Tournament one of the 2015 Women’s basketball Chamionsip gets underway on Friday at the Allan Brewster Leisure Centre, in Auckland. Thirty-two games are scheduled for the weekend as the twelve teams strive for a place amongst the top six sides that will contest the national title at the business end of the season in Poirua, early June.
The biggest news surrounding player movement is that one of New Zealand’s most credentialed players, Jillian Harmon, has confirmed she will play for the Oceana Otago Gold Rush.
Harmon, a graduate of the prestigious Stanford University programme played 4 years for the Cardinals. She then played five years of professional basketball in Italy before linking with Townsville Fire for the recent 2014/15 Australian WNBL season.
The 27 years old forward joined Tall Ferns colleague Micaela Cocks at the Fire and the pair helped the franchise secure it’s first WNBL title when defeating Bendigo Spirit in the Grand Final last month.
The Gold Rush, WBC Champions in 2011, will be coached by experienced campaigner Todd Marshall. The team will be
captained by Janet Main but unfortunately fellow guard Suzie Bates is currently unavailable due to cricket commitments.
LACEY LOWDOWN 