Three-time defending champions Ajax will play Varsity for women’s club basketball’s title next week, following wins in Tuesday night’s semifinals.
Perhaps they were not surprising results — the pair had finished the season with 9-3 records.
However, they were never a given, as both the South Pac Magic and Andy Bay Falcons had been competitive for much of the year.
For Varsity it is a second final in as many years, following a six-year final drought.
And for the second time in as many years, it knocked out the Magic — who had been finalists each of those six seasons — to reach the title game.
The Magic made it tough for Varsity, but the students’ outside shooting got it over the line, emerging 56-46 victors.
It was perhaps somewhat tainted by each team missing key players to the Southern Hoiho.
Millie Simpson has carried the Magic at times this season, while Tyler Mitchell and Caitlin O’Connell are of huge value in Varsity’s back court.
None were available for the business end of the season.
Varsity adapted best, though.
Keira Hill (15 points) was huge with five triples, while Legacy Harrison (18 points) scored back-to-back baskets late to bury the Magic.
Sarah-Joy Aruwa was similarly key for the Magic, having a handy 14 points.
Varsity always held a slight edge, though, even if it was unable to pull away.
It led 13-10 after a messy first quarter and held a small lead for most of the second.
Harrison hit two three-pointers, and followed up with a lay-up, to give Varsity a 30-23 lead just before halftime.
But two Dayna Turnbull triples early in the third quarter helped pull Magic back, and its ability to keep Varsity quiet brought it back to 39-38 at three-quarter time.
The Magic took a brief lead at 44-41, as Turnbull and Ngatamaine Mareko hit triples.
But Hill answered with one of her own, before Sophie Adams hit two free throws to give Varsity back the lead.
It was a lead Varsity never gave up and, with a three-point buffer, Harrison hit a mid-range jumper, following by a floater to bury the Magic.
In the other game, Ajax had a convincing win over the Falcons. Further information was unavailable at the time of writing.
