MINDERS Blue has cemented its spot in the Hamilton Basketball Association (HBA) Men’s Division 1 top four after a crucial six-point win in its round nine clash against Minders White on Wednesday night.

Aaron Glare (12 points) and Jake Donehue (11 points) led their team to victory and with some other solid contributors on the court, Minders Blue ran away with its fifth win for the season.

Josh Miller found some form for the losing side, dropping 16 points and capitalising on any gaps in the opposition’s defence.

He was also damaging from the three-point line, as he sunk four long-range shots throughout the game.

Miller almost dragged Minders White over the line but needed his team to put up a more complete performance if they were to take home the points, losing 36-42.

Barber Boys d. Monivae Warriors

MONIVAE Warriors almost caused a big upset against the top-placed Barber Boys side, losing by just eight points at the final buzzer, 26-34.

The Warriors have won just a single game for the season while Barber Boys have only lost one game and it was expected to be a comfortable win for the ladder leaders.

Joel Le Roy was the only player on the court to score double figures on the night, leading all players with 14 points which proved to be the difference.

Nate Krause was kept to just two points in a great defensive effort and through Bailey Mason and Hamish Cook, the young Monivae team managed to hit the scoreboard, combining for 14 points between them, but it wasn’t enough in the end.

St Mary’s Orange d. St Mary’s Black

IN the battle of the two Saints teams, it was again St Mary’s Orange which prevailed, running away with a percentage-boosting 26-point win, which pushes it closer to jumping Barber Boys on the ladder.

They now sit just a couple percent behind after the win.

Jacob Hill (26 points) and Deacon White (18 points) dominated again for St Mary’s Orange, while Edward Koch wasn’t so lucky, as his team went down 82-56, but he managed a season-high 23 points.

St Mary’s Black has been around the mark this season but lost a couple of games by narrow margins.

Women’s Division 1-2

St Mary’s Black d. Sportscene Minders

ST Mary’s Black has handed Sportscene Minders its first loss for the year in its HBA Division 1-2 Women’s match-up, winning by six points on Tuesday night.

With the absence of Paige Kissel and a number of other Minders players, the Saints saw their opportunity and seized it as they pushed the top team.

Holly Rook has caught fire the last couple of weeks for St Mary’s Black and delivered 16 points, while Saskia Gould (12 points) and Tamai Bremner (11 points) helped secure the massive win.

It was always going to be tough going for Minders, who played the entire game with just four players on the court, but Tahlia Ross (18 points) and Mia McGrath (13 points) fought hard.

Tigers d. Minders Blue

AN 18-point game from Tigers’ Grace Cleaver saw Tigers win its sixth game of the season and now sits in a strong position at second place on the ladder.

As they have done so often, the trio of Cleaver, Karoraina Karatau-Keightley (13 points) and Ella Sevior (12 points) put on a great scoring display, helping Tigers to run away 57-28 winners.

Amy Pepper (12 points) and Maddison Cotten (10 points) were the lone performers for Minders Blue, and it was clear that the winning side was a class above and deserved the win.

Tigers has lost two games this season by three and four points, which were both against Sportscene Minders, and will be confident they can make it third time lucky and defeat the top-placed team when the sides next meet.

St Mary’s d. Monivae Dolphins

ST Mary’s sits in third position on the Division 1-2 Women’s ladder after defeating Monivae Dolphins by a comfortable 22 points, thanks to good performances across the court.

Kate Pickford and Amy Knight led all scorers in the game with eight points each and shared the offensive duties for the Saints.

All of the St Mary’s players have the ability to hit the scoreboard and have different avenues to the basket, making them hard to defend.

Maddison Rhook worked hard for Monivae Dolphins, leading her team’s scoring with six points.

The next couple of weeks will be big for Monivae if it is to play finals this season, while St Mary’s are sitting in a strong position.