City and Japara have been crowned men’s and women’s division 1 champions respectively in the Launceston Basketball Association.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Japara looked set to run out comfortable winners after opening up a 16-point lead midway through the final term, but were made to sweat until the final seconds in a 71-69 defeat of Devils.
Long-range shooting from Sophie Ackerley and Aishah Anis (16 points) cut the lead to just three points with two and half minutes to go, however, Sam Chilcott’s poise at the free-throw line was enough to secure Japara’s first women’s title in more than three decades.
Chilcott finished with a game-high 27 points, while teammate Gemma Korpershoek provided great defensive pressure.
Zoe Mesman top-scored for Devils with 20 points.
Devils came up short in another tight affair in the men’s, falling 81-72 to a Rockets side led by Darreon Tolliver (20 points).
Jack Rathmell, Scott Beeston and Ben Rigby (17 points each) took Devils out to a seven-point lead early in the second term before sharp shooting from Troy Schaeche (22 points) and Brad Templar gave City the ascendancy.
City led by just one at the final break but a trio of Schaeche three-pointers in the space of two minutes proved the difference.
Rockets coach Alicia Riley said captain Morgan Lockwood had “a strong young side with a bright future ahead”.