Category Archives: Kiwi’s Abroad

Apr 03 2017
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns

Good performances from Bygate, Edmondson, Wallbutton, Hunter & Stockill

 

 

 

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There were a number of commendable performances from Kiwis in Australian State League competitions over the weekend including a fine double double from Jess Bygate at a facility known to many Kiwi basketball players.

Bygate scored a game high 19 points for Sandringham Sabres in the South East Australian Basketball league (SEABL) but the Melbourne team went down heavily at Albury Wodonga losing 89-59. Bygate also corralled 11 rebounds in a game played at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre, a facility well known to the many young Kiwi players that have represented New Zealand Koru teams.

Jordan Hunter notched 7 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists on debut for Sturt Sabres in the South Australian Premier League on Saturday. The Sabres only scored 30 points in the first three periods against Southern Tigers but came home on a wet sail winning the last quarter 31-18 and the game 61-59.

Toni Edmondson top scored with 16 points (6/14FG) and claimed 4 rebounds as Perry Lakes Hawks defeated Cockburn Cougars 66-61 in the Western Australian State League. A decisive 20-11 second quarter did the trick for the Hawks that remain unbeaten after three rounds.

Also in WA Lisa Wallbutton was in good form for Perth Redbacks. Wallbutton led the game in rebounds (11) and blocks (4) as the Redbacks comfortably beat Kalamunda Eastern Suns 80-54. The former North Harbour forward added 7 points and 3 assists for good measure.

Sunbury Jets made it four wins in four outings in the Big V League after defeating Bulleen Boomers 68-58 on Sunday. Josie Stockill, in her first season out of college basketball scored 10 points and added 6 rebounds, a block and a steal for the Kennedy Kereama coached Jets.

Mar 31 2017
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns

Erin Rooney into Polish League semi-finals

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The starters played the bulk of the minutes but Erin Rooney still chipped in for ten minutes off the bench as Artego Bydgoszcz won an epic five game series in Polish League quarter-final action. With the series locked at 2-2 Artego beat Energa Torun 86-80 on the road in the decisive fifth game on Wednesday.

Rooney dished off one of the team’s 26 assists but otherwise had a quiet night statistically.

The Tall Ferns point guard is working her way back to full fitness after an injury ravaged 2015. Since joining Artego in January the Cantabrian has played 15 games averaging 20 minutes of court time and accruing 3.4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal per game.

Artego begin a semi-final series at the weekend against TS Wisla. When the teams met in the regular season Wisla won both encounters although the margins were just 6 points and 7 points.

Mar 29 2017
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Rooney in a tussle, Fotu and Abbo in sticky situations.

Tom Abercrombie and Isaac Fotu are fighting rearguard actions in Europe but it is better news for Erin Rooney, Jillian Harmon and Mike Karena.

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Erin Rooney and Artego Bydgoszcz are locked at 2-2 in a five game dual in the Polish League quarter-final play-off series – Artego beat Energa Torun 61-60 in an exciting game three. Rooney played a steady hand scoring 7 points on 3 from 5 shooting in 26 minutes.

Torun bounced back in game four on Sunday to win 65-55 – Rooney had a quiet night in that one getting just 3 rebounds and a steal.

Le Mura Lucca relinquished top spot on the Italian League ladder in the very last game of the regular season going down 70-65 at fourth placed San Martino on Sunday. Jillian Harmon was busy with 18 points, 4 rebounds and a brace of steals but Lucca’s opening quarter of just 5 points proved to be their undoing.

Lucca will now face the winner of the Ubertide v Broni tie at home in the quarter-finals.

Zaragoza are having a tough time in the lower reaches of the Spanish League but a home loss by 45 points must be the low point of the season. Defeated 102-57 by sixth placed Gran Canaria, Zaragoza slipped one place to 15th on the 17 team Liga Endesa table. Tall Blacks forward Isaac Fotu was used sparingly scoring just 6 points in 18 minutes of action.

Mike Karena stacked the stats sheet with 14 points (4/11FG), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals as Sammic ISB beat Valladolid 88-84 to remain at the top of the LEB Silver league table – the Spanish third division. Sammic appeared to be cruising at the three-quarter mark leading 77-61 but were given a scare by their mid table rivals in the fourth period before securing a sixth straight win

In Turkey it’s now 10 straight defeats for Demir IBB and Tom Abercrombie has been involved in half of the losses since arriving in Istanbul. At the weekend Abercrombie managed 9 points (3/6FG) and 3 rebounds as Demir fell 84-67 to third placed Besiktas.

Mar 27 2017
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks

Tall Ferns shine in Oz

A number of Australian State competitions are underway and some of the 2016 Tall Ferns are already making a mark.

Toni Edmondson, fresh from a fine Australian WNBL season with Perth Lynx, put a dominating 19 points performance together as Perry Lakes Hawks beat Kalamunda Eastern Suns 84-59 in the second week of the Western Australian State League. Edmondson added 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for good measure.

Basketball - Tall Ferns v Japan, 27 August 2009

Also in Perth forward Lisa Wallbutton went scoreless for Perth Redbacks but she did secure a team high 12 rebounds. Unfortunately the Redbacks fell 69-58 to Southwest Slammers.

Over in Melbourne Jess Bygate scored 14 points on debut for Sandringham Sabres in their 66-60 SEABL first round win against Canberra Capitals. Bygate also snared 5 rebounds for the Sabres.

Sunbury Jets made it three from three in the Victorian Big V League with an 89-72 home win against Ringwood Hawks. Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama is in his second season with the Jets and he is yet to lose a game after Sunbury went unbeaten last season when gaining promotion from Division 1 to the Championship.

Former Colgate University stand-out Josie Stockill was in fine form for the Jets scoring 25 points (8/17FG) in addition to securing 9 rebounds and dishing a couple of assists. 2016 New Zealand Select point guard Shea Crotty scored three points for Sunbury knocking down her only shot of the game – a typical arching three.

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Josie Stockill

Jordan Hunter, based in Adelaide, is expected to make her debut for Sturt Sabres when they begin their season next weekend.

Mar 22 2017
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

A mixed bag in Europe this week

Despite a change of coach a couple of games ago Zaragoza, with another loss, are flirting with the Liga Endesa relegation zone after a 100-92 loss at Andorra. Former Rangitoto College favourite Isaac Fotu finished the game with 10 points (5/8FG) and 5 rebounds. Zaragoza now has an 8-16 record, just one win above the drop zone.

In contrast Mike Karena and Sammic ISB are flying high. Sammic head the LEB Silver ladder, the Spanish third division, with a 19-6 record. Karena put together another strong performance nabbing 21 points (8/12FG) and 6 rebounds in the latest Sammic success – an 89-82 win against mid-table Zornotza.

In Turkey Thomas Abercrombie’s club Demir IBB continue to struggle slipping to a ninth straight league defeat. Up against defending champions Fenerbache in Istanbul Demir was well beaten 89-68.

In his fourth game for Demir Abercrombie scored 7 points (3/8FG) and also totaled 3 rebounds and a block.

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Erin Rooney scored 9 points for Artego Bydgoszcz in Polish League quarter-finals play-off action. Artego went down 75-61 at Energa Torun in the first game in the best of three tie on Saturday.

48 hours later Artego leveled the series with a nail biting 68-67 victory in game two. Rooney enjoyed 30 minutes of court time in that one producing 5 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.

The deciding game is on Saturday.

In Italy top of the table Le Mura Lucca thumped Umbertide 87-46 to improve to 18-3 for the season. Starting forward Jillian Harmon was only required for 18 minutes but still scored 17 points on 8 from 9 shooting. Harmon has amassed 352 points this season averaging 17.6 points per game.

Mar 16 2017
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Fotu and Karena gain in Spain

Zaragoza broke a three game losing streak with a thumping 85-59 victory against Obradoiro on Sunday. Power forward Isaac Fotu finished the game with 10 points (4/7FG), 8 rebounds an assist, a block and a steal. The win lifts Zaragoza to 12th on the 17 team Spanish League ladder with an 8 win, 15 loss record.

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Also in Spain Mike Karena led all scorers with 18 points (7/11FG, 4/5FT) as Sammic ISB maintained top spot on the LEB Silver ladder, the Spanish third division, with a 63-52 win 83-75 against fourth placed Lucentum. The 2016 Tall Black also added a handy 7 rebound.

It wasn’t a good weekend in Turkey for Thomas Abercrombie and his club Demir IBB.

Abercrombie failed to score from five attempts for Demir who were pummeled 79-52 by Anadolu Efes. Perhaps a predictable result when 14th plays second although Demir was at home.

Neither Erin Rooney, playing in Poland for Artego Bydgoszcz or Jillian Harmon playing in Italy for top of the table Le Mura Lucca were in action last weekend.

Mar 10 2017
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College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Noyer conference final bound but Salt and Le’Afa defeated

There were three Kiwi senior internationals in US college play-off action on Friday with a win and a pair of losses to report.

 

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It was good news for Katelin Noyer. In a game that saw 13 lead changes and four ties Fresno State prevailed 53-51 as the seventh-seeded Bulldogs caused another upset. 48 hours after upsetting No 2 Wyoming on Wednesday they beat No 3 UNLV, in the semifinals of the 2017 Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championship.

Noyer, in her first season with Fresno, came off the bench to contribute 2 points and 2 rebounds. Fresno State will now prepare for the final against Boise State on Saturday.

It wasn’t such good news for the two Tall Blacks in action on Friday, both having relatively quiet games, as their two teams exited their respective conference championships.

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Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa scored just 5 points (1/4FG, 2/2FT) as

Sacramento State Hornets exited the Big Sky Conference Championships at the quarter-final stage beaten convincingly, 89-70, by Eastern Washington.

The Wellingtonian guard has had a fine first season but this wasn’t his or the Hornets day as they struggled against the more fancied (seeded No 2) Eastern Washington.

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It was also a disappointing day for Jack Salt and the Virginia Cavaliers. The Cavs, ranked sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference, were beaten by No3 Notre Dame 71-58 in a quarter-final tie in Brooklyn. The Kiwi centre didn’t score with his only shot in 11 minutes of action but did secure 4 rebounds.

It’s not all over for the Cavaliers as they will make their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance later in the month.

Mar 08 2017
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College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Beck bows out, Noyer and Le’Afa advance

NCAA Conference Tournaments are in full swing this week.

On Wednesday (NZ time) Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, Katelin Noyer, and Stella Beck were in action.

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Beck and St Mary’s Gaels were involved in the game of the day from a New Zealand perspective, the Gaels up against Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference Championship final.

Third seeded Saint Mary’s mounted a furious third-quarter rally but it was not enough, falling short in the championship game. SMC cut a 25-point deficit down to seven points in the third quarter, but No 1 ranked Gonzaga held off the Gaels to win 86-75.

Beck contributed a team high 5 assists to compliment 6 points, 3 rebounds and a brace of blocks.

The Gaels made their first WCC championship game appearance since 2011 and with another 20-win season, it is expected that they will make its eighth consecutive WNIT appearance. The WNIT field will be announced on March 13, with first round games will take place March 15-17.

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Le’Afa contributed 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal as Sacramento State Hornets got its Big Sky Conference Championships campaign off on the right foot beating Idaho state 91-76. Next up for the Hornets is a quarter-final appointment with Eastern Washington on Friday.

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Former Westlake Girls centre Katelin Noyer was 3 from 3 from the field, her 6 points helping propel Fresno State Bulldogs past Nevada, 62-57 in the opening round of the Mountain West Conference Championships on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the seventh ranked Bulldogs came up against Wyoming in the quarter-finals and upset the No 2 seeds winning 58-48. Noyer snared a rebound but the freshman, only required for 6 minutes, missed with her only shot.

Mar 08 2017
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Mixed results in Europe for Kiwis last week

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Zaragoza suffered a third consecutive loss going down 93-80 at Fuenlabrada despite a strong showing from Isaac Fotu. The power forward contributed 13 points at a highly efficient 6 from 7 shooting and added a quartet of rebounds and assists.

Zaragoza are now 7-15 for the season and 13th on the 17 team Liga Endesa points table.

Also in Spain Sammic ISB entertained the extravagantly named Aceitunas Fragata Moron in the Spanish third division.

Mike Karena scored 8 points (4/9FG) and grabbed 6 rebounds as Sammic recovered from a four points deficit at half time to win 83-75 and remain top of the standings with a 17-6 record.

In his second game in Turkey Thomas Abercrombie came off the bench as his club Demir IBB went down 78-67 at Gaziantep. The Tall Blacks forward is searching for his scoring touch failing to score from the field in six attempts. He made a pair of freebies finishing with 2 points, 2 rebounds and a steal in 16 minutes.

Erin Rooney also played 16 minutes in a loss as Artego Bydgoszcz lost 71-64 at Wisla in the Polish League. Rooney put up just a couple of shots finishing with 2 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists against top of the table Wisla as Artego slip to 6th on the standings (13-9).

In Italy Le Mura Lucca had a comfortable 77-50 win at Battipaglia to improve to 17-2 on the season. Jillian Harmon recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds, her third double double in the past five games. Next week Lucca have a top of the table clash with Familia Schio, the team that defeated them in the Italian Cup final last week.

Mar 07 2017
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College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns

Beck and St Mary’s advance to conference final

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Stella Beck drives to basket

The Saint Mary’s Gaels women’s basketball team used a big second half to defeat BYU Provo Cougars 59-49 and advance to the West Coast Conference Championship game for the first championship appearance since the 2010-11 season.

The output from the opposing two Tall Ferns in the contest was immense.

Stella Beck put together an impressive stats line for the victorious Gaels. The Gaels leading scorer this season collected 9 points, captured 7 rebounds, dished 4 assists and added 3 steals and a block in 32 minutes of non-stop action.

Senior Kalani Purcell was one of two BYU players in double figures scoring 15 points, the power forward also adding 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists and a block as the Cougars attempted in vain to return to the conference final.

The Gaels outscored BYU 39-22 in the second half and also out rebounded the Cougars 50-25 and kept BYU scoreless in the final period for more than the first five minutes.

Saint Mary’s will face top seeded Gonzaga in Tuesday’s conference final.

 

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