ST MARY’S basketball club couldn’t fain in the Hamilton basketball Association women’s division one grand final on Wednesday night, as the club had two teams competing for the premiership: Orange and Black, with Orange winning 34-26.

The success for the club was further highlighted when you consider that St Mary’s Black was promoted to the division one grade half way through the season after dominating the division 2A in the first part of winter.

For this side to win through to the grand final after starting the season in a lower grade is a credit to not only the team but the club too, as it looks to develop players for the future.

St Mary’s Orange used its greater experience at this level to force the St Mary’s Black players into defensive errors that cost the side dearly as the game wore on.

Orange played a more structured game in both attack and defence across both halves and at the long break the scoreboard favoured Orange, 20-16.

The Black side looked to play an up-tempo game with lots of fast breaks trying to catch the Orange players off-guard, but that defensive structure held firm and Black was forced to shoot from outside to many times.

The second half saw both sides produce better defence which forced the attackers to shoot from outside more than they wanted to, and the scoring slowed.

Grace Cleaver had the hot hand on the court, and she finished with 16 points to her credit to be the only player to reach double figures as she dominated at both ends of the court.

With time passing the fouls became more evident as the Black team was forced into making errors as Orange continued to slow the pace of the game which didn’t suit the Black team.

The Black team was forced to play catch up basketball all game long which is not their style of play, but as such a young team they will quickly develop the skills to lead from the front as they gain more experience.

Leesa Iredell was named most-valuable-player on the night and her experience shone through when the Orange side needed her most, with her calm demeaner and her authoritative style.