But both escaped to remain unbeaten by all but each other in women’s club basketball on Tuesday night.
Ajax closed out a thriller to beat Varsity 73-68, while the South Pac Magic pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat a valiant Andy Falcons side 54-39.
Hannah Matehaere continued her strong season with 21 points, notably scoring 14 in the first quarter to get Ajax off to a strong start.
She showed her ability to both get to the hoop and shoot from deep, spurring the defending champion to a 20-11 lead at the end of the quarter.
Varsity hit back in the second quarter as Alana Wouters (10 points) began to score in transition while Holly McCleery (11 points) knocked down two three-pointers.
Ajax kept itself in front, though, and while Matehaere slowed down, it found scoring from a range of sources to lead 36-33 at halftime.
Varsity took took the lead not long after, as point guard Rosie Davison began driving aggressively and finding her way to the hoop.
Ajax hit back as Millie Ford (16 points) began to find her scoring touch and it took a 51-49 lead to end the third quarter.
Varsity’s Elly Koehler (15 points) hit two of her four three-pointers in the fourth quarter, while Sophie Adams (11 points) began to score in the low post.
But Ford was on her tear, while guards Olivia O’Neill (11 points) and Matehaere kept Ajax in touch.
It led by two heading into the dying seconds and then came up with defensive stop, before closing out the game at the foul line.
The Magic was made to work for a scrappy win over the Falcons.
The scores were tied 8-8, before Georgia Te Au (10 points) followed a baseline jumper with a lay-up to ignite the Magic to a 16-8 lead at the break.
The Magic scoring dried up though and three consecutive baskets to impressive young guard Alexa Duff helped the Falcons back to 25-19 at halftime.
That became 36-29 at the end of the third quarter, some nice play inside from another promising young Falcon in Elise Carline helping the side remain in touch.
However, the Magic opened a 15-point gap in the fourth quarter, Letitia Mullaly (eight points) chipping in with three consecutive baskets to help the side pull away.
