This was a result not many would have seen coming.
It was not so much the fact St Hilda’s Collegiate upset Phys Ed A, it was the way it happened.
In just its second loss of the Dunedin club season, Phys Ed A was crushed 71-47 on Saturday.
St Hilda’s played with a higher intensity and its energetic defence, both through the midcourt and at the back, caused Phys Ed problems.
Phys Ed’s attack was messy and struggled to get any flow.
It turned over too much ball and St Hilda’s played with speed and accuracy to make it pay.
In the shooting circle, St Hilda’s was accurate and goal shoot Georgia Heffernan, in particular, proved difficult to shut down.
After gaining the initial lead, Phys Ed slipped behind halfway through the first quarter.
It lost Sophie Johns to injury not long after, the goal attack leaving the court and not returning.
From there St Hilda’s gradually extended its lead, its energy levels noticeably higher than Phys Ed’s as it went into the first break up 16-9.
There was always a feeling Phys Ed would pull back and it did just that through the middle of the second quarter.
It had its best period of the game as it temporarily stemmed the flow of St Hilda’s attack and was clinical in its own to close the score to 23-21 four minutes before halftime.
St Hilda’s would not let it get any closer, though, scoring seven quick goals to lead 30-24 at the break.
It then pulled away at the start of the third quarter, its defence lifting again and its attack delivering a barrage Phys Ed could not contain.
At the final break, the score had reached 51-36, a quarter score of 21-12 in favour of the school team. It carried on in the same manner right though to the end, claiming an impressive win against one of the competition’s top sides.
In other games, Phys Ed B beat Phys Ed Blue 42-38, College A defeated the South Pacific Titans 61-47 and the Southern Magpies downed University Albion A 73-45.
