Basketball New Zealand

Former Tall Fern Toni Edmondson (ImageSport NZ)

Former Tall Fern Toni Edmondson has become the latest New Zealander to sign to play in the Australian Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) after signing with the Dandenong Rangers last week.

Edmondson, currently playing alongside national team-mate Lisa Wallbutton for Tall Ferns video technician Ken Hamilton with the Albury Wodonga Lady Bandits in the South East Australia Basketball League (SEABL), has inked with the Rangers, who finished seventh last season.

Rangers head coach Dale Waters was delighted to sign Edmondson for the forthcoming WNBL season.

“Toni is a member of the NZ Tall Ferns, and is a tremendous athlete. Toni is currently playing for Albury in SEABL, and has been tearing it up. She’ll add another dimension to our perimeter game,” said Waters.

Edmondson, a 1.81m guard, made her international debut in 2007, after representing New Zealand through the age-groups.

The 22-year-old joins fellow Kiwis Angela Marino and Lisa Wallbutton (Adelaide Lightning), Lisa Pardon (Bulleen Boomers), Natalie Purcell (Logan Thunder) and Tall Ferns captain Aneka Kerr (Townsville Fire) playing in the WNBL this season. Tall Fern Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Townsville) and Adrianne Gilbert (Sydney Flames) also played in the league last season.

The Queensland Basketball League (QBL) was the only state league in action over Australia’s Queen’s Birthday Weekend, with five Kiwis hitting the court in the Sunshine State.

Former Emerging Tall Black Zane Meehl posted 18 points (7/12 FG, 2/3 3pt, 2/2 FT), nine assists, three rebounds and a steal in 39 minutes, while younger brother Zeke Meehl thieving one steal in eight minutes as their Maroochydore Clippers edged the Brisbane Capitals 109-108 at home in round seven of the QBL on Sunday.

The Lady Clippers also collected a win over the Capitals, with Cantabrian Shannon Proffit scoring five points (2/5 FG, 0/1 3pt, 1/2 FT) to go with 13 rebounds, six assists and five steals in 37 minutes in the 59-56 victory, lifting Maroochydore to third at 6-3.

Purcell averaged a double-double but could not prevent her Northside Wizards dropping both games of their road double-header in Bundaberg and Gladstone.

Purcell had 19 points (8/15 FG, 1/4 3pt, 2/4 FT), eight boards, three assists, a steal and block in 30 minutes in a 75-68 loss to the Bundaberg Bears on Saturday, and 18 points (6/22 FG, 2/10 3pt, 4/4 FT), 14 rebounds, four steals, two assists and a block in 40 minutes in a 92-85 loss to the Gladstone Port City Power on Sunday.

Former Otago Nuggets guard Shaun Tilby scored eight points (3/10 FG, 2/3 3pt) with six rebounds and an assist in 32 minutes for the Gold Coast Goannas in a 100-98 road loss to the Capitals on Saturday.