Category Archives: Tall Ferns

Feb 13 2018
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Tall Ferns

Tall Ferns head coach announced

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The Tall Ferns will have one of Australia’s leading coaches at the helm as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games, with the appointment of Guy Molloy as the National Team Head Coach.

Molloy worked with the New Zealand women’s basketball team last year as a mentor to the team and its coaching staff.

Basketball New Zealand’s High Performance Manager, Leonard King, says Molloy was the outstanding candidate after a process undertaken over the past three months.

“Guy’s experience and record shone through. He’s a coach with proven results that the players know and respect. We are thrilled Guy has accepted the National Team Head Coach position and and look forward to working with him as we build our women’s programme into a world class operation,” said King.

Speaking from Melbourne, Molloy said he was looking forward to the challenge, with the Commonwealth Games less than two months away.

“It is a great honour to be named the Head Coach of the Tall Ferns. Last year, I saw first-hand how dedicated and hard-working the Tall Ferns players and staff were. They competed fiercely every day, whether it was a training session or a FIBA match. In my stewardship as coach, I hope to do several things: get to know the basketball community of New Zealand, tap into the culture of New Zealand basketball and drive their ethos of team-first basketball, and then use myexperience to increase the skills and standards of the playing list. The mission is to develop the New Zealand team into one of the top teams in the FIBA Asia qualification zone.

“I would like to thank the key people involved at both Basketball New Zealand and the Deakin Melbourne Boomers for their collaboration in making this appointment happen.”

Molloy is currently the Head Coach for the Melbourne Boomers in the Australian WNBL, a team that he coached through to the Grand Final Series this year. He is a six-time WNBL finalist, two-time coach of the year, and previously led the Perth Breakers (now called the Perth Lynx) to the Grand Final in 1993. At a national level Molloy was Assistant Coach with the Australian Opals between 1990 and 1994.

In men’s basketball, Guy coached the fledgling Cairns Taipans in the Australian NBL from 2000 to 2005 where he led the club to their maiden finals appearance in 2004. He was assistant coach on four NBL grand final teams from 1997-2000, and a South Dragons ANBL championship team in 2008-2009.

Molloy led the Australian Under 17 men’s team to a silver medal at the junior FIBA World Cup in 2012, and the Australian Under 21 men’s team to the FIBA World Cup semi-finals in 2004. Molloy was also a three-time Under 18 national championship coach with Victoria.

The Tall Ferns will step into their first training camp of the year on 16 to 18 February in Melbourne.

Molloy is married to Renee, has two daughters Raine and Siena, and resides in Victoria.

Feb 12 2018
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Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Major Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks announcements

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The Tall Blacks playing group for the upcoming FIBA international window has been named ahead of the announcement of the new Tall Ferns head coach due in the next fourty-eight hours.

The MBO New Zealand Tall Blacks coach Paul Henare has named a largely predictable squad for the upcoming FIBA World Cup Qualifying games in China and Korea although there are a couple of changes from the group that played Korea and Hong Kong in November.

Not surprisingly Mika Vukona has been spared a couple of long international flights with Dan Fotu and Ethan Rubatch added to the other thirteen that assembled in Wellington last year.

Former Rangitoto College standout Fotu, currently a development player with the Breakers, has been named with an eye on the future and if selected in the final 12, will join his older brother Isaac who will join the team from the German League.

Rusbatch played last year in the Asia Cup and is recalled to the squad, presumably with one eye on the Commonwealth Games in April when it is unlikely that the European based guards – Tai and Corey Webster – will be available.

The squad of 15 will be reduced to 12 following the completion of the NBL regular season at the weekend. Those 12 players will assemble in China on February 20th to begin training for the crucial games against China (February 23rd) and Korea (February 26th) as they continue towards the ultimate goal, a place at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The two road games against the strongest contenders in World Cup Qualifying Group A have assumed greater importance with the Tall Blacks dropping the home tie against Korea in November, before an easy defeat of Hong Kong away from home.

Henare has named 15 players to cover the event of injury or unavailability, with many players involved in club games this weekend, including the SKYCITY Breakers as they face two games in three days, playing the Illawarra Hawks at home on Friday night, before travelling to Sydney to play the Kings on Sunday to round out their regular season in the NBL.

“We have reviewed and gone over November’s window in fine detail, but the bottom line is we didn’t come out firing, we weren’t as ready as we should have been against Korea in Wellington.

“This window has an even tighter schedule, we will get together for the first time as a group in China, have two days on the floor and then go to battle against a very good side, arguably one of the toughest in the world to beat at home.

“We have and will continue to do all we can to learn from November’s experience, to be ready and to play as we expect the Tall Blacks to play, fighting for every possession, punching above our weight and not taking a backward step.”

The team has plenty of experience to all on in the likes of Tom Abercrombie, Corey Webster, and Jarrod Kenny, while Isaac Fotu and Tai Webster will make the trip from Germany where both are putting up good numbers in one of Europe’s best professional leagues.

Also included are Shea Ili, Reuben Te Rangi, Jordan Ngatai, Derone Raukawa and Finn Delany – all playing in the Australian League and all played big minutes at the 2017 Asia Cup in Beirut. Te Rangi will again captain the side.

The team is well served in the size department too, with Breakers centre’s Rob Loe and Alex Pledger leading the front court, along with Tohi Smith-Milner, who has impressed with Melbourne United this season.

Vukona was not cleared by the Breakers medical team as he continues to manage his way through a busy end to the regular season.

“The advice on Mika is that he shouldn’t travel and play in these games and has therefore not been released. He remains an integral part of our group however and plays a huge role what we are trying to achieve in the long term.”

Henare will leave a final decision on the 12 to travel until the last moment, with a final check on fitness before players board planes from various parts of the world after games this weekend.

The bulk of the team will depart from Sydney on Monday 19th, following the completion of NBL games over the weekend.

Tall Blacks Roster to play China and Korea, February 2018

Point guards: Shea Ili (SKYCITY Breakers), Jarrod Kenny (Perth Wildcats), Tai Webster (Fraport Skyliners), Derone Raukawa (SKYCITY Breakers)

Shooting guards: Reuben Te Rangi (Brisbane Bullets), Corey Webster (Ironi Nahariya), Ethan Rusbatch

Small forwards: Tom Abercrombie (SKYCITY Breakers), Jordan Ngatai (SKYCITY Breakers), Finn Delany (SKYCITY Breakers), Dan Fotu (SKYCITY Breakers)

Power forwards: Isaac Fotu (Ratiopharm Ulm), Tohi Milner-Smith (Melbourne United)

Centres: Rob Loe (SKYCITY Breakers), Alex Pledger (SKYCITY Breakers)

Head Coach: Paul Henare
Assistant Coaches: Pero Cameron, Michael Fitchett
Physiotherapist: Anousith Bouaaphone
Massage Therapist: Shelley Hiha
Manager: Andrew Dewhurst

 

For more information contact:

Andrew Dewhurst
Team Manager
MBO Tall Blacks
021 535501

MBO Tall Blacks – schedule and further information

24 February, 12:30am NZT: China v MBO Tall Blacks. Livestreamed on maoritelevision.com and delayed broadcast on Maori TV at 1pm, 24 Feb.
26 February, 11:30pm NZT: Korea V MBO Tall Blacks. Livestreamed on moaritelevision.com and delayed broadcast 11:30am on 27 Feb.

 

 

Feb 09 2018
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College Hoops, Tall Ferns

Blair and Bengals clawed by Clarke and Leger-Walker

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Idaho State Bengals guard Brooke Blair was held scoreless for the first time this season in the latest version of Kiwi versus Kiwi.

It was in fact Kiwis versus Kiwi as Krystal Leger-Walker and Tiarna Clarke helped Northern Colorado Bears to a convincing 75-52 win over the Bengals.

Blair picked up a foul in the first 30 seconds of the game and it set the tone for a disappointing performance from the 2016 Tall Fern who struggled with foul trouble throughout. Averaging ten attempts from the field per game Blair was restricted to just two shots, with Idaho State’s leading scorer unable to convert either, and finished the game with 4 rebounds and a pair of assist as the Bengals slip to 6-5 and seventh spot on the Big Sky Conference ladder.

In contrast Northern Colorado, riding on the back of a four game winning streak, are now 9-3 in Big Sky Conference play and have moved to the top of the standings.

Leger-Walker put in another solid performance for the Bears. The Tall Ferns guard came up with 6 points (2/4 3PG), 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. She nailed her first triple late in the second period as Northern Colorado, on the back of a dominating 36-12 second quarter, led 47-25 at half-time. Another trey in the third kept Idaho at bay – the lead 60-34 with a quarter to play.

Former Westlake guard Tiarna Clarke, a regular contributor off the bench for the Bears, failed to score with either of her two shots but did contribute 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Adding salt to the wound the steal was from Blair – sort of summed up her day.

Feb 06 2018
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

24 points each for Fotu and Tai Webster

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Our four leading European based players almost scored 100 points between them at the weekend.

The two German based players, Tai Webster and Isaac Fotu, scored 24 points apiece, Corey Webster posted 18 points, with Jillian Harmon chiming in with 23 points.

Isaac Fotu amassed his fourth twenty points haul of the season as Ratiopharm Ulm won on the road beating Goettingen 94-84. His 24 points (7/10FG, 8/9FT) were accompanied by a stats line of 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and an assist. The third consecutive win for Ulm moves them into 6th spot on the Bundesliga ladder with a 12-7 record.

A crowd of 4,860 was on hand to see an injury ravaged Frankfurt Skyliners outpaced in the final quarter losing 88-81 at home to Riessen. Tai Webster’s team high two-dozen were scored at a good clip converting 8 of 11 from the field and 3 from 4 from the charity stripe.

Overall Webster is enjoying a good season as he is top eight in the Bundesliga for scoring (15.8 ppg) and assists (4.8 apg)

Corey Webster scored 18 points as Ironi Nahariya returned to winning ways beating Galil Gilboa 101-98 in a high scoring affair. Webster was in good touch converting 6 from 10 from the field and three from three from the foul line.

Nahariya remain eighth in the Israeli League with a 7-9 record.

In Italy Jillian Harmon posted a second consecutive double-double as Napoli beat Vigarano 78-61. The Tall Ferns forward collected 12 rebounds to compliment 23 points with Napoli now up to third equal on the Italian League ladder with a 10-7 record.

Harmon is the Italian League leading scorer averaging 19.6 points per game and the fourth placed rebounder claiming 9.5 boards per outing.

OK 89 points is not that close to 100 but it’s still pretty good!

Jan 25 2018
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Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Kiwis key contributors in Europe

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It was a last gasp effort but Ratiopharm Ulm, with a score on the buzzer, beat Oettinger Rockets 81-79. Isaac Fotu was outstanding for Ulm racking up 25 points (10/15FG, 5/6FT) to accompany 3 rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.

Fotu’s third twenty points haul of the season helped lift Ulm to eighth on the German League ladder with a 10-7 record.

Also in Germany Tai Webster scored 15 points (7/10FG) as Frankfurt Skyliners suffered a heavy 96-74 loss to Bayreuth to slip to 10-8 for the season and a spot behind Ulm on the Bundesliga table. Webster added 5 rebounds and 6 assists but it was the Skyliners third loss on the bounce.

Webster sits 8th on the German League scoring list averaging 15.0 points per game and is 4th on the assists slate with 5.0 dimes per outing.

In Italy Napoli got back to winning ways comfortably beating Battipaglias 95-61. Napoli are fifth on the Serie A ladder with a 7-6 record. Jillian Harmon produced her sixth double-double of the season (20 points and 10 rebounds) shooting a perfect ten of ten from the foul line in the process.

The Tall Ferns forward leads the Italian League scoring averaging 18.9 points per game and is third on the rebounding chart with 9.1 boards per outing. To emphasise her all court game she is also fifth on the assists list averaging 3.6 per game.

Jan 22 2018
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Tall Ferns, WNBL

Micaela Cocks wins third WNBL Championship

 

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Tall Ferns guard Micaela Cocks has added a third Australian WNBL title to her already impressive CV.

She had won championships with Townsville in 2015 and 2016, collecting the Grand-Final MVP Award that year, and finished runner-up in 2013 and 2014.

Cocks enjoyed a standout four year career at the University of Oregon and has represented the Tall Ferns for over a decade winning a Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2006 and being a member of the NZ team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“It may be the third but it never gets old,” said Cocks.

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Jan 19 2018
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Tall Ferns, WNBL

Micaela Cocks and Kalani Purcell headed for Grand-Final showdown

 

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A Purcell screen catches Cocks

Micaela Cocks is looking for her third Australian WNBL championship and Kalani Purcell  is striving for her first.

It has all come down to one game read more

 

Jan 16 2018
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College Hoops, Tall Ferns

Three episodes of Kiwi versus Kiwi in American college hoops

 

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L-R Clarke, Blair, Leger-Walker and College of Idaho alumni Jaycin Tini

In the latest news from college hoops three editions of Kiwi versus Kiwi have been played out in the past few days.

In episode one Northern Colorado Bears who gained the upper hand in the second half to win 63-57 spoiled Brooke Blair’s 50th game for the Idaho State Bengals, in which she scored 13 points.

The Bears of course have a couple of Kiwi’s in their lineup – fellow Tall Fern Krystal Leger Walker came up with 4 rebounds and 2 steals whilst former Harbour guard Tiarna Clarke scored 6 points (3/5FG).

24 hours earlier the Bears were beaten for the first time in Big Sky Conference play going down 82-73 to Weber State but they still hold a 5-1 conference record.

Episode two also featured three Kiwis with the Rams from Virginia Commonwealth University taking on the Rams of Fordham University in Atlantic 10 Conference play.

Fordham entered the contest with a 4-0 start in conference play compared with VCU’s 1-3 record. After a tight first half a decisive 19-10 third period carried Fordham to a hard fought 64-54 road win.

For the thirteenth time in seventeen games Tera Reed was in double figures – a perfect 8 from 8 from the foul line – as she produced 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists for VCU.

Zara Jillings, fresh from a career high 8 assists in the previous game, contributed 5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists for Fordham. Former Waikato forward Kendell Heremaia, who played alongside Jillings and Reed in the 2016 Junior Tall Ferns, came up with a game high 3 steals plus 6 points and 4 rebounds for Fordham.

There could have been a fourth Kiwi on show but Fordham’s Cantabrian forward Mary Goulding is recovering from a hand injury although expected back on court in the next couple of weeks.

In the third episode Stella Beck and St Mary’s Gaels got the better of Dru Toleafoa and Santa Clara winning 59-46 in West Coast Conference play. 2014 Tall Fern Toleafoa was one of the better performers for Santa Clara with 12 points and 4 rebounds. Beck, capped by the Tall Ferns a year earlier chipped in with 4 points and 4 rebounds.

Beck was more prominent a couple of days later scoring 12 points and adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists in a 75-62 victory against Pepperdine – St Mary’s now 5-1 in conference action.

Jacinta Beckley put in a powerful performance as Seattle Redhawks outscored Kansas City 62-58 for a 2-1 record in the Western Athletic Conference. Beckley top scored for Seattle scoring 18 points (7/15FG) whilst also blocking 3 shots and accumulating 6 rebounds.

Jan 14 2018
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College Hoops, Tall Ferns

Boagni in prime form at CSUN

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I’m not sure what Tessa Boagni conjured up as New Year resolutions but breaking basketball personal bests may have been one of them. Three games into the second half of the season and Boagni has already reeled off a career high 36 points and a pair of double-doubles for California State University Northridge Matadors.

The Christchurch Girls High School alumni opened the year with a career best 36 points, along with 10 rebounds, against California State Fullerton in the opening Big West Conference game of the season – a 70-68 victory.

Most recently Boagni bagged her fourth double-double of the season – 14 points and 11 rebounds in the 84-71 loss to California Poly.

Sandwiched in between the doubles was a strong 25 points and 7 rebounds effort against Santa Barbara.

In her senior year at CSUN Boagni is averaging 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds across the 17 games played this season.

However her form in 2018 surpasses that as she has collected her 75 points at 25 points per outing and 28 rebounds at 9.3 boards across the three games played in January.

Boagni hasn’t played international basketball for a couple of years but an extended spell with this type of form will have the Cantabrian at the forefront of the Tall Ferns selectors minds.

Jan 12 2018
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Tall Ferns, WNBL

Micaela Cocks and Kalani Purcell heading for WNBL showdown

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Tall Ferns teammates Micaela Cocks and Kalani Purcell will go head to head on Saturday night as Townsville Fire entertain Melbourne Boomers in game 1 of the Australian WNBL Grand Final Series.

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