National Tertiary Basketball Championship: Wellington Hosts Exciting Tournament

The National Tertiary Basketball Championships were held in Wellington from the 20th to the 22nd of September, bringing together top university teams from across New Zealand to compete for the title. In this exciting tournament, some changes occurred in the team line-ups. A Wellington-based invitational team stepped in to replace the Waikato women's team, while another invitational team took the place of the Otago men's team. These adjustments maintained the competitive spirit of the event, showcasing high-level basketball talent and keeping the championship running smoothly despite the team changes.

Day 1: Opening Tip-Off and Pool Play

Day 1 saw the reigning champions Canterbury Men's team showcased their strength by winning both of their games. Their first victory of the day came in a thrilling overtime match against the Men's Invitational team, proving the high level of competitiveness in the tournament. Later in the day, they secured another win, this time against fellow Christchurch-based team, Lincoln University.

On the women's side, Lincoln Women's, Otago Women's, and AUT Women's teams dominated, each going undefeated on Day 1. Their strong performances highlighted their intent to make deep runs in the tournament, making them teams to watch as the competition progressed.

Day 2: Semifinal Showdowns

Day 2 of the National Tertiary Basketball Championships delivered thrilling action as teams battled for a spot in the finals. On the women’s side, reigning champions Otago University showed their dominance in the first semifinal against AUT Women, securing a commanding 109-50 victory and cementing their place in the final. In the second semifinal, Lincoln Women faced Canterbury Women in a game filled with momentum swings. Ultimately, Lincoln prevailed with a 66-48 win, earning their place in the championship match.

The men's semifinals saw underdogs Massey University come out firing against the reigning champions, Canterbury Men, shooting the lights out in the first quarter to build a 20-point lead. However, Massey’s hot shooting wouldn’t last the entire game, and Canterbury’s size advantage helped them rally for a hard-fought 99-90 win. In the other men’s semifinal, Lincoln Men faced off against AUT Men in a tightly contested game. Despite a strong offensive push late from AUT, Lincoln managed to hold on, winning 84-73 and securing their spot in the final.

Day 3: Championship Glory

Finals day at the National Tertiary Basketball Championships saw all four finalist teams coming from the South Island, showcasing the strength of southern basketball. In the women’s gold medal match, it was a rematch of last year's final between Otago University and Lincoln University. This time, however, Lincoln turned the tables, claiming the championship with a hard-fought 76-64 victory, winning by 12 points and avenging last year’s defeat.

On the men’s side, defending champions University of Canterbury faced off against Lincoln University. Lincoln got off to a strong start, building a 10-point lead early in the game. However, Canterbury once again displayed their resilience, chipping away at the deficit and eventually overtaking Lincoln to win by 8 points, securing their second consecutive championship title

Individual Awards

With strong programs built around the south island universities it was no surprise to see many familiar faces named in the All-star 5 for both the men’s and the women

Congratulations to the following for being selected for individual awards.

Men’s All-Star Team and Tournament MVP

• Jack Exeter (Tournament MVP) - University of Canterbury
• Aiden Tonge - University of Canterbury
• Liam Judd - Massey University
• Josh Leger - AUT
• Simon Lafaele - Lincoln University

Women’s All-Star Team and Tournament MVP

• Hana Lacey – Rameka (Tournament MVP) – Lincoln University
• Madeleine Timms – Lincoln University
• Laura Jackson – University of Canterbury
• Nikita Marama – AUT
• Millie Simpson – University of Otago

Final Standing

Men’s Results:

1st University of Canterbury
2nd Lincoln University
3rd Massey University
4th AUT
5th University of Auckland
6th University of Waikato
7th Victoria University of Wellington
8th Wellington Invitational

Women’s Results: