Dongguan Leopards coach Brian Goorjian brought up an interesting stat at a press conference in Auckland on Friday. To emphasise how big a deal basketball is in China he stated that there are more registered basketball players in China than there are people in America – wow! Continue reading
A stormy night in Auckland was the back drop to round three of the Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam at Youthtown on Tuesday night. One man who enjoyed the evening was Alonzo Burton who rained in 30 points as his Block City Brawlers made it three wins from three outings, putting The Birdmen to flight (sorry about the pun) 91-73. Burton converted Continue reading
The Under 17 New Zealand Men’s team enjoyed some solid training runs and practice games on Auckland’s North Shore at the weekend, prior to their departure for the upcoming FIBA Oceania Championships. Three hit outs against the North Harbour Under 23’s (plus guests) helped head coach Seth Weakley and his assistant Dave Mackay iron out a few flaws and implement some game strategies.
The team heads for Melbourne on Tuesday, the three game series against Australia to be played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The winners of the series will progress to the 2014 Under 17 World Championships being staged in the Middle East for the first time – Dubai to host the tournament next August. Continue reading
Week two of the Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam began with the two winning teams from last week facing off. The first half was notable for a double digit scoring effort by Duane Bailey for Youthtown Clique and a similar effort by Alonzo Burton for The Block City Brawlers, the Clique ahead 54-46 at the break. Guards Jonathan Southey (Clique) and Kael Tarawa (Brawlers) were having a ding-dong battle, providing an interesting side show as both teams fought for ascendancy. Carl Buck converted Continue reading
At the request of FIBA Oceania, Basketball Australia has changed its player eligibility rules now allowing New Zealanders (and Pacific Island nationals) to play in any Australian leagues without restrictions. This is a significant announcement but one that appears to have attracted zero media comment in New Zealand.
2012 Harbour Heat Coach Alex Stojkovic outlines his thoughts on the announcement and the affect it may have on the landscape of New Zealand Basketball Continue reading
The result of the Final of the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Basketball Competition was the same as the Nationals Qualifying Tournament Final last Saturday but the game was quite different. Last Saturday Rosmini College opened up an early, unassailable lead and cruised to victory but on Thursday night the contest was closely fought throughout, Westlake Boys Continue reading
The Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam tipped off at Youthtown on Tuesday night. The first night was as much about who wasn’t playing as who was, all four teams suffering from the absence of their Breakers contingents on duty in Christchurch. Continue reading
Breakers Head Coach Dean Vickerman and his two imports, Darnell Lazare and Kerron Johnson will be approaching this week’s pre season games against Melbourne Tigers with a mixture of excitement, nervousness and apprehension. All three will want to make an early impression and demonstrate that they are the right people to lead the club in it’s quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive NBL title. Continue reading
The Finals of the Boys and Girls Tournaments at the Secondary School Premierships Zone 1 were contrasting affairs. The Girls game was a ding-dong encounter, the Boys, something of a one sided anti climax. Continue reading
Rosmini Boys were far too strong for Westlake Boys, recording a comfortable 68-52 win in the Boys competition. Westlake Girls secured a surprise but deserved 82-72 victory over Rosmini College in the Girls competition. Read a full report tomorrow.
LACEY LOWDOWN 