Category: UBL

The "Waatu" gave the University of Sydney Technology (Sydney Tech) a run for their money - but ultimately couldn't crack the code of how to stop NBL1 East experienced products Sari Mowbray, Rachel Kemp, Angus Lake (pictured) and Alex Higgins-Titsha. Photo supplied by Adelaide University Sport/Picture IT Sports Photography

Mowbray and Kemp healthy contribution catches out Waatu

The Waatu Women cam up against the finalists of 2023 and ware downed by a healthy contribution by some NBL1 East experienced products 41-84 at the St Clair Recreation Centre.    

Inner West Bulls products Rachel Kemp and Sari Mowbray did the damage to the hit points for the Waatu with Kemp collecting 19 points at 47 percent from the field while Mowbray dropped 13 points and seven rebounds to see UTS pull away from the home side. The 0-10 run in the third quarter separated the two sides and UTS finished with 30 points from turnovers and 18 fast break points.

The Waatu challenged early with Kaitlyn Phillips all business (by degree and play) early before UTS went on an 0-8 run. Scarlett Miles (Law and PPE) managed to stay out of foul trouble and notch 13 points, 16 rebounds and five massive rejections – ultimately the field goal percentage was a challenge against one of the top side of the 2022 season.

Lake launches from Torrens to sink Waatu

One of the best games we’ve seen of the UBL took place between the men with UTS eventually firing their way away from the Waatu 72-87 at the St Clair Recreation Centre.

Angus Lake (Business and Law) of the Sutherland Sharks launched some big splashes from the Torrens with him and Bulls Alex Higgins-Titsha was all business with his degree as well putting on an aerial show that would’ve come on the radar at Adelaide Airport traffic control. Lake splashed his way to 25 points at 62 percent with AHT clocking up 20 points, nine rebounds, six steals and three blocks.

The Waatu kept it close the whole way through the first half led by Harry Reemst (Chemical Engineering), Lachlan Hunter (Civil Engineering) and returning NBL1 Central North Adelaide Rocket Steve Parfitt’s first appearance (13 points, five rebounds and three blocks) to close it to 35-43 at the half. Thats when AHT took over along with Lake as they opened the game up.

Toby Hunt (Bachelor Mechanical Engineering) got going after tightly held to three points in the first half with 14 points at 60 percent, Reemst (12 points and five rebounds) and Hunter (14 points, five rebounds and three assists) helped to try and track down UTS but unfortunately the away team pulled away in the finish to keep their unbeaten start to the season intact.

Catch the Waatu tomorrow afternoon in Round 5 on Uni Sports TV from 12pm AWST (1:30pm SA Time) as they take on the UWA Maali…

RD 4 Women AU Waatu 41 (Miles 13, Lovell 10) defeated by UTS 84 (Kemp 19, Mowbray 13, Bowden 11, Allie 10)

RD 4 Men AU Waatu 72 (Hunt 17, Hunter 14, Parfitt 13, Reemst 12) defeated by UTS 87 (Lake 25, Higgins-Titsha 20, Buvac 15, Nancarrow, Pain 8)

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The "Waatu" had a successful road trip nabbing three of the four games with the men now knocking on the door of the top four. Photo by Federation University of Ballarat. 

Harris and Haigh help Waatu women get the chocolates

The Waatu Women had a historic afternoon as they won their first game in the league 73-80 against the Federation Uni Falcons in Ballarat. Ash Haigh (Occupational Therapy) and Jo Harris (Civil Engineering) led the way with 18 points apiece to help the Waatu to 4-16 start. McKenzie of the Falcons helped get her side back into the contest before Evie Lovell (15 points) and Tamika Reid (12 points) helped steady the women to their first win of the season.

First name men muscle Waatu over Falcons

The Waatu Men continued the hunt for the top four with a convincing 81-88 win over the Falcons. Despite missing key NBL1 experienced players – Toby Hunt (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering) and Bailey Nathan (Bachelor of Computer Science Advanced) went on a scoring spree as Hunt notched a career high 26 points and Nathan equally a career high 24. Harry Reemst (Chemical Engineering) also had a handy 19 points as they held off the Jackson Talbot led Falcons in the second half to complete a double delight for the Waatu on day one of their Victorian road trip.

Waatu spirited away by ACU

The Waatu Women held firm for a half in their second of two games for the week but a second half push from ACU spirited away the Waatu 57-44 in the finish at the Melbourne Sports Centre in Parkville. ACU dropped 28-12 in the second half to run away from the Adelaide side led by Emily Pickering with 11 points in the second half. Scarlett Miles (Law and PPE) had a huge game with 12 points and 19 rebounds and along with Kaitlyn Phillips (Business – three points, seven rebounds, four assists and steals) kept the Waatu in the contest till the half before ACU took over.

Spirit Hunt-er helps Waatu grab consecutive victories

The Waatu Men completed the double with a thumping 62-87 win over ACU. Toby Hunt trumped his career high of the previous day with 30 points at 50 percent including five of nine triples to lead all comers. Harry Reemst his Sabres teammate added a double double of 24 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and steals and a block to cap off a strong afternoon. ACU were led by a double double by Lachlan Clark with 16 points and 12 rebounds and Connor Mackenroth with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.

RD 3 Women Federation Uni Falcons 73 defeated by AU Waatu (Haigh, Harris 18, Lovell 15, Reid 12, Miles 8)

RD 3 Women ACU 57 (Pickering, Woods 11, Rodda 10, Emmerton, Patterson 7) defeated AU Waatu (Miles 12, Phillips 7)

RD 3 Men Federation Uni Falcons 81 defeated by AU Waatu 88 (Hunt 26, Nathan 24, Reemst 15)

RD 3 Men ACU 62 (Clark 16, Mackenroth, Rickard 12, Robertson) defeated AU Waatu 87 (Hunt 30, Reemst 24, Brennan, Nathan 8, Homburg 7)

Catch the Waatu tomorrow afternoon in Round 5 on Uni Sports TV from 12pm AWST (1:30pm SA Time) as they take on the UWA Maali…

Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written as well as national/international with the Pick and Roll – with our recent influx of work we are making content all free to read but need constant contributions to make this happen. $5 a month is all we are asking – If not keen to subscribe then please message to receive direct debit details how you can keep these quality features being produced

The "Waatu" remained competitive in both contests but ultimately USC found what they needed to close out both games in the final stanza. Photo supplied by Adelaide University Sport/Picture IT Sports Photography

Taylor made performance from Sunshine wanes off Waatu

The Waatu Women put in a second competitive effort in a row as they went down to USC 55-64 at the St Clair Recreation Centre.    

USC guard Jess Johnston (Paramedic Science) continued her strong start to the season with 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists but it was also her centre Brooke Taylor (Recreation and Outdoor Sport) who had a standout stat line. Her five points, nine rebounds and six blocks-controlled air traffic around the basket in a game littered with second chance opportunities – with the Waatu rallying multiple times to run their way back into the contest.

The Waatu went on several 7-0 runs and even produced a 12-2 run in the second quarter to close the margin driven by skipper Evie Lovell (PHD in Medicine) with 14 points and four steals and Tiara Hatchard (Physiotherapy) with 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Co-skipper Jo Harris (Civil Engineering) also kept the Waatu in the game with her effort on the glass with 11 rebounds including 10 offensive to pair with her four points and three steals. The Waatu have shown encouraging signs under coach Jawan Stepney with Scarlett Miles (Law and PPE) stringing together another solid game with seven points and 14 rebounds but foul trouble hampered her impact on the game in the final quarter – which slowed down the Waatu’s comeback.  

Hunt steps up despite USC Campbell clinic

A highly entertaining game of UBL came from unlikely sources however the Waatu couldn’t reel in a clinical Campbell led USC 71-85 at the St Clair Recreation Centre

Toby Campbell (Education and Outdoor Recreation) was a dominant force with a double double of 20 points at 54 percent and 17 rebounds along with Callum Parsons (Sports & Exercise) with 11 points and 12 rebounds who eventually held off the Waatu.

Despite Lachie Hunter, Steve Parfitt and Nic Fassos missing – Fassos NBL1 teammates in Toby Hunt (Mechanical Engineering) and Harry Reemst (Chemical Engineering) along with Eddie Steele (Civil Engineering) stepped up to the plate. Hunt dropped a career high 25 points and five rebounds while Reemst was efficient with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. It was Steele who added some metal to the Waatu with 19 points including five triples for 60 percent from the field. The Waatu gave up 22 offensive rebounds which the Sunshine Coast converted to 19 of their points and proved the difference statistically in the match.

Both Waatu teams hit the road this week for the first time in 2023 as they head to Ballarat Tuesday to play the Federation University Falcons then Wednesday to play new team the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

RD 2 Women AU Waatu 55 (Lovell 14, Hatchard 11, Haigh, Miles 7) defeated by USC 64 (Johnston 19, Fleming 12, Whittet 8)

RD 2 Men AU Waatu 71 (Hunt 25, Steele 19, Reemst 15) defeated by USC 85 (Campbell 20, R Morris 14, S Morris 13, Parsons 11, Fullarton 8)

Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written as well as national/international with the Pick and Roll – with our recent influx of work we are making content all free to read but need constant contributions to make this happen. $5 a month is all we are asking – If not keen to subscribe then please message to receive direct debit details how you can keep these quality features being produced