Ajax cleans up South Pacific in final

Ajax player Danielle Frost (front) takes on Claudia Flaws, of the South Pacific Magic, in the Dunedin women's premier basketball final at the Edgar Centre last night. Photo: Linda Robertson
Ajax player Danielle Frost (front) takes on Claudia Flaws, of the South Pacific Magic, in the Dunedin women's premier basketball final at the Edgar Centre last night. Photo: Linda Robertson
Ajax has defended its women's club basketball title in emphatic style.

The South Pacific Magic had been unbeaten heading into the final, but last night Ajax was far too good.

It put on a clinic to take the game away from the Magic late in the first and early in the second quarters, emerging a 65-40 victor.

The Magic led 6-2 early after two Natalie Visger turnaround jump shots.

However, that was the biggest lead it had all night.

It changed hands several times early, before Ajax opened a buffer late in that first quarter.

A Natalie Smith jump shot, followed by a Nicole Ruske lay-up off a steal from the inbound made it 14-9.

When Danielle Frost hit a baseline mid-range shot a possession later, the Magic was forced into a time-out a minute from the break.

It stemmed the flow, although Ajax added a free throw to make it 17-9 at quarter-time.

However, Ajax continued its dominance into the second quarter and a Hannah Matehaere lay-up made the lead double-digits.

The Magic finally answered when Laura Overton finished off an offensive rebound, but it was struggling to get anything going on offence.

Ajax continued to get the shots it wanted and when it did not, it crashed the offensive glass well.

Three-pointers to Ruske and Frost extended the lead to 29-13 four minutes into the second quarter and the Magic had a long way back.

The Magic was again able to stem the flow, limiting Ajax's looks at the hoop.

However, it still battled on the offensive end and trailed 35-22 at halftime.

That lead became 20 midway through the third as Ajax continued to exert its dominance and prevent the Magic from scoring.

The Magic managed just two points through the first five minutes of the quarter, although its shots began to fall again later.

Despite that, Ajax maintained a comfortable lead and was in complete control at 47-31 at the final break.

That continued through the fourth quarter and, while the Magic never stopped pushing the pace, coming back was always going to be a bridge too far.

Ajax extended the advantage to 20 early in the quarter and continued to get looks at the hoop.

The Magic began trying its luck from deep, but Ajax kept up its intensity until the end and emerged a deserved victor.

 

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