After defeating Magic, Ajax heads into semifinals in top spot

AJAX has claimed top seed for the Dunedin women’s club playoffs.

It will play Varsity in one of next week’s semifinals, while the South Pac Magic will face the Falcons Dandelions in the other.

That comes after Ajax edged the Magic 5449 in the battle of the top two teams on Tuesday night.

Former Tall Fern Samara Gallaher, in her second game after a fouryear break due to concussion, led Ajax with 14 points.

Gallaher was one of several highlevel threats who have made the team hard to contain when at full strength.

Ajax led 2013 at the end of the first quarter, a gap the Magic did not let get away, but one it could not quite close.

The Magic was missing several players, notably leading scorer Millie Simpson and former Tall Fern Lisa Wallbutton.

However, forward Letitia Mullaly stepped into the void and poured in 17 points of her own.

She scored 15 of the Magic’s 20 points through the middle of the game and helped close the gap to 3732 at halftime.

But Gallaher kept the score ticking over in the third quarter, as did Ajax guard Hannah

Matehaere (12 points).

They got the lead back to seven points at 4841, before closing out the win in a lowscoring final quarter.

Varsity claimed the final semifinal spot with an 8147 win over the Andy Bay Falcons.

The Falcons battled well early in the game and went to quartertime down 2317.

At that point, Varsity pulled away through dominant second and third quarters.

Tara Clement had 19 points for Varsity, splashing five threepointers, while Grace Adams added 15 points.

Brittney Young topscored for the Falcons with 13 points.