Monthly Archives: September 2016

Sep 07 2016
Leave a comment
Age Group NZ Teams, Womens Basketball

Junior Tall Ferns beaten by China

20160907_143507

The opening game of the two tests series between the New Zealand Junior Tall Ferns (JTFs) and China Under 19, played in front of a large vociferous young crowd at Cowles Stadium Christchurch on Wednesday, was eventually won 72-64 by China.

New Zealand made a good start as Charlisse Leger-Walker, Tiarna Clarke and Charlotte Whittaker made early baskets to forge a 7-2 lead.

Stung into action, China tied the scores at 15 points apiece, then dominated the back end of the quarter by capitalising on New Zealand turnovers to lead 27-22. Leger-Walker led the JTF’s scoring effort with 8 points.

Zara Jillings made the opening basket of the second period followed by Akiene Reed as New Zealand kept the China offence in check. Alyssa Hirawani’s drive took the Kiwi’s to within a point, 30-29 before 205cm Xu Han was reintroduced to keep the JTF’s front court busy.

Leger-Walker landed a three and Reed a jump shot before Leger-Walker gave New Zealand the lead 39-37 from the foul line. That prompted a China timeout followed by the tying basket from Ru Zhang.

Both teams struggled to find the basket early in the third but an 8-0 China run prompted JTF’s coach Brent Matehaere to call a timeout.

Aliyah Dunn connected with a couple of free throws after the restart but a Jiaqi Wang triple extended the China advantage to 57-44. A 22-9 period in favour of the visitors gave China a significant 61-48 lead at three-quarter time.

The New Zealand offence continued to splutter, another 6-0 run from China extending their lead to twenty points, 68-48.

Local favourite Esra McGoldrick finally got the JTF’s score moving with a strong left hand finish and a Jillings ‘And 1’ play continued a mini run; 68-53 with under five minutes to play.

Clarke, Jillings and the impressive Leger-Walker (21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals) continued the resurgence forcing China to call a timeout with three minutes to play as their lead was trimmed to 70-59.

Three points from Clarke and a drive from Reed, 70-64, with 1:36 to play and the Canterbury crowd were in full voice behind the home team.

The 7-0 New Zealand run was broken by a Wang free throw. New Zealand were unable to capitalise on a couple of scoring opportunities, China edging a tight one 72-64.

JTF’s Head Coach Brent Matehaere admitted before the game that it was going to be a mighty challenge taking on one of the Asian powerhouse teams. He said the challenge for him and his team will be to replicate the first half effort for a full twenty minutes when the two teams return to Cowles Stadium for the second game on Thursday at 7.30pm.

“I thought we coped well with their tall timber but it was their perimeter shooting in the third period that hurt us the most.

“We will go back and look at the tape and see what we can improve on for tomorrow. Going with a smaller lineup in the fourth and playing running basketball certainly drew the crowd into the game. Perhaps it is something we can do more of in Game Two,” he said.

Final Score:
NZ Junior Tall Ferns 64 – Leger-Walker 21/5steals, Reed 12/7rebounds, Jillings 9, Clarke 8, Whittaker 5/7, McGoldrick 4/9, Hirwani 3, Dunn2
China 72 –Ru Zhang 13, Jiaqi Wang 12, Saiqi Jia 11

The games against China are a key component of the team’s preparation for the FIBA Oceania Championships, in Fiji, this December. The Championships will double as the Qualifying Tournament for the 2017 FIBA Under 19 World Championships.

Junior Tall Ferns Squad:
• Tiarna Clarke (North Harbour)
• Aliyah Dunn (Southland)
• Kendell Heremaia (Waikato)
• Alyssa Hirawani (Waikato)
• Joellen How (Taranaki)
• Zara Jillings (North Harbour)
• Charlisse Leger-Walker (Waikato)
• Esra McGoldrick (Canterbury)
• Bayley Ransfield (Taranaki)
• Tera Reed (Life Centre Academy, New Jersey, USA)
• Stirling Walker-Pitman (Waikato)
• Charlotte Whittaker (North Canterbury)

Sep 05 2016
1 Comment
Age Group NZ Teams, Womens Basketball

Junior Tall Ferns prepare for two games v China U19 this week

Team

Following a busy week helping their respective schools qualify for the Secondary Schools National Tournament later in the year the Junior Tall Ferns squad has gathered in Christchurch for a two game series against the China Under 19 team. The two games will be played on Wednesday and Thursday at Cowles Stadium.

Head coach Brent Matehaere admits that preparation for the series has not been ideal but is philosophical about the challenge ahead.

“Preparations are always difficult when the players are based all over New Zealand. The girls have been focused on qualifying their schools for Secondary Schools National Championships in the past week but have now turned their attention to the China series.

“The girls had individual skill sets to work on while away from the team environment and there are a number of really supportive coaches who give up there time to work with them.  It’s the Kiwi way to just get on and do it, doing the best we can with what we have.  I’m always impressed with the girls and the improvements that they make from one camp to the next.  It really shows the commitment they have to the programme and ultimately to themselves and the opportunities that they are creating for themselves by taking their individual games to the next level.

“What we don’t have in preperation time we will have to replace with heart and desire,” said Matehaere

The games against China are a key component of the team’s preparation for the FIBA Oceania Championships, in Fiji, this December. The Championships will double as the Qualifying Tournament for the 2017 FIBA Under 19 World Championships.

Matehaere and his squad are not unfamiliar with the opposition style of play as they played nine games in China back in April.

“China are fierce competitors. They play aggressive defence with full court ball pressure and force teams to play a long way from the basket.  They train relentlessly and play the same way,” he said.

The opportunity to play a home international series has created an air of anticipation in the JTF’s camp.

“The girls take a huge amount of pride in playing for New Zealand. It is an honour to stand, look up to our flag and sing the national anthem.

“Many of the girls have family travelling to the game and to have their support is invaluable.  I was recently at a tournament in Dunedin where many of the teams were talking about getting along to the game especially the Wednesday encounter.

“It would be great to see Cowles Stadium packed with fans passionate about basketball supporting the Junior Tall Ferns and their own local players in Charlotte Whittaker (Rangiora High School) and Esra McGoldrick (Rangi Ruru Girls),” Matehaere said.

The New Zealand team has a good dose of international experience. Four of the players, Zara Jillings and the Waikato trio of Charlisse Leger-Walker, Alyssa Hirawani and Kendell Heremaia, were members of the New Zealand team that finished fifth at the FIBA Under 18 3×3 World Championships in Kazakhstan in June. In addition, Charlotte Whittaker and Tiarne Clarke both played for the New Zealand Select team against China B in Auckland over Queens Birthday weekend.

Junior Tall Ferns Squad:

  • Tiarna Clarke (North Harbour)
  • Aliyah Dunn (Southland)
  • Kendell Heremaia (Waikato)
  • Alyssa Hirawani (Waikato)
  • Joellen How (Taranaki)
  • Zara Jillings (North Harbour)
  • Charlisse Leger-Walker (Waikato)
  • Esra McGoldrick (Canterbury)
  • Bayley Ransfield (Taranaki)
  • Tera Reed (Life Centre Academy, New Jersey, USA)
  • Stirling Walker-Pitman (Waikato)
  • Charlotte Whittaker (North Canterbury)

 Games – Junior Tall Ferns v China Under 19

  • Game 1: Wednesday, 7 September, tip off 1.00pm
  • Game 2: Thursday, 8 September, tip off 7.30pm

Both games will be played at Cowles Stadium, Christchurch.

Sep 05 2016
Leave a comment
Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns, Womens Basketball

Bygate and Kereama clinch title in style

 

Wx08BF25

The Sunbury Jets, with Tall Fern Jess Bygate to the fore, have gone 24-0 this season and in the process claimed the Big V Division 1 title.

On Saturday the Jets, leading the best of three grand final series 1-0, comfortably disposed of Geelong Supercats 79-54 to clinch the title – Bygate contributed 12 points in the win. The starting power forward shot 5 from 8 from the field and added a couple of free throws in 23 minutes of action.

Having won 62-41 in Geelong the previous weekend the Jets were pushed, until half-time at least, on their own court.

Sunbury trailed 7-2 early in the game but recovered to lead 18-16 at quarter time extended to 37-27 at half-time.

The Kennedy Kereama coached Jets secured the title in the third with a blistering 27-10 period in front of an enthusiastic crowd packed into the Hangar.

Kereama, also head coach of the Tall Ferns of course, was naturally extremely satisfied with his team’s achievements.

“I am really proud of my team going undefeated, the only State League team in Australia to do it. To win a championship after putting in so much hard work is a nice reward for the players, staff and club. It was even better to do it on our home floor where we could share it with our home supporters and members.

“We have built a programme that prides itself on defence and that plays unselfish offence on the other end of the floor. Statistically we have led the league at both ends.

“I have been lucky enough to be able to bring in a few players I have coached in state leagues around Victoria from my SEABL days and to bring in an incredible import in Courtney Duever plus a national team member in Jess Bygate. Then I had a great blend of local talent. All these players have completely brought into my style of play and worked their butts off!

“So it’s great to be rewarded with a championship on our home court,” Kereama added.

The success of Kereama and Bygate brings the curtain down on 11 months of continuous action by out Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks overseas.

There will only be a short lull before the action begins again in the Australian NBL and WNBL in October. The European season also begins in early October with the American College season tipping off in November.

Sep 03 2016
Leave a comment
School Basketball

Westlake Girls and Rangitoto claim Zone 1 Titles

Rangitoto College and Westlake Girls were crowned Premiership champions on the final day of the 2016 Zone 1 Secondary Schools National Championships Qualifying Tournament at the North Shore Events Centre on Saturday. Both teams produced dominant displays to win their respective titles.

Equally significantly the seven qualifiers (both Boys and Girls) for the National Championships in Palmerston North in October were decided.

Rangitoto  retained the Boys title with a resounding 91-57 win against Auckland Grammar School.

Rangitoto scored the last 11 points of the opening quarter to lead 23-12 at the break.

The Grammar chances were dealt two major blows in the second quarter as starters Connor Flanagan and Taki Fahrensohn departed the game with significant injuries. Rangitoto took full advantage to stretch the lead beyond twenty points, 47-21, at half-time.

The influential Dan Fotu had 11 points at the break to led all scorers, the sidelined Fahrensohn half a dozen for Grammar.

Unfortunately Fahrensohn (pinched nerve in the arm) and Flanagan (severe ankle sprain) were unable to take any further part in the game although the under resourced AGS outfit kept plugging away.

Guards Thomas Whyte, Rua Winitana and Elijah Andrews, along with Samson Aruwa, kept AGS afloat but they had no answer to the one-two punch of Brayden Inger and Sam Waardenburg. Inger had 14 points in the third period alone.

The Rangi lead was a massive 74-32 at three-quarter time and with the result no longer in doubt the intensity went out of the game in the fourth, both teams heading to Nationals with high expectations.

Final Score: Rangitoto 91 – Inger 24, Fotu 21, Zac Te Puni 10  Auckland Grammar 57 – Aruwa 15, Whyte 12

Earlier in the day Rangitoto avenged their defeat the previous week against Rosmini College in the Auckland Prems Final in some style. Rangi led from start to finish winning the semi-final clash 84-58.

In the second semi-final Auckland Grammar accounted for Westlake Boys in equally convincing fashion winning 87-66.

Boys Final Standings/Results (Top 7 teams Qualify for Nationals)

1st/2nd Rangitoto 91 Auckland Grammar 57

3rd/4 Rosmini 77 Westlake 65

5th/6th Kelston 93 Selwyn 62

7th/8th Mt Albert 107 Whangarei Boys 30

9th/10th St Peter’s 80 Whangaparaoa 67

11th/12th Avondale 87 Takapuna 69

13th/14th Macleans 86 Massey 63

15th/16th Pakuranga 62 Mt Roskill 57

17th’18th Northcote 67 Birkenhead 48

19th/20th Kristin School 54 Southern Cross 43

————————————————————————-

With the senior trio of Rosie Davison, Zara Jillings and Tiarna Clarke in dominant form Westlake Girls proved too strong for Auckland Grammar winning the Girls Final 88-52.

Westlake led 46-27 at half-time with the Junior Tall Ferns pairing of Jillings and Clarke connecting with a combined five threes in the session.

Westlake were even more dominant in the third winning the stanza 31-14 as Emme Shearer, Jordyn Maddix and Sophie Dil helped stretch the advantage to 77-42.

Mele Latu, Rionne Papa, Karma Skilton-Roberts and Elianna Tuaiti all made double figure contributions for AGGS but it wasn’t their day as they went down to their heaviest defeat of the season.

Westlake now boast a 3-1 record against the reigning Auckland Premiers and will head to Nationals with confidence high and a trophy in the cabinet.

Final Score: Westlake 88 – Clarke 31, Jillings 28, Davison 14, Shearer 8

Auckland 52 – Papa 14, Skilton-Roberts 12, E Tuaiti 11, Latu 10

The crucial 7th/8th play-off game was won by Epsom Girls who defeated Orewa College 66-61 in overtime after the scores were locked 58 apiece in regulation. Orewa guard Ariana Henare scored 31 points including 13 points from the foul line but 18 points from Sarah Scoular and a further 16 from Aira Benitez carried Epsom to victory and a place at Nationals.

Girls Final Standings/Results (Top 7 teams Qualify for Nationals)

1st/2nd Westlake 88 Auckland Grammar 52

3rd/4th Rangitoto 79 St Kentigern 36

5th/6th  Mt Albert 82 Massey 42

7th/8th Epsom Girls 66 Orewa 61

9th   Rosehill

10th Pakuranga

11th Diocesan

 

 

Sep 02 2016
Leave a comment
School Basketball

Still three Boys teams and One Girls team to secure spots at Nationals from Zone 1

The quarter-finals of the Boys Grade and semi-finals of Girls Grade were decided on day three of the Zone 1 2016 Secondary Schools National Championships Qualifying Tournament at the North Shore Events Centre on Friday.

However as much interest, maybe more, is centred on the 5-8 placed classification games (both Boys and Girls) as seven teams head for the National Champs in Palmerston North in October.

In the Boys quarters Rangitoto College demolished Whangarei Boys 129-38. Zack Te Puni led the Rangi scoring rampage with 18 points, one of seven players in double figures. Next best were Logan McIntosh and Kaycee Anibueze with 15 points apiece. Devon Dyer top scored for Whangarei with 11 points.

Rangitoto will face Rosmini College, who produced an equally decisive victory defeating Selwyn College 113-59, in one semi-final. Twenty points hauls from Taine Wattie and Peter Jenkins, plus a double-digit cameo from Samuel Bowden, did most of the damage for Rozza.

James Viloria dropped 21 points for Selwyn.

On the other side of the draw Auckland Grammar beat Kelston Boys 89-62 with Taki Fahrensohn scoring 29 points. Kelston were still in the hunt at three-quarter time only 62-56 down but scored just 6 points in the final period. Thomas Whyte (13pts) landed four triples in the final stanza to help the Grammar cause. The reliable Kale Lawson top scored for Kelston with 18 points.

The Westlake versus Mt Albert Grammar encounter was the closest of the four quarter-finals. MAGS trailed 64-60 with less than four minutes to play but couldn’t find the hoop again. Quality finishes from Reuben Fitzgerald (12 points) and Isaac Letoa down the stretch got Westlake over the line 73-60.

Letoa led all scorers with 29 points, MAGS guard Michael Gardner accumulating 18 points. Lake now turn their attention to the semi-final against Auckland Grammar.

Boys Quarter-Final results:

Rangitoto College 129 Whangarei Boys 38

Westlake Boys 73 Mt Albert Grammar 60

Auckland Grammar 89 Kelston Boys 62

Rosmini College 113 Selwyn College 59

The Boys semi-finals and 5-8 classification games will be staged on Saturday.

—————————————————————-

In a Girls semi-final Westlake had little trouble disposing of St Kentigern College winning 95-37 with Tiarna Clarke making 21 points and Piper Manolas 15 points. For St Kentigern captain Summer-Jean Motufoua scored a dozen points.

In the other semi Auckland Girls Grammar demonstrated the form that won them the Auckland Premiership title recently by beating Rangitoto College 76-54. AGGS were never headed after leading 21-9 at quarter time.

Mele Latu scored 23 points and Karma Skilton-Roberts knocked down five triples as she also managed 23 points. Rangi boasted ten different scorers but only Riana Rangi-Brown and Maania Spooner with 10 points apiece reached double figures.

The next two teams in each pool are involved in the play-offs for places 5-8 with the top three earning a spot at Nationals.

Mt Albert Grammar booked their spot with an emphatic win against Orewa College, 104-28. Megan Hoare managed 8 points for Orewa but the MAGS pair of Sharne Pupuke-Robati and Rhyannon Poto who snared a combined 62 points dominated the game.

Massey High also secured a place at Nationals but they had to fight long and hard to get the better of Epsom Girls before eventually winning 71-51, a score line that didn’t do justice to Epsom who trailed by just four points at three-quarter time.

Hui Jing Lee (17 points) and Charlotte Armstrong (15 points) led the Epsom effort with Shauna Povey (17 points) and Laticia Jost (13 points) the best for Massey.

Epsom and Orewa will now have to battle for the one remaining spot at Nationals at 2.15pm on Saturday.

Sep 01 2016
Leave a comment
School Basketball

Boys Quarter-Finalists found at Zone 1 Qualifiers

Thursday was the moving day at the Zone 1 2016 Secondary Schools National Championships Qualifying Tournament on the North Shore in both the Boys and Girls competitions.

The quarter-finals of the Boys competition was completed after the final two rounds of pool play on Thursday. All six Premier Grade teams progressed along with Selwyn College and Whangarei Boys.

 

Quarter-Final draw:

Rangitoto College v Whangarei Boys

Westlake Boys v Mt Albert Grammar

Auckland Grammar v Kelston Boys

Rosmini College v Selwyn College

 

Standings at the completion of Pool play

Pool A

Rangitoto College* 4-0

Kelston Boys* 3-1

Macleans College 2-2

Takapuna Grammar 1-3

Birkenhead College 0-4

Pool B

Westlake Boys* 4-0

Selwyn College 3-1

Pakuranga College 2-2

Mount Roskill Grammar 1-3

Northcote College 0-4

Pool C

Auckland Grammar* 4-0

Whangarei Boys 3-1

Massey High 2-2

Avondale College 1-3

Kristin School 0-4

Pool D

Rosmini Coll* 4-0

Mt Albert Grammar* 3-1

St Peter’s College 2-2

Whangaparaoa College 1-3

Southern Cross 0-4

*Teams that competed in the Auckland Premier competition this season.

 

The Girls competition is structured differently to the Boys with the top two teams in each pool heading straight to the semi-finals and therefore automatic entry to National’s in October.

The next two teams in each pool enter play-offs for places 5-8 with only three of the four earning a spot.

The make up of the two pools has been a topic of discussion this week with the top three teams from the Premier competition, Auckland Girls Grammar, Mt Albert Girls Grammar and Westlake Girls all sitting in Pool B.

With Mt Albert suffering defeats at the hands of Westlake and Auckland Girls their route to the Nationals will be via the 5-8 classification games.

The final round of pool games remain to be played on Friday morning with the overnight standings as below.

Pool A

Rangitoto College* 3-0

St Kentigern College* 2-1

Orewa College* 2-2

Epsom Girls High 2-2

Diocesan Girls 0-4

Pool B

Westlake Girls* 4-0

Auckland Grammar* 4-0

Mt Albert Grammar* 2-2

Massey High* 1-3

Pakuranga College 0-4

Rosehill College 1-3

* teams that competed in the Premier competition this season.

Newer posts →