UNBEATEN RUN: Kirsten Taylor is co-coach of the Hawke's Bay under-13 girls who are unbeaten at their regional tournament. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR
UNBEATEN RUN: Kirsten Taylor is co-coach of the Hawke's Bay under-13 girls who are unbeaten at their regional tournament. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR
A week after shining for Hastings West at the Ross Shield rugby tournament in Dannevirke Kahlia Awa has been outstanding for the Hawke's Bay under-13 girls basketball team at their regional tournament in Wellington.
The girls, who are coached by Hawks mentor Kirsten Taylor (nee Daly) and Carley Hewitt, recordedtheir fifth consecutive win yesterday, 53-50 against Wellington, to book a berth in today's final against Hutt Valley. Had Wellington won the game Hawke's Bay would have still qualified for the final.
Awa scored 32 points in a 54-39 win against Taranaki. Amelia Swann scored 27 points in a 44-39 win against Hutt Valley.
Hewitt said this win against Hutt Valley will give the Bay girls confidence for the final but they know they can't be over confident. In their other games the Bay beat Gisborne 61-38 and Palmerston North 64-44. Along with Swann and Awa, Chalee Whiunui, has been prominent for the Bay and this trio were in the side which won last year's tournament.
Awa's Hastings West Ross Shield team finished second in Dannevirke and captured the Ron Pierce Trophy for sportsmanship on and off the field.
Three Hawke's Bay boys teams are also playing at the Wellington basketball tournament. The Hawke's Bay A team will play Porirua for third place in the A division after losing 68-54 to Hutt Valley Green yesterday.
The Hawke's Bay White team will take on Levin-Palmy in today's B division final after beating Wellington 40-36 yesterday. A Hawke's Bay under-12 team which went to the tournament to develop their skills for next year will play for seventh place in the B division today.
They lost 62-52 to their Hutt Valley opponents yesterday.
