Varsity had to withstand a rampant fourth-quarter comeback, beating Ajax 54-49 in the Otago women’s club final on Tuesday night.
But withstand it they did, ending a 24-year title drought, and snapping the streak of the three-time defending champions in the process.
While they somewhat limped over the line, Varsity had done their work in the first three quarters.
Their 50-37 lead to open the quarter was whittled down to 53-49, as Ajax threatened to make the escape of all escapes.
But this time, the perennial heavyweights had left too much to do.
Varsity jumped out to a lead early and, while Ajax cut into at different points, it was a lead the students held for the remainder of the game.
Leila Anesi led the team with 13 points, while Keira Hill had 12, the pair each splashing two triples.
But this was a team effort and had more to do with Ajax’s inability to navigate Varsity’s 2-3 zone for extended periods of the game.
Ryan Dailey was Ajax’s best, the young guard capping a classy season with a game-high 15-point haul.
Hannah Beede added 10, while Jodi Brown scored some key baskets to keep them in the hunt early, finishing with
nine.
But realistically this team was just a little short on firepower without Zoe Richards and Sammy Gallaher.
While Varsity was also missing its Hoiho players — Caitlin O’Connell, Tyler Mitchell and Sophie Adams — its depth shone through.
Anesi did the bulk of the damage early for Varsity.
She hit a running floater to open the scoring, before hitting a triple and attacking a close out to finish at the hoop.
That helped Varsity out to a 10-3 lead, as the Ajax offence struggled to click.
Dailey and Brown pulled Ajax back.
But as turned out to be the trend for the rest of the game, they were unable to fully erase the deficit.
Varsity led 17-12 at the end of the first quarter, before again holding Ajax scoreless for a long period early in the second quarter.
During that time, Anesi and Maddie Tinnock (eight points) showed their range, opening the score to 28-15 at one point, before Ajax restored it to 31-20 at halftime.
The third quarter was much the same.
While Ajax’s offence began to function better, Varsity got contributions from across the board to maintain its lead and be comfortable at 50-37 at three-quarter time.
At that point Ajax rallied, and Varsity crumbled.
A solitary three-pointer from Hill was all the students could manage, until a free throw in the dying seconds, from that point on.
Meanwhile, Dailey was influential pulling Ajax back.
She hit a pair of free throws to pull within four, at 53-49, with three minutes to go.
But that was as close as it got. The scoring dried up and Varsity held on for the win.
Varsity guard O’Connell was named the league’s most valuable player.
She was joined in the All Star Five by Sophie Adams (Varsity), Zoe Richards (Ajax), Brittany Richards (Falcons) and Millie Simpson (Magic).
