The Tall Ferns squad named by coach Kennedy Kereama for the upcoming international programme is close to a full strength lineup.
But for a knee injury Jordan Hunter would have been in the point guard mix and college commitments have ruled out regulars Penina Davidson and Stella Beck.
Otherwise this is a team with a nice blend of veteran experience and youth.
Take a look link
What is happening in Sunbury? The Jets hadn’t lost a Big V fixture in a season and a half but now they have lost twice in a fortnight. To be precise they had won 35 consecutive games so to lose two on the trot is not something followers of the team expected.
However it’s not all doom and gloom for the Kennedy Kereama coached Jets as they still sit top of the Big V table with an 11-2 record despite going down 71-61 at Ringwood Hawks
Tall Ferns centre Josie Stockill threatened a triple double for the Jets with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocks.
Also in Melbourne Jess Bygate secured a double double of 20 points and 13 rebounds for Sandringham but the Sabres went down 68-52 to Kilsyth Cobras. The Sabres are now 4-9 in the SEABL East competition.
On the Australian west coast Perry Lakes Hawks suffered a surprise first defeat of the season in the State League. Perry Lakes (14-1) went down 72-63 to Joondalup Wolves on Friday with Toni Farnworth contributing 8 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the Hawks.
Perth Redbacks lost 83-75 at Stirling Senators with Lisa Wallbutton adding 8 rebounds to 10 points for the Redbacks. The Redbacks slip to seventh on the twelve-team ladder with a 6-8 record.
It was a mixed weekend in Queensland Basketball League (QBL) for Micaela Cocks and Chevannah Paalvast.
Their club Mackay Meteorettes scooted past Gold Coast Rollers 74-39 on Friday but met a storm at Logan on Saturday rolled 88-69 by the Thunder.
Cocks had 7 points and 9 rebounds on Friday and 11 points the following day. Paalvast scored 13 points against the Rollers and 9 points at Logan.
Mackay slip to third on the ladder with an 8-2 record.
Top of the QBL table are unbeaten Brisbane Spartans (10-0) after wins against Ipswich and Toowoomba at the weekend.
Kalani Purcell nailed 18 points and 10 rebounds at Ipswich and followed up with 10 points against Toowoomba. Natalie Taylor scored 14 points in the second game of the weekend after going scoreless at Ipswich.
Four Kiwi internationals were involved in a Queensland State Basketball league (QBL) showdown last Saturday.
The four, Kalani Pucell, Natalie Taylor, Chevannah Paalvast and Micaela Cocks, departed the Tall Ferns Selection Camp last Friday and flew back to Queensland for a QBL top of the table clash.
Sisters Kalani and Natalie were left with the winning grin as Brisbane Spartans edged Mackay Meteorettes 80-77.
The scores were tied 36 apiece at half-time and although Mackay shaded the third Brisbane were not going away.
Purcell, scored 10 points in the last quarter – a lay up putting Brisbane 76-72 up with 23 seconds to play. Mackay immediately landed a three but forced to foul sent Purcell to the free throw line.
Purcell, recently signed for the WNBL season by Melbourne Boomers, iced both – 78-75.
In an exciting finish Cocks made a basket with ten seconds to play but Brisbane made another couple of freebies to edge a close one by three points.
Purcell finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds, sister Nat Taylor contributing 6 points and 4 assists for Brisbane. Paalvast and Cocks scored 12 points and 13 points respectively for Mackay.
The Meteorettes, following the defeat, are now 7-1 for the season the Spartans improving to 7-0.
The Tall Ferns squad to compete at the FIBA Asia Cup will be announced in the next couple of days.
On the eve of the Tall Ferns Selection Camp taking place in Auckland during the coming week a number of those selected appear in good form judging by their performances in the various Australian State Leagues at the weekend.
In the Queensland League (QBL) the Purcell sisters, Charmian, Natalie and Kalani did battle in Brisbane with the Spartans beating Gladstone Port City Power 95-57.
Natalie scored 15 points (3/4 3PG) and Kalani contributed 8 points, 8 rebounds and a couple of steals for Brisbane. At the other end of the court oldest sister Charmian, now retired from international basketball, made 7 points and corralled a team high 11 rebounds for Gladstone.
Also in the QBL Chevannah Paalvast and Micaela Cocks combined well for the unbeaten Mackay Meteorettes (7-0) as they defeated Rockhampton Cyclones 97-71.
Paalvast scored 16 points, including 4 from 6 threes, whilst Cocks landed 8 points and a team high 5 assists.
Out west Perry Lakes Hawks are also unbeaten in the WA State League. Boasting a 14-0 record they were way too strong for East Perth Eagles winning 80-51. Toni Farnworth (nee Edmondson) came up with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the Hawks.
Entering the weekend Sunbury Jets, coached by Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama, boasted an 11-0 record in the Big V League. That record took a dent on Sunday when the Jets went down to Hume City Broncos losing 70-67.
Sunbury centre Josie Stockill contributed 4 points, 5 rebounds and a brace of steals and blocks in a losing cause.
The players invited to the Selection Camp beginning on Monday are:
Georgia Agnew –Harbour Breeze / NZL
Jessica Bygate – Melbourne Boomers/ Sandringham Sabres /AUS
Tea Charlton – Nottingham Wildcats/Nottingham Trent University /ENGLAND
Micaela Cocks – Townsville Fire/ Mackay Meteorettes /AUS
Antonia Farnworth (nee Edmondson) Perth Lynx/ Perry Lakes Hawks /AUS
Deena Franklin – Harbour Breeze /NZL
Jillian Harmon – Le Mura Lucca /ITALY
Charlisse Leger-Walker – Waikato Wizards /NZL
Kayla Manuirirangi – Tulane University /USA
Katelin Noyer – Fresno State University /USA
Chevannah Palvaast – Townsville Fire/ Mackay Meteorettes /AUS
Kalani Purcell – Melbourne Boomers/ AUS
Erin Rooney – Artego Bydgoszcz /POLAND
Josephine Stockill – Sunbury Jets /AUS
Natalie Taylor – Brisbane Spartans /AUS
Georgia Agnew is one of three New Zealand based players attending the Tall Ferns Selection Camp in Auckland next week.
The former Waikato guard has been in good form playing for Harbour Breeze in the WBC this season. Some thoughts fro Georgia here link
Penned a piece on one of my favourite players, Lisa Wallbutton, who has been a superb ambassador for New Zealand basketball. link
Week 5 of the Women’s Basketball Championship saw two wins for Harbour Breeze plus success for Tauranga Coasters, Waikato Wizards and Waikato Country Cannons.
Georgia Agnew, Deena Franklin and Charlisse Leger-Walker, all selected for the Tall Ferns Selection Camp next week, were each in good form.
Click here for a full roundup link
Despite the unavailability of a couple of regulars the Tall Ferns trial squad looks largely a group of tried and trusted.
A couple of exceptions are Charlisse Leger-Walker and Tea Charlton. The precocious talents of Leger-Walker are well known to those that follow age group basketball – her debut for the Tall Ferns is just a case of when not if.
Nottingham based Charlton is a selection out of the blue. The 6’2″ forward trialled for the Great Britain Under 20 team only last year.
For the full squad click link
The Tall Ferns have drawn China, ranked number 10 in the world in Pool A at the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup. New Zealand, ranked No 38 will also play Chinese Taipei (No 34) and DPR of Korea ((No 64).
Click here for more information
Having, for now at least, missed out on a shot at the WNBA after being released by the Dallas Wings Kalani Purcell has linked up with her sister Natalie Taylor in Brisbane to play in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL).
Purcell eased in gently playing just 10 minutes for Brisbane Spartans at the weekend hoovering up 9 rebounds in that time to go with 4 assists and 4 points. The Spartans beat Cairns Dolphins 80-58 with Natalie Taylor contributing 5 points and 6 rebounds.
Also in the QBL Micaela Cocks (12pts/7rebs/5assists) and Chevannah Paalvast (8pts/5rebs) made significant contributions as Mackay Meteorettes beat Townsville Flames 84-68 to move to the same 3-0 record as the Spartans.
Perry Lakes Hawks recorded a commanding 82-62 victory against Mandurah Magic in the Western Australia State League (SBL). The two teams were the only unbeaten teams in the SBL heading into Friday’s encounter but the Hawks were in control throughout.
Toni Edmondson only put up four shots in the game converting twice to finish with 5 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
Twenty four hours later the Hawks recorded a 10th straight win thumping East Perth Eagles 80-45 with Edmondson making 3 points and adding 4 rebounds.
Another team with a 10-0 record are the Kennedy Kereama coached Sunbury Jets.
In the latest round of Big V action Sunbury beat Eltham Wildcats 81-65. Josie Stockill got her claws into the Wildcats to the tune of 16 points (7/11FG) and 4 rebounds.
Also in Melbourne Jess Bygate had 8 points and 4 rebounds but Sandringham Sabres were well beaten 74-53 at home against Kilsyth Cobras in the SEABL competition.
Most of the Kiwis mentioned above will be heading for Auckland after Queens Birthday weekend for the Tall Ferns trial.
LACEY LOWDOWN 