Basketball: Champions Whangaruru start season in style

Sian Telfer lead the way in terms of defence . Photo / John Stone

Te Tai Tokerau Women's Basketball Champions Whangaruru Tukaiaia have started their title defence impressively by beating Phoenix Takahiwai 78-48.

Whangaruru worked as a team on defence with Sian Telfer leading the way. Their spirited defence created turnovers and their ability to turn them into points saw them dominate the match played at Kamo High School on Saturday.

Talana Fa'alogo rebounded well which helped minimise second attempts for Phoenix with Karlene Kingi working well inside the key to help her team increase their lead.

Phoenix took to the court with only five players but worked very well as a team to try and keep the well drilled Whangaruru team honest.

Arvay Armstrong-Read really stepped up to help her team, with Jess Talbot and Zhane Shortland converting opportunities in the second half to try and get Phoenix back in the game.

Reannon Hetaraka-Sadler top-scored with 22 points for Tukaiaia, while Kingi scored 21 and Telfer 19. Takahiwai's Sue Reed-Thomas top-scored with 15 with Shortland scoring 13.

It was a similar story for the champion team in the men's Super Basketball League, with Bloodlines Whangaruru too good for the Raumanga Royals.

It was another very good, fast paced game with Bloodlines taking control of the game from the start before finally accelerating out to a 131-79 win.

Their effortless transition from offence to defence quickly paid dividends with Keeghan Sadler (21 points) and top-scorer Imrahn Henare (26) working tirelessly in the front court to create steals and score at the other end.

Raumanga played very well in patches in the high-scoring encounter but with just six players, they found it hard to stay in touch with Whangaruru.

In the second TTT Classic match, held in Kaitaia, the local Muriwhenua women's side were too strong for the travelling Bucks beating them 105-15.

Muriwhenua host Whangaruru Tukaiaia this weekend with plenty of interest in seeing which of the teams will remain unbeaten. Portland Flames had a bye this week.

The other scheduled game in Kaitaia on Saturday never eventuated with the Maunu Lights unable to travel north and forfeiting their game to Far North Thunder.

The Portland Blazers' SBL match against City Hawks was postponed because the City Hawk players were at a tangi.

Draw for November 30:

At Kamo High School: 2pm Raumanga Royals vs Portland Blazers (M); 4pm Phoenix Takahiwai vs Portland Flames (W); 6pm City Hawks vs Maunu Lights (M).

In Kaitaia: 2pm Muriwhenua vs Whangaruru Tukaiaia (W); 4pm Far North Thunder v Whangaruru Bloodlines (M).