Basketball New Zealand

Gareth Dawson (Photosport)

Former Manawatu Jets rookie Gareth Dawson made his Australian NBL debut over the weekend as Wollongong Hawks defeated Gold Coast Blaze 96-75 at home.

Dawson was signed by Hawks coach Gordie McLeod (former Wellington Saints) as a development player late last year and took advantage of the blowout to log his first minutes (1m 13s, to be exact) without otherwise challenging the statisticians.

He has signed for Southland Sharks in this year’s New Zealand NBL.

For Gold Coast, Tall Black Mika Vukona had six points and five rebounds, while compatriot Craig Bradshaw compiled 11 points (5/8 FG, 1/1 FT) and four rebounds.

The previous night, the Blaze prevailed over Adelaide 36ers 104-89 with Bradshaw contributing 11 points (4/6 FG, 1/2 3pt, 2/2 FT) and two rebounds. Vukona did not attempt a shot, but snared five rebounds.

Gold Coast are now third on the table with a 13-9 record.

Meanwhile, Phill Jones’ Cairns Taipans (9-15) fell to the competition basement with road losses in Adelaide and Perth. The Kiwi veteran had six points and four rebounds in each game, shooting just 4/15 from the field, but had three steals against Perth.

In the Australian WNBL, Kiwi shooter Lisa Pardon recorded a double-figure scoring night as league leaders Bulleen routed Logan Thunder 108-58 at home. Pardon had 10 points (4/6 FG, 2/4 3pt) and three assists in 12 minutes.

For Logan, Kiwi Natalie Taylor (nee Purcell) had seven points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist, while guard Suzie Bates chipped in two points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Bullen now have a 16-1 record.

The Thunder (6-11) were only slightly more successful against Sydney University Flames on the second leg of their road trip, falling 86-101.

Taylor had 12 points, all from beyond the arc (4/5 3pt), three steals, two assists and a rebound. Bates had four points, three rebounds and three assists. Logan simply lost the battle for possession around the boards … Sydney had more offensive rebounds (26) than the visitors managed at both ends combined.

Former Tall Ferns captain Aneka Davis had 12 points/eight rebounds in Townsville Fire’s 77-92 loss to Bendigo, and eight points, nine rebounds and four steals in a 109-65 win over Australian Institute of Sport. The Fire are 12-5 for the season.

Ferns guard Toni Edmondson had three points and three rebounds as Dandenong Rangers lost 65-79 to defending champions Canberra Capitals.

In Europe, Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic has been unable to repeat his first-game miracle with Turkish club Darussafaka, which lost 64-71 loss to Mersin. Darussafaka (1-13) achieved their first win of the season in Vucinic’s first game in charge on January 2.

Former Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin guided Kepez Bld to a 97-96 win over Erdemir, improving their record to 4-10 just one spot ahead of his former assistant.

Baldwin is scheduled to face his old club Banvit in the next round of games.

In Switzerland, Brendon Polyblank’s Fribourg side has lost its lead on the LNA table with a 59-75 loss to Nyon. Polyblank had four points (2/7 FG), five assists and five rebounds in 38 minutes.

Fribourg have lost two of their last three games and are now 14-3 for the season, the same record as archrivals Lugano Tigers.

In Italy, Tall Ferns forward Jillian Harmon had nine points, six rebounds and three steals as Pool Comense lost 66-82 to Napoli in the Lega A. Comense are midtable with a 5-8 record.

In US college basketball, Tall Fern Micaela Cocks and her University of Oregon lost a 112-119 scoring fest at University of Arizona, slipping to 12-5 for the season (3-2 in Pac 10 play).

Cocks was held to nine points (2/10 FG, 5/6 FT), three rebounds and two assists as the Ducks conceded a record score and scored the most points by a losing team in Pac 10 history.

Tall Ferns centre Rebecca Dew had two points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 15 minutes as University of Hawaii beat University of Idaho 62-52. The Rainbow Wahine are now 7-10 for the season.

Ferns guard Erin Rooney helped Monmouth University to a 51-50 win over Robert Morris University with six points (2/7 FG, 2/4 3pt), three rebounds, an assist and a steal. The Hawks are now 8-9 for the season.