May 18, 2013
Ten Basketball New Zealand athletes have received the chance of a lifetime to learn the game from NBA coaches and players.
The players have been selected from the NZ U17 squad to attend the second Asia Pacific Team Camp, presented by NIKE and the National Basketball Association.
Scheduled for June 13-16 at Nanjing, China, the camp will assemble some of the best junior talent from NZ, Australia, China and Korea, with a focus on both skill and fundamentals, but also team concepts and competitions.
Each participant will have transportation, food and lodgings covered during their visit, and will also receive NIKE basketball shoes, socks and playing uniforms.
The 10 Kiwis will be accompanied by Emerging Junior Tall Blacks assistant coach Seth Weakley and the trip will undoubtedly help the national U17 squad prepare for their FIBA Oceania Championship series against Australia in September.
“This will be a great educational and cultural adventure for these young men, and an example of the opportunities available to players within the Basketball New Zealand programme,” says BBNZ chief executive Iain Potter.
“These players will have a chance to learn from some of the world’s best players and coaches, as well as experiencing a completely different environment in China.”
The selected athletes are Joseph Cook-Green (Otago), Isaac Davidson (Waitakere West Auckland), Matthew Freeman (North Harbour), Kane Kell (Auckland), Nikau McCullough (Waikato), Shou Nisbet (Canterbury), Reuben Porter (Waitakere West Auckland), Richard Rodger (Otago), Jackson Stent (North Harbour) and Sam Timmins (Otago).
May 17, 2013
Fico Finance Nelson Giants moved to second spot In the Bartercard NBL after defeating Advice First Waikato Pistons 89-75, while in Invercargill, Zerofees Southland Sharks had their fourth win of the season, dispatching Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs 105-83.
American Erron Maxey continued his hot form scoring 22 points for Nelson, while fellow American Josh Pace collected 19 points and nine rebounds.
Pistons guard Tai Webster had a game-high 23 points, but ithe visitors got off to another slow start, as they trailed by 15 at halftime.
Nelson extended their lead to 19, but a late rally by Waikato in the fourth quarter, managed to close the gap to only six points with still five minutes remaining.
After a timeout, the Giants regrouped and put a halt to the Pistons momentum, pushing their lead back up to double-digits, sealing win number five for the season.
League rebounding leader Zack Atkinson had a solid double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, but Giants’ Mika Vukona replied with 14 rebounds of his own.
It was the Pistons’ fifth loss of the season and they will play their fourth straight road next week against the Mountain Airs, who have had back-to-back 20-plus point losses.
They did not get off the start they hoped for on their double down south, as the Sharks outplayed them on every facet.
Sharks import Brian Conklin was impressive, scoring 31 points and only missed two field goals (12/14), while Breakers development player Reuben Te Rangi had 25 points, making 4/8 three-pointers.
Round Three Player of the Week Kenny Gabriel had limited minutes due to foul trouble, eventually exiting in 14 minutes, only scoring five points.
It was also a tough night for Jack Leasure, who was held to 11 points, going 5/15 from the field.
Taranaki will now move on to Dunedin to face the red-hot OceanaGold Nuggets Saturday night, while the Sharks will have a night off, before they also travel to play the Nuggets in arguably the game of Round Five.
Friday, May 17
At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Fico Finance Nelson Giants 89 (Erron Maxey 22, Josh Pace 19, Brook Ruscoe 16) Advice First Waikato Pistons 75 (Tai Webster 23, Garrius Holloman 20, Zack Atkinson 14), Final
Referees – Melony Wealleans, Yalla Edwards, Nick Naylor
1Q: 23-15
HT: 47-32 (24-17)
3Q: 72-55 (25-23)
FT: 89-75 (17-20)
Live Stats
At The Velodrome, Invercargill
Zerofees Southland Sharks 105 (Brian Conklin 31, Reuben Te Rangi 26, Kevin Braswell 13) The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs 83 (Aaron Bailey-Nowell 22, Link Abrams 19, Brad Anderson 16), Final
Referees – Dallas Pickering, Raewyn Willocks, Matt Bathurst
1Q: 25-12
HT: 56-32 (31-20)
3Q: 78-60 (22-28)
FT: 105-83 (27-23)
Live Stats
Sharks v Airs Box Score
May 17, 2013
George Heaney, Manawatu Standard
The Manawatu Jets and Basketball New Zealand will be taking their disagreement over the naturalised players rule to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.
The Jets protested their loss to the Wellington Saints two weeks ago, because they couldn’t field a full roster with the new rule in force this year.
Teams are permitted three restricted players, either imports or naturalised citizens, unless they have lived in New Zealand for 12 years.
Read more
May 17, 2013
Nathan Burdon, Fairfax News
Zerofees Southland Sharks coach Paul Henare admits to a little bit of cross-code envy ahead of a double-header weekend that could define his team’s season.
Henare read a Southland Times report this week about the Southern Steel netball team selling out tomorrow’s game against the Magic almost a week early.
The two franchises occupy different parts of the Stadium Southland offices, but they are both trending upwards on a run of wins that has lifted the mood significantly around Surrey Park.
Henare would love to see the “sold out” sign posted outside a Zero Fees Sharks game at the velodrome one day.
“The numbers have been good, we are starting to get some bums on seats.
“A little bit of a competitive streak came out in me this week when I saw the ‘sold out’ sign come out for the Steel. I was like ‘man, it would be great if both clubs could do that’. [Steel] are doing a great job with how they are performing.”
Like Steel, the Sharks sit just outside the top four, although they have a game or more in hand over three of the teams above them on the national league ladder.
The Taranaki Mountain Airs are a team Henare respects, a team better than their two-win, four-loss record suggests.
Jack Leasure has a reputation as one of the best shooters in the competition and fellow import Kenny Gabriel has been producing impressive numbers, along with solid contributions from the likes of Link Abrams and Aaron Bailey-Nowell.
The Sharks head to Dunedin on Sunday to take on the unbeaten Otago Nuggets, a game that could, even at this early stage of the competition, help shape the make-up of the playoffs.
Click here to read full story
Friday, May 17
At The Velodrome, Invercargill
Zerofees Southland Sharks v The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs, 7pm
Referees – Dallas Pickering, Raewyn Willocks, Matt Bathurst
Live Stats
At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Fico Finance Nelson Giants v Advice First Waikato Pistons, 7pm
Referees – Melony Wealleans, Yalla Edwards, Nick Naylor
Live Stats
More Latest News »
May 11, 2013
Paulo Kennedy, FIBA
With the New Zealand Breakers’ 2013 championship victory came the end of legendary New Zealand forward Dillon Boucher‘s incredible career.
I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon chatting with arguably the greatest role player to ever set an elbow-drenched pick Downunder, and here is the first part of my tribute to a great player and a true gentleman (off court!).
When I asked Boucher how a man with so little conventional offensive talent had been able to forge such an NBL and international career spanning 15 years, his answer summed him up perfectly.
“The big thing I’ve been very fortunate with is I’ve been on some great teams, played with some great players and been coached by some great coaches,” he said.
Read more
April 22, 2013
Welcome to The Huddle, Basketball New Zealand’s new supporters club for the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns programmes.
Hello basketball supporter,
Today, at the Basketball New Zealand AGM, we launched The Huddle.
The Huddle is a club for supporters of our sport and will help us fund the high performance end of basketball.
If we want to have Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns and emerging Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns, we need to take responsibility for funding them ourselves. Since High Performance Sport NZ dropped basketball last December, the need to fund our top teams now falls 100% on us.
The Huddle provides an opportunity for basketball fans to be part of the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns story, and also to help our younger talent who aspire to be our future international stars.
Take a look at The Huddle website and become a supporter!
Best wishes
Iain Potter
Chief Executive
Basketball New Zealand
April 2, 2013
New Zealand will be well represented on both sides of the court, when the Australian NBL finals tip off at Auckland’s Vector Arena on Sunday.
While the NZ Breakers will have a shot at their third straight title after sweeping Sydney Kings in the semis, Perth Wildcats – as they did last summer – stand between them and the three-peat.
The Breakers reached the title series with a 99-88 road win over the Kings, led by veteran CJ Bruton’s 21 points, but aided in no small part by a double double (18 points/12 rebounds) from Tall Blacks centre Alex Pledger and 15 points from forward Tom Abercrombie.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats also finished off Wollongong Hawks in two games with Tall Blacks Everard Bartlett and Jeremiah Trueman on their roster.
Bartlett had nine points (3/5 3pt), two assists and two steals in his 24 minutes on court and stands to play a significant role in the finals, if starting guard Damian Martin can’t shake off an Achilles/calf injury before the opener.
In Germany, Tall Blacks forward BJ Anthony helped his Magdeburg Eagles to their first victory in the State Cup, beating Bodfeld Baskets Upper Harz 86-73.
Anthony, who changed his flights to play in the final, will now return to New Zealand for the Bartercard NBL, where he will play for Otago Nuggets.
In Italy, Tall Ferns forward Jillian Harmon helped Parma to a 71-52 win over Priola, with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assist and three steals, as her team completed the regular season with a 13-5 record.
Parma finished third on the A1 league standings and now face the same Priola outfit in the best-of-three quarterfinals series, starting Friday (NZT).
In Turkey, Tall Black Kirk Penney was in hot form for TED Kolejliler, but couldn’t get them up against a rampant Aanadolu Efes, falling 67-85.
Penney scored 23 points, including 4/9 3pt, but also had seven of his team’s 24 turnovers. Efes also had 14 offensive rebounds and attempted almost twice as many shots from the field (63-32).
TED Kolejliler are 12-12 for the season and still sit in seventh on the TBL table.
In US college basketball, the surviving Kiwi – Tall Fern Erin Rooney – had 15 points for Fordham University, as they fell 61-77 to James Madison in the Sweet 16 of the National Invitational Tournament.
The Rams led 5-4 early, but conceded an 11-4 run to JMU and never recovered.
Rooney shot 6/14 FG, 1/4 3pt, 2/2 FT, adding four rebounds, three assist and a steal in a team-high 38 minutes.
Fordham finished the season with a 26-9 record was the second-best in school history and was their first winning record in 19 years.
March 22, 2013
Kiwi centre Steve Adams had the stats, but Tall Black Rob Loe got the “W” to progress to the third round of the US national college basketball championship.
Playing for the University of Pittsburgh, Adams had a double double of 13 points/11 rebounds, adding two blocks, an assist and a steal in 27 minutes.
But the Panthers had no answer for Wichita State, who prevailed 73-55 and now face the winners of Gonzaga v Southern.
Meanwhile, Loe got the stat that counted – a victory – with St Louis University, who defeated New Mexico State 64-44.
Loe went scoreless and had four fouls in his match-up against 2.25m (7ft 5in) Sim Bhullar.
The result was a record 28th season win for the Billikens – they are dedicating their postseason to the memory of former head coach Rick Majerus, who died earlier this season.
They now await the winner of Oklahoma State v Oregon in the NCAA tournament third round.
The women’s tournament begins Sunday (NZT), with Kiwi centre Megan Craig and her Albany University scheduled to face North Carolina on Monday.
More Tall Blacks News »
May 2, 2013
Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama admits his attendance at this weekend’s Women’s Basketball Championship round in Christchurch is partly business, partly pleasure.
“Basketball is my pleasure,” he grins. “Officially, I’ve come over for the purpose of selecting for the Tall Ferns programme and put the final list together for trials in August.
“But they haven’t had women’s basketball in Christchurch for a long time, so it’s also pretty special to come home and see two of my early mentors – Phil Burns and Pina Lissaman – coaching the Wildcats.”
Kereama is entering his third season in charge of the national women’s team, having just completed his first as a head coach in the Australian WNBL, albeit with bottom-of-the-table West Coast Waves.
“Success is always measured by results,” he admits. “But this was a programme in dire straits – it had a really poor culture, no strength and conditioning programme, no nutritional programme.
“It was a professional programme in name, but not by nature. For me, it was about introducing people who could bring a winning.”
He has tried to bring a similar approach to his Ferns, a programme struggling for funding and heavily reliant on the determination of its participants for survival.
When assessing players for any of his teams, Kereama has five selection criteria …
• Character – “very difficult to judge from a game of basketball, but could include body language and how they react to things”
• Physical attributes – “how fit or athletic are they”
• Mental attributes – “mental toughness, how they handle adversity or pressure”
• Basketball IQ – “how quickly can they pick things up and adjust to situations”
• Basketball skills – “can they play to their strengths, handle the ball, shoot the ball, all the fundamentals”
These are the benchmarks he’ll be considering when he watches the talent on show in Christchurch this weekend.
With the Ferns due to meet Australia in world championship qualifying in August, Kereama has several spots to fill, due to retirements and unavailability. He’s also keeping an eye open for the next wave of players ready for the step up.
Kereama has tapped into his network of NZ-based coaches for feedback on some of the new names emerging through the WBC and age group programmes – players like Penina Davidson (Auckland Lady Hawks) and Kalani Purcell (Waikato Wizards).
He’s particularly keen to catch up with Beijing Olympian Suzie Bates (pictured), who has since become one of the world’s best women’s cricketers, but turned out for Otago in the last WBC round. She averaged 12.5 points a game, shooting a competition-best 58.1% from the field.
“Suzie makes the people around her better players and I’m tremendously proud of all the accolades that have come her way through cricket.
“I’ve spoken to her about coming back into the programme – cricket is her first priority, but the fact she’s playing means she’s put her hand up and wants to be selected.”
DON’T FORGET …
Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama will run an on-court session for players, open to all WBC coaches at 1.30-3.30pm, Saturday, May 4 at Cowles Stadium.
This will be followed Question & Answer session for coaches. Contact James Lissaman (james@canterburybasketball.co.nz).
WBC Game On Newsletter, May 3
Women’s Basketball Championship
Christchurch
Friday, May 3
2pm
Rotorua Lady Vols v Nelson Sparks
Referees: Toni Smith-Hunwick & Gareth Teahan
Live stats
5pm
Auckland Lady Hawks v Oceana Gold Rush Otago
Referees: Ryan Jones & Leon Demetriades
Live stats
Waikato Wizards v Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers
Referees: Gareth Teahan & Sam Dixon
Live stats
7pm
Good Home Taranaki Thunder v Canterbury Wildcats
Referees: Leon Demetriades & Nick Naylor
Live stats
Harbour Breeze v Nelson Sparks
Referees: Ryan Jones & Marty Davison
Live stats
April 22, 2013
Welcome to The Huddle, Basketball New Zealand’s new supporters club for the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns programmes.
Hello basketball supporter,
Today, at the Basketball New Zealand AGM, we launched The Huddle.
The Huddle is a club for supporters of our sport and will help us fund the high performance end of basketball.
If we want to have Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns and emerging Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns, we need to take responsibility for funding them ourselves. Since High Performance Sport NZ dropped basketball last December, the need to fund our top teams now falls 100% on us.
The Huddle provides an opportunity for basketball fans to be part of the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns story, and also to help our younger talent who aspire to be our future international stars.
Take a look at The Huddle website and become a supporter!
Best wishes
Iain Potter
Chief Executive
Basketball New Zealand
April 2, 2013
New Zealand will be well represented on both sides of the court, when the Australian NBL finals tip off at Auckland’s Vector Arena on Sunday.
While the NZ Breakers will have a shot at their third straight title after sweeping Sydney Kings in the semis, Perth Wildcats – as they did last summer – stand between them and the three-peat.
The Breakers reached the title series with a 99-88 road win over the Kings, led by veteran CJ Bruton’s 21 points, but aided in no small part by a double double (18 points/12 rebounds) from Tall Blacks centre Alex Pledger and 15 points from forward Tom Abercrombie.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats also finished off Wollongong Hawks in two games with Tall Blacks Everard Bartlett and Jeremiah Trueman on their roster.
Bartlett had nine points (3/5 3pt), two assists and two steals in his 24 minutes on court and stands to play a significant role in the finals, if starting guard Damian Martin can’t shake off an Achilles/calf injury before the opener.
In Germany, Tall Blacks forward BJ Anthony helped his Magdeburg Eagles to their first victory in the State Cup, beating Bodfeld Baskets Upper Harz 86-73.
Anthony, who changed his flights to play in the final, will now return to New Zealand for the Bartercard NBL, where he will play for Otago Nuggets.
In Italy, Tall Ferns forward Jillian Harmon helped Parma to a 71-52 win over Priola, with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assist and three steals, as her team completed the regular season with a 13-5 record.
Parma finished third on the A1 league standings and now face the same Priola outfit in the best-of-three quarterfinals series, starting Friday (NZT).
In Turkey, Tall Black Kirk Penney was in hot form for TED Kolejliler, but couldn’t get them up against a rampant Aanadolu Efes, falling 67-85.
Penney scored 23 points, including 4/9 3pt, but also had seven of his team’s 24 turnovers. Efes also had 14 offensive rebounds and attempted almost twice as many shots from the field (63-32).
TED Kolejliler are 12-12 for the season and still sit in seventh on the TBL table.
In US college basketball, the surviving Kiwi – Tall Fern Erin Rooney – had 15 points for Fordham University, as they fell 61-77 to James Madison in the Sweet 16 of the National Invitational Tournament.
The Rams led 5-4 early, but conceded an 11-4 run to JMU and never recovered.
Rooney shot 6/14 FG, 1/4 3pt, 2/2 FT, adding four rebounds, three assist and a steal in a team-high 38 minutes.
Fordham finished the season with a 26-9 record was the second-best in school history and was their first winning record in 19 years.
March 20, 2013
A message from BBNZ chief executive Iain Potter, re the Toyota “25 Ways to Say Thanks” campaign.
Kia ora Basketball Community,
We need your help! Please help us to win use of a Toyota car, which will help our national team get to the World Cup next year.
So far we have only around 300 votes – this is disappointing!
If we want basketball to be a winner, we really need to get moving.
There are FOUR DAYS left for us all to make a difference. We should be able to get thousands of votes – after all, we are one of the most popular sports in the country.
So, if you haven’t already, please take a moment to vote and share this link with your friends.
This can be a positive thing for basketball – if you act.
Thanks!
Iain
More Tall Ferns News »
May 18, 2013
The OceanaGold Nuggets have won their sixth straight game, defeating The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs 110-93
Three point shooting has not been a strong point for the Nuggets this season, but it was a different story tonight as they shot 57% from the outside.
Small forward Akeem Wright put together his best game of the season with 35 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Wright also converted seven from nine three pointers, which will most probably be a player of the week performance.
Beny Anthony grabbed his third double-double of the season, scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, while Mark Dickel dished out 12 assists.
Taranaki forward Kenny Gabriel managed to avoid getting himself into foul trouble, scoring a team high 21 points.
Despite a blow out loss to the Sharks last night, the Airs were competitive in the first half, only trailing by six.
Taranaki were only down by as many as two in the third period, but the Nuggets would quickly find their offense, outscoring the visitors 36-24, taking a 18 point lead into the final period.
Taranaki could not muster a fourth quarter comeback, putting their season in serious jeopardy as they are now at two wins and six losses.
Nuggets will be pleased they got a comfortable win despite the absence of veteran guard Hayden Allen, who did not play due to a knee injury.
Tomorrow should be a tougher test for Otago, as they play arch rivals the Zerofees Southland Sharks (4-2) tomorrow afternoon.
Saturday, May 18
At Edgar Centre, Dunedin
OceanaGold Nuggets 110 (Akeem Wright 35, Beny Anthony 22, Antoine Tisby 17) The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs 93 (Kenny Gabriel 21, Link Abrams 18, Jack Leasure 14), Final
Referees – Raewyn Willocks, Dallas Pickering, Matt Bathurst
1Q: 29-24
HT: 48-42 (19-18)
3Q: 84-66 (36-24)
FT: 110-93 (26-27)
Live Stats
Nuggets v Airs Box Score
May 17, 2013
Fico Finance Nelson Giants moved to second spot In the Bartercard NBL after defeating Advice First Waikato Pistons 89-75, while in Invercargill, Zerofees Southland Sharks had their fourth win of the season, dispatching Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs 105-83.
American Erron Maxey continued his hot form scoring 22 points for Nelson, while fellow American Josh Pace collected 19 points and nine rebounds.
Pistons guard Tai Webster had a game-high 23 points, but ithe visitors got off to another slow start, as they trailed by 15 at halftime.
Nelson extended their lead to 19, but a late rally by Waikato in the fourth quarter, managed to close the gap to only six points with still five minutes remaining.
After a timeout, the Giants regrouped and put a halt to the Pistons momentum, pushing their lead back up to double-digits, sealing win number five for the season.
League rebounding leader Zack Atkinson had a solid double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, but Giants’ Mika Vukona replied with 14 rebounds of his own.
It was the Pistons’ fifth loss of the season and they will play their fourth straight road next week against the Mountain Airs, who have had back-to-back 20-plus point losses.
They did not get off the start they hoped for on their double down south, as the Sharks outplayed them on every facet.
Sharks import Brian Conklin was impressive, scoring 31 points and only missed two field goals (12/14), while Breakers development player Reuben Te Rangi had 25 points, making 4/8 three-pointers.
Round Three Player of the Week Kenny Gabriel had limited minutes due to foul trouble, eventually exiting in 14 minutes, only scoring five points.
It was also a tough night for Jack Leasure, who was held to 11 points, going 5/15 from the field.
Taranaki will now move on to Dunedin to face the red-hot OceanaGold Nuggets Saturday night, while the Sharks will have a night off, before they also travel to play the Nuggets in arguably the game of Round Five.
Friday, May 17
At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Fico Finance Nelson Giants 89 (Erron Maxey 22, Josh Pace 19, Brook Ruscoe 16) Advice First Waikato Pistons 75 (Tai Webster 23, Garrius Holloman 20, Zack Atkinson 14), Final
Referees – Melony Wealleans, Yalla Edwards, Nick Naylor
1Q: 23-15
HT: 47-32 (24-17)
3Q: 72-55 (25-23)
FT: 89-75 (17-20)
Live Stats
At The Velodrome, Invercargill
Zerofees Southland Sharks 105 (Brian Conklin 31, Reuben Te Rangi 26, Kevin Braswell 13) The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs 83 (Aaron Bailey-Nowell 22, Link Abrams 19, Brad Anderson 16), Final
Referees – Dallas Pickering, Raewyn Willocks, Matt Bathurst
1Q: 25-12
HT: 56-32 (31-20)
3Q: 78-60 (22-28)
FT: 105-83 (27-23)
Live Stats
Sharks v Airs Box Score
May 17, 2013
George Heaney, Manawatu Standard
The Manawatu Jets and Basketball New Zealand will be taking their disagreement over the naturalised players rule to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.
The Jets protested their loss to the Wellington Saints two weeks ago, because they couldn’t field a full roster with the new rule in force this year.
Teams are permitted three restricted players, either imports or naturalised citizens, unless they have lived in New Zealand for 12 years.
Read more
May 17, 2013
Nathan Burdon, Fairfax News
Zerofees Southland Sharks coach Paul Henare admits to a little bit of cross-code envy ahead of a double-header weekend that could define his team’s season.
Henare read a Southland Times report this week about the Southern Steel netball team selling out tomorrow’s game against the Magic almost a week early.
The two franchises occupy different parts of the Stadium Southland offices, but they are both trending upwards on a run of wins that has lifted the mood significantly around Surrey Park.
Henare would love to see the “sold out” sign posted outside a Zero Fees Sharks game at the velodrome one day.
“The numbers have been good, we are starting to get some bums on seats.
“A little bit of a competitive streak came out in me this week when I saw the ‘sold out’ sign come out for the Steel. I was like ‘man, it would be great if both clubs could do that’. [Steel] are doing a great job with how they are performing.”
Like Steel, the Sharks sit just outside the top four, although they have a game or more in hand over three of the teams above them on the national league ladder.
The Taranaki Mountain Airs are a team Henare respects, a team better than their two-win, four-loss record suggests.
Jack Leasure has a reputation as one of the best shooters in the competition and fellow import Kenny Gabriel has been producing impressive numbers, along with solid contributions from the likes of Link Abrams and Aaron Bailey-Nowell.
The Sharks head to Dunedin on Sunday to take on the unbeaten Otago Nuggets, a game that could, even at this early stage of the competition, help shape the make-up of the playoffs.
Click here to read full story
Friday, May 17
At The Velodrome, Invercargill
Zerofees Southland Sharks v The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs, 7pm
Referees – Dallas Pickering, Raewyn Willocks, Matt Bathurst
Live Stats
At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Fico Finance Nelson Giants v Advice First Waikato Pistons, 7pm
Referees – Melony Wealleans, Yalla Edwards, Nick Naylor
Live Stats
More NBL News »
