Basketball New Zealand

NZ Tall Fern guard Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Photosport)

Christchurch Sirens captain Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe has passed a fitness test on an injured knee and will rejoin the NZ Tall Ferns on their upcoming tour of Europe.

The shooting guard was sidelined by the complaint at the team’s camp in Canberra last month and subsequently missed the Good Luck Beijing Olympic test event. She replaces fellow guard Suzie Bates on the roster that will face Angola, Spain, Japan and the Czech Republic from May 28-June 5.

“Continuing to build on the exceptional team chemistry and ongoing refinement of our systems are prime objectives on this tour,” says coach Mike McHugh. “But there are also decisions around final team selections that will be assessed.

“Kate gets a chance to cement her position, as do others who did not quite ‘nail it’ in the Good Luck Beijing tournament.”

All four of New Zealand’s opponents will be preparing for the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Spain and are thus candidates to fill two remaining spots in the Ferns’ pool at Beijing. McHugh and assistant coach Leigh Gooding will attend the qualifying event to scout possible Olympic opponents.

“A successful tour to Europe is imperative for two reasons,” says McHugh. “Firstly, we want to continue our excellent progress towards the Olympics.

“Secondly, we need to measure ourselves against top-calibre European teams, who we may face in Beijing. Both Spain and the Czech Republic are considered strong prospects in the qualifying tournament.

“The games against Angola will also provide important and rare experience of the African game style, which will assist against Mali in our Olympic pool.”

The full touring squad, captained by forward Aneka Kerr, is …

Clare Bodensteiner, Micaela Cocks, Toni Edmondson, Jillian Harmon, Aneka Kerr, Karlene Kingi, Angela Marino, Jess McCormack, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe, Natalie Purcell, Lisa Wallbutton, Noni Wharemate.