Basketball: Unbeaten Bay triumph

JUBILANT CHAMPS: The Hawke's Bay under-13 girls basketball team which won their Central Region tournament in Wellington at the weekend. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Three Hawke's Bay players gained tournament team selection after their side won the Central Region under-13 tournament in Wellington at the weekend.

Kahlia Awa, who was named girls tournament MVP, Amelia Swann and Chalee Whuinui were selected after Hawke's Bay completed a six-game unbeaten run with a 59-44 win against Hutt Valley in the final. Legacy Harrison top scored for the Bay in the final with 16 points and was followed by Awa on 15 and Swann on 14.

The Hawke's Bay team which was coached by Hawks mentor Kirstin Taylor (nee Daly) and fellow former Hawke's Bay women's rep Carley Hewitt (nee Glock) started slow as Hutt Valley went out to 6-0 lead. However Hawke's Bay replied with 16 unanswered points courtesy of their fastbreak game.

Hutt Valley were always in the hunt and it was a hard fought battle until the final hooter. Hewitt and Taylor named Harrison as their player of the final.

"Although Hutt Valley thought they could combat our three players [Awa, Swann and Whuinui] who had outstanding performances before the final, it was the other players Legacy Harrison and Kalia Taito who made it impossible for Hutt Valley to leave any of our starting five players unmarked," Hewitt said.

Taito, who scored seven points in the final, is eligible for the under-13 grade again next year.

Hewitt said she and Taylor are looking forward to watching several of their players combine with members of last year's winning under-13 team at next year's national under-15 tournament.

Hawke's Bay's top boys team finished third in the A division and Hawke's Bay's second boys team won the B division.