World of Basketball June 16th

Americas

The quarterfinals all started this week in Brazil with the teams that finished lower in the standings getting to host the first games while the teams that finished higher in the standings host the second game and any needed deciding third games. There was no surprise on Wednesday for Araraquara, which headed to the continental championship having used a strong second half to defeat Blumenau. The series between the teams closest in seeding started on Thursday and Campinas won their home game to force Santo Andre to win twice at home to advance. The last two games were on Friday and top seed Sampaio started well on their way to a win over Mesquita. Ituano just has to win at home once now after escaping Corinthians.

Two series in Mexico were on a Thursday-Friday schedule, including Chihuahua showing their championship mettle and sweeping Xalapa after Danielle Adams had 33 points in the opener. San Luis Potosi was close to a stunning sweep after winning the first game in Veracruz, but the hosts did escape by a point to save a split. The Friday-Saturday series was an easy sweep for Aguascalientes over Leon. The last series ran Saturday-Sunday and Tamaulipas recovered in the second half to avoid a collapse, leaving with a split against Monterrey.

In Puerto Rico, Wilmarie Ortiz had a 15 point, 10 rebound, 10 assist triple-double on Wednesday as Adjuntas fought their way to a win. It was Nicole Diaz’s turn for a triple-double on Thursday with 14 point, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to help Catano win. Idaliz Padilla had 21 rebounds, but Veja Baja lost on Sunday.

Australia

There was no bigger statline in NBL1’s South conference than Amy Atwell’s 50 point game for the Bendigo Braves, but they lost to the Knox Raiders, which got a 29 point, 12 rebound, 10 assist triple-double from Alicia Froling. Bringing in players from FIBA Asia countries has been a trend in the league in the last few seasons and the Sandringham Sabres got 30 points from Juna Umezawa in a win. Chloe Bibby had a 33 point game for the Ballarat Miners and Stephanie Reid had a 30 point game for the Frankston Blues.

The Northside Wizards remained undefeated in the North conference, defeating the team that had been the next team behind them, the North Gold Coast Seahawks, which also lost their earlier game despite Mikaela Ruef’s 24 rebounds. At the other end of the standings, the Cairns Dolphins finally picked up their first win. Courtney Woods had the highest scoring game with 39 points, but the Darwin Salties lost. The Rockhampton Cyclones almost had their leading scorer Samantha Bowman record enough points to win on their own after she had 33 and the Sunshine Coast Phoenix only managed 39 to sink back to last place.

In the West conference, the Rockingham Flames are now fully back in the pack after losing despite 36 points from Georgia Pineau as Anneli Maley had 35 points and Natalie Chou had 33 points for the Perth Redbacks. Daniel Raber had a 17 point, 15 rebound, 11 assist triple-double for the Cockburn Cougars. A wild game had the Eastern Suns hold on to a win after Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant had 39 points and Olivia Berry had 31 points to offset Dynn Leaupepe’s 32 point game for the Joondalup Wolves.

Lauren Jackson returned to the lineup for the East conference leading Albury Wodonga Bandits and dropped 35 points while her teammate Unique Thompson had 20 rebounds. Lauren Nicholson had the highest scoring game with 44 points for the Sutherlands Sharks. Shyla Heal had a 32 point game for the Sydney Comets. Park Ji-Hyun had a 12 point, 13 rebound, 12 assist triple-double for the Bankstown Bruins. Tahlia Tupaea had 37 points for the Penrith Panthers, which made the last run for a win in a game that went back and forth throughout.

The Central conference returned from a break with a double-round weekend and the top of the standings is very night now after both the Central Districts Lions and the North Adelaide Rockets lost both of their games.

The top division resumed play in Big V and Amanda Paschal had 31 points for Wyndham, which continues to lead the league. Bellarine and Bulleen sit behind them in the standings while Camberwell is still winless and well behind the rest of the teams.