Basketball New Zealand

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NZ Tall Fern Aneka Kerr (Photosport)

Veteran forward Aneka Kerr returns from knee surgery to bolster the NZ Tall Ferns for the FIBA Oceania Championships in Dunedin later this month.

Kerr (26) underwent a second reconstruction to her left knee late last year and has been rehabilitating with a view to playing for the new Christchurch Sirens franchise in the Australian WNBL.

But after missing most of the national squadís programme this year, the 2004 Athens Olympian has been added for the Beijing qualifying tournament, her first competitive outing since collapsing to the court last November.

Kerr was a key component of the Fernsí quarterfinal effort at the last Olympics, registering a ìdouble doubleî in a pool upset over China.

ìBecause of her previous good performances for the Tall Ferns, it was pretty clear we needed to rush her back into the team,î says coach Mike McHugh. ìShe is the sort of person you want to be in the trenches with.

ìAneka has been running for some months and practicing for some time. Iím told by her and her specialist that the knee is as strong as it can be.

Her return brings the Ferns as close to full strength as they have been all year and only three spots different to the outfit that won silver medals at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Forward Rebecca Cotton has since retired, while captain Donna Loffhagen and injured guard Charmian Purcell are both unavailable.

Two other Commonwealth Games performers – guard Lisa Pardon and forward Jody Tini – have been added to the roster after sitting out earlier tours to Japan, China and Taiwan. Both took the court against the touring University of Wisconsin Badgers last week with Tini (10 points, 2/4 FG, 2/2 3pt, 4/4 3pt & three steals) proving a match winner, scoring her teamís final five points in a 65-62 victory.

ìEveryone at this level is entitled to another chance,î says McHugh. ìIf they have been in the team, they just donít get dealt out.

ìFor the first half of the year, Lisa has had contractual obligations in Australia that didnít allow her to be part of the programme, but she had a pretty good camp in Christchurch last week.

ìWithout Donna, Jodyís experience will be critical for this team.î

With so many experienced players unavailable, the 2007 itinerary has offered McHugh a chance to test the depth of his reserves, promoting rookies like Natalie Purcell, Suzie Bates, Rebecca Dew, Toni Edmondson and Karlene Kingi into the international arena.

ìTheyíve had competition against some fairly rugged international beasts – Cuba, China, Argentina and Australia – but it has all been focused on getting performances at the Oceania series.

ìWe donít know what team Australia will send, but Iím pretty sure it will be a good one. Our aim must be to improve on our recent performances against them Ö they are the benchmark for womenís basketball and good performances will assist our case to the NZOC.î

The world champion Opals crushed the Ferns 99-52 at the William Jones Cup in July and, previously, were 77-39 victors in the Commonwealth Games final. New Zealandís best showing against their trans Tasman rivals came two years ago, when they finished within eight points (67-75) in Napier at the last Oceania Championships.

But the Kiwis must also overcome as yet unknown South Pacific opponents – the winners of the South Pacific Games currently being contested in Samoa. The two leading candidates to fill that sport in the draw are Fiji and American Samoa.

ìGenerally, we have found the island teams are pretty big and athletic, but their skill areas and level of experience are not always that high,î says McHugh. îIt is imperative we beat them, whoever they are Ö a loss would mean the end of our Olympic dream.î

The Tall Ferns open the FIBA Oceania Championships against the Australian Opals at Dunedinís Edgar Centre on September 26. The full New Zealand roster is Ö

Development Players

Suzie Bates (Otago Goldrush) & Erin Rooney (Canterbury Wildcats)

Management

Head coach Mike McHugh
Assistant coach Leigh Gooding
Video coach Rachel Gwerder
Manager Louise Hogarth