Basketball New Zealand

Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/vhosts/basketball.org.nz/httpdocs/resources/uploads/2008/03/isnz_33620_jh-editii.thumbnail.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/bbnz/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /home/bbnz/domains/tallblacks.org.nz/public_html/wp-includes/post.php on line 3943

Tall Fern point guard Angela Marino (Photosport)

Tall Fern point guard Angela Marino provided a spark off the bench to help the Adelaide Lightning to the Australian Defence Force WNBL title with a 92-82 win over Sydney University Flames in Sydney.

Marino, who won a championship with Canberra Capitals two years ago, logged 13 minutes in the final, contributing 10 points (3/4 FG, 1/1 3pt, 3/3 FT), three assists and two rebounds.

Adelaide seized control of the match with a 30-16 opening quarter and held off the Sydney comeback, led by 32 points from MVP Renae Camino.

Marino, whose father owns the Lightning franchise, will now turn her attention to the Tall Ferns’ Olympic campaign.

In US college basketball, one Kiwi progressed and another bowed out of the Pac-10 Conference tournament as Michael Cocks’ University of Oregon accounted for Kezia Kelly’s Washington State University 66-45 in the first round.

Tall Fern Cocks had 13 points (5/10 FG, 3/5 3pt), four rebounds and an assist in 25 minutes off the bench as the Ducks ran away from the Cougars 43-17 in the second half.

Kelly had two points (2/2 FT), three rebounds and a steal, but committed six turnovers. She had earlier been named Pac-10 All-Freshman honourable mention after starting 24 games for WSU and averaging 31 minutes on court.

Kelley contributed 5.1 points and 2.6 rebounds, leading the Cougars in assists (2.4).
“I am really proud of Kezia,” said coach June Daugherty. “For a 17-year-old true freshman to be honoured shows just how much she has improved this year.

“She is competing at the highest level in the Pac-10. It is really great to see.”

Oregon’s tournament hopes were ended by a 60-67 loss to University of California-Berkeley in the second round. Cocks was again effective off the bench, chipping in nine points (3/7 FG, 3/4 3pt), three rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes.

Kiwi guard Aroha Jennings ended her career with the University of Memphis with a 63-85 loss to University of Tulsa in the opening round of the Conference USA tournament. Jennings had six points (3/4 FG), three rebounds and an assist in 23 minutes before fouling out.

Kiwi guard Amanda Harris was named All-Golden Valley Conference after helping College of the Siskiyous to a share of the conference championship with an 8-2 record.

Former Junior Tall Black Corey Webster was named Freshman of the Year in the TranSouth Athletic Conference, helping Lambuth University to the regular season title and the final of the conference tournament.

Webster averaged 11.6 points throughout the regular season, shooting 47.3% FG and 38.8% 3pt.

In Lambuth’s 88-65 semifinal win over Cumberland University, Webster had 15 points (5/11 FG, 1/3 3pt, 4/5 FT), five rebounds, an assist and a steal in 25 minutes.

Canterbury centre Donna Lavea contributed 11 points as the Lambuth women fell 45-76 to Free-Hardeman in the conference semifinals. Their next outing will be at the NAIA national tournament, where they are defending champions.

In Romania, former Tall Black coach Tab Baldwin steered U Mobitelco Cluj Napoca to a 101-72 win over Rapid Dromeas Buceresti, leapfrogging their opponents into third place on the FRB table with a 14-7 record.

In Turkey, Tall Black point guard Mark Dickel recorded his second consecutive double-figure assist performance as Mutlu Aku Selcuk Univ overcame Alpella 82-76. Dickel had two points (1/3 FG), 10 assists, four rebounds and a steal in 30 minutes as Selcuk improved to 8-15 for the season.

In Iceland, Emerging Tall Black Everard Bartlett scored 34 points as the Jeff Green-coached Hottur fell 78-124 to Valur in the second division.

Bartlett shot 13/31 FG, 5/13 3pt, 3/3 FT, while forward Ben Hill added 25 points (9/21 FG, 4/9 3pt, 3/4 FT) and seven rebounds. Hottur are now 5-12 for the season.