Basketball New Zealand

Former Tall Fern Aneka Davis (ImageSport NZ)

Former Tall Ferns captain Aneka Davis and shooter Lisa Pardon remained unbeaten through five rounds of the 2009/10 Australian WNBL.

Davis’ Townsville Fire have snuck under the radar somewhat on the way to their 4-0 record, dispatching Logan Power 92-64 in their latest outing. Davis (nee Kerr) saw her string of double-doubles broken, but still accumulated 18 points (2/10 FG, 14/17 FT), nine rebounds, a block and a steal in 26 minutes.

For Logan, Kiwi guard Suzie Bates had her best return of the season, scoring 12 points (4/6 FG, 2/3 3pt, 2/2 FT), while Natalie Purcell fouled out with eight points (4/6 FG) and two rebounds in 21 minutes.

Pardon did not enter the game in the Bulleen Boomers’ crucial 79-70 victory over Adelaide Lightning, but had seven points (24/ FG, 2/2 3pt, 1/3 FT), two assists, a rebound and a block in 20 minutes of a 103-69 blowout against Perth Lynx. Bulleen are now 7-0.

Tall Fern point guard Angela Marino had 17 points (5/17 FG, 3/9 3pt, 4/4 FT), five rebounds and five assists, and was not subbed during Adelaide’s loss to Bulleen. Team-mate Lisa Wallbutton made the most of her 16 minutes on court, contributing 10 points (4/7 FG, 2/2 FT), eight rebounds and a block.

The Lightning did defeat Dandenong 75-66 with Marino chipping in 19 points (including 10/10 FT), four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Wallbutton had seven points and three rebounds in 18 minutes and Adelaide are 5-2 for the season.

Tall Fern Toni Edmondson had six points (1/3 FG, 1/2 3pt, 3/4 FT), two rebounds, an assist and a steal in six minutes for Dandenong.

NZ centre Jess McCormack is yet to score after three WNBL games, but continues to log good minutes for defending champions Canberra Capitals. She had two blocks and two rebounds in a 64-76 loss to Bendigo Spirit as the Caps fell to 4-3.

In the Australian men’s league, Kiwi veteran Phill Jones and his Cairns Taipans had no joy in Round Five, losing 67-77 to Wollongong Hawks and then 81-87 to Adelaide 36ers in overtime. Jones had 15 points (6/14 FG, 2/8 3pt, 1/1 FT), seven assists, two steals, a rebound and a block in 33 minutes against the Sixers.

The Taipans are now 3-6 for the season.

In Europe, Tall Black coach Nenad Vucinic guided Kalev Cramo to their first win of the Estonian KML season, accounting for winless Kuremaa 99-77. The defending champions absolutely dominated possession, enjoying a 53-21 rebounding advantage that included 24 offensive boards.

Kalev, struggling with injury and imports, improved to 1-1 and will soon welcome Nigerian point guard Josh Akognon to their roster.

In Switzerland, former Tall Black Brendon Polyblank helped his Fribourg team maintain their unbeaten record and inflicted defending LNA champions SAV Vacallo with their first loss of the season in the process. He had 13 points (5/9 FG, 2/2 3pt, 1/4 FT), three rebounds, one assist and a steal in 29 minutes against Vacallo.

Fribourg then accounted for Geneva Devils 91-66 to improve to 6-0.

In Korea, Tall Black centre Craig Bradshaw, whose minutes have waned for the LG Sakers, enjoyed some extended court time and a starting spot in their 77-94 loss to Sonic Boom KT. He accumulated 13 points (6/12 FG, 1/1 3pt), nine rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes in the top-of-the-table clash.

Both teams are now 6-2 for the season. Bradshaw played just three minutes the next night in a 73-69 win over Daegu Orions.