Cocks’ Strong Start
Tagged in: Kiwis Abroad, Tall Ferns
Tall Ferns guard Micaela Cocks has begun her senior year in style with the University of Oregon as the US college basketball exhibition season got under way.
The Ducks, now coached by former NBA coach Paul Westhead, overpowered Southern Oregon 109-47 in their first pre-season opener. Westhead is known in the sport for his up-tempo coaching philosophy and Oregon showed their readiness to oblige with a 21-2 run in the first five minutes.
Cocks, who was unavailable for national duty while attending summer school this year, led all scorers with 22 points (9/18 FG, 2/6 3pt, 2/2 FT), three rebounds, three steals and two assists in 23 minutes.
Centre Rebecca Dew also enjoyed the taste of victory as University of Hawaii overcame Hawaii Pacific University 73-70. Dew amassed 12 points (4/8 FG, 4/7 FT), eight rebounds and an assist in 18 minutes before fouling out.
Ferns centre Kim Barnes lasted just seven scoreless minutes before fouling out of UC Irvine’s 57-54 exhibition win over Concordia.
In the Australian WNBL, former Tall Ferns captain Aneka Davis and her Townsville Fire finally lost their unbeaten streak with a 69-89 loss to defending champions Canberra Capitals.
Davis had 14 points (5/14 FG, 4/7 FT) and nine rebounds and added 21/9 in a blowout 85-52 win over Australian Institute of Sport as the Fire ended the weekend at 5-1.
Kiwi centre Jess McCormack has yet to find the basket after five games for Canberra (5-3), but highlighted her seven minutes on court against the Fire with two blocks and a steal.
Former high flyers Adelaide crashed to earth with a pair of losses over the weekend – 66-89 to Bendigo Spirit and 77-84 to unbeaten Bulleen.
Tall Ferns point guard Angela Marino had a rough night against Bendigo and Aussie rival Kirsty Harrower, scoring just four points (1/10 FG, 2/2 FT) with four rebounds and five assists. Harrower had 33 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
NZ team-mate Lisa Wallbutton also struggled with two points (1/7 FG) and a rebound in 13 minutes.
Their fortunes did not improve against the Boomers. Marino had seven points (3/10 FG, 1/5 3pt) with no trips to the free throw line, six rebounds, an assist and six turnovers, while Wallbutton was scoreless in three minutes.
The Lightning are now 5-4 for the season.
Kiwi guard Lisa Pardon was scoreless in six minutes for Bulleen, who are now 8-0.
Forward Natalie Purcell filled the stat columns for Logan Thunder (4-3) in their 79-66 win over winless Perth Lynx in Darwin, accumulating seven points (3/8 FG, 1/5 3pt), eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in 32 minutes.
Olympian Jillian Harmon enjoyed her best individual outing in the Italian A1 league last week with a 17 points/13 rebounds performance for Pool Comense. Unfortunately, they fell 60-87 to Club Athletico Faenza and are 1-3 for the season.
Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic and his Kalev Cramo team continued to struggle in their defence of the Estonian MKL title, dropping an 81-82 result to Valga at home and then rallying 106-79 past Parnu two nights later.
They are now 3-2 for the season.
In Turkey, former Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin and his Kepez Belediyespor club suffered a 66-74 loss to Tofas in the TBL, falling to 1-3 for the season.
In Switzerland, Saints forward Brendon Polyblank and his Fribourg outfit remained unbeaten (7-0) in the LNA with a 93-77 win over BBC Nyon. Last week, he contributed 15 points (5/10 FG, 1/2 3pt, 4/6 FT), eight rebounds and two assists in a 91-66 result over Geneva Devils.
In the Australian men’s NBL, veteran Phill Jones and the Cairns Taipans ended a five-game losing streak with an 89-78 home win over Wollongong Hawks.
Jones had nine points (2/3 FG, 1/2 3pt, 4/4 FT), three assists, two rebounds and a steal in 28 minutes as the Snakes improved to 4-6 for the season.
After their amazing shooting performance (65.5% FG, 14/19 3pt) to beat the Burger King NZ Breakers on the road last Thursday, the Gold Coast Blaze tumbled to a 77-80 road loss to Adelaide 36ers.
Tall Blacks forward Mika Vukona produced an energetic cameo of seven points (3/3 FG, 1/3 FT), six rebounds and an assist in 16 minutes, but the Blaze shot just 38% FG and 31% 3pt.
In Korea, centre Craig Bradshaw clocked just three minutes in LG Sakers’ 96-78 win over ET Land, chipping in two points (1/3 FG) and four rebounds.
