert, with big boards and support from the twin towers FLTLT Fiona Harris and LACW Belinda Walters.”

In the men’s competition, NSW’s fifth consecutive national title came after a gutsy win against Qld in a tough, physical encounter with AB Nick Clancey top scoring with 23 points.

The competition attracted teams comprising members from the three services as well as Defence civilians representing Queensland, the Northern Territory, ACT/ Wagga, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.