Thursday May 31, 2007

Hi there

Welcome to another edition of "The Huddle".
The BBNZ comms guy heads home to Auckland this week for an itinerary that looks like this ...
Saturday - NZ U19s start, Heat v Airs
Sunday - NZ UZ19s
Monday - NZ U19 finals, Battle of the Bridge (Stars v Heat)
Tuesday - Washington State v Breakers Development
Wednesday - Heat v Saints
Thursday - night off (Dad, let's catch Pistons v Rams on SKY at The Gables ... must be your shout)
Friday - WBL semis
Saturday - WBL final, Stars v Hawks
Phew! Living the life, baby.
Cheers
Chappy

Better Than Advertised

Kenny Stone still recalls the day the 2007 Dominion Finance NBL Rookie of the Year favourite rocked up to practice for the first time.

“I recognized his face, but didn’t know his name,” admits the Youthtown Auckland Stars coach. “I thought we could use the numbers.”

That pretty much sums up where the nine-time champions stood as the season began.

Management had used most of their payroll to secure Tall Blacks Lindsay Tait, Dillon Boucher and Casey Frank. With two low-priced imports, they would be expected to play the bulk of the minutes and carry the franchise’s hopes of a 10th title.

The bench that had played such a big part in getting them to last year’s final had gone their separate ways – Judd Flavell to coach the NZ Breakers Academy, Daryl Cartwright to Appliance Shed Harbour heat and Reece Cassidy to Inspire Net Manawatu Jets.

Dominion Finance NBL Guide (Round 13)

NBL Milestones (Round 13)

Inspire Net Manawatu Jets forward Aaron Nowell needs two more games to achieve 100 NBL appearances. The Jets have the Saints/Giants doubleheader in Round 13.

Appliance Shed Harbour Heat recorded the franchise’s 200th NBL win with their 88-81 result over Scenic Circle Canterbury Rams. Their historical record is now 201-233 (46.3%).

In the same game, Harbour guard Hayden Allen reached 2000 NBL points with his 29-point haul. He has now averaged 13.5 points over 149 games.

Lady Titans Progress

Former NZ Tall Fern captain Leanne Walker helped Waikato Lady Titans nail down the fourth and final spot in Women’s Basketball League semifinals, edging Church College NZ 80-76 in their crucial northern conference encounter.

Waikato needed to beat the students to guarantee their berth at the finals weekend (June 8-9) and seemed well in control with a 49-34 halftime advantage. But Church College came charging back over the second half and fell desperately short in their bid for an upset.

Includes WBL semifinal draw

Jones Misses Deadline

Veteran NZ Tall Black Phill Jones will have to sit out the Dominion Finance NBL after returning too late to join Blue Chip Nelson Giants.

Jones’s Cantu club was eliminated from the Italian Lega A playoffs last week and he sought clearance from the National Basketball League to be added to the Giants roster with less than the five required games remaining in the regular season.

The exemption would have needed 75% approval from the 10 NBL franchises, but a poll of teams failed to raise the necessary support.

Young Breakers Tackle Cougars

Key members of the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers will bolster the ranks of the club’s academy team for next week’s showdown against Washington State University at the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere.

The Cougars are ranked in the top 20 college basketball teams in the USA and are coming off a school record-tying 26 wins as well as a trip to the prestigious NCAA Tournament.

The strength of the visitors, who also play five matches in Australia, including clashes with the Boomers train-on squad and the Sydney Kings, has led to Breakers power forward Mika Vukona and new Breakers guard Ryan Kersten joining the Academy line-up. Foundation player Blake Truslove, now the club’s development manager, will also suit up for the match.

Triple Threat

Dominion Finance NBL Player of the Week - Dillon Boucher (Youthtown Auckland Stars)
11 points (3/6 FG, 5/8 FT), 12 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks & three steals v TET Taranaki Mountain Airs

Surely it’s only a matter of time before Boucher finally puts up a “triple double”, his latest effort falling just two assists short.

Through all the Stars’ trials this season, Boucher and point guard Lindsay Tait have been the rocks that have kept them on course for the NBL playoffs. The NZ Tall Black forward is now locked in a battle with new U Park It Waikato Pistons import Jason Crowe at the top of the Player Power Rankings and also to defend his league steals title.

Includes Stat Leaders (Round 12) & Player Power Rankings Top 50

Dominion Finance NBL League Stats

Dominion Finance NBL Team Stats

Harbour, Otago Faultless

American Jennifer Lingor guided Curves Harbour Heat to a clean sweep of the Women’s Basketball League northern conference with an 88-56 win over Massey Fever.

The Heat led 33-14 after the opening quarter and lengthened their advantage over the next two periods. Lingor led all scorers with 19 points (7/16 FG, 3/6 3pt, 2/4 FT), while Jody Tini (13 points/10 rebounds) and Karlene Kingi (12 points/10 rebounds) compiled “double doubles” as Harbour completed a 12-0 run through the competition.

Meanwhile, Otago Goldrush also emerged unbeaten from the southern conference, beating nearest rivals University of Canterbury 51-35.

Living Dangerously

With five straight wins, Easy LPG Bay Hawks are the new hottest team in the Dominion Finance NBL, but the defending champions could just as easily be out of the playoff hunt.

“I think we’re starting to play really well,” insists NZ Tall Black point guard Paul Henare, still husky from celebrating the Hawks’ 88-86 home victory over the previously rampant U Park It Waikato Pistons on Friday night.

“In the last few games, we’ve shown a lot of character. That win over Waikato was really satisfying because of how hot they were … and, you know, we had been talking to them a bit beforehand.”

That’s the glass-half-full take on the Hawks’ form. The flipside would show how desperately close they have come to disaster.

Briefs

Marino Magic
NZ Tall Fern Angela Marino stepped off the plane from international duty in Japan and compiled a “double double” to help Sturt Sabres defeat West Adelaide Bearcats 82-31 in the Central Australia Basketball League.
Read More ...

Meehl Delivers
Former NZ Junior Tall Black Zane Meehl had 18 points (3/21 FG, 2/11 2/11 3pt, 10/11 FT), eight rebounds, eight assists and seven steals, but his Maroochydore Clippers fell short 100-110 against Brisbane Capitals in the Queensland Australia Basketball League.
Read More ...

Bruton Out Of Qualifiers
Australia Post Boomers starting point guard C.J. Bruton was released from hospital yesterday after undergoing an operation to remove bone spurs from his foot.
Read More ...

New Lease Of Life
At just 26 years old, NZ Tall Fern “veteran” Aneka Kerr was headed for early retirement before the Christchurch-based Australian WNBL franchise came along.
Read More ...