Basketball New Zealand

Kirk Penney (David Lintott)

Tall Blacks captain Kirk Penney‘s 36-point haul could not keep playoff hopes alive for Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA Development League.

The Skyforce dropped the deciding third game at home 101-111 against Tulsa 66ers, falling off the pace in a 17-29 second quarter.

But Penney reeled off his third 30-point game in seven late-season outings for Sioux Falls, shooting 12/20 FG, 3/5 3pt, 9/11 FT and seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 44m 55s action.

His short stint in the NBDL suggested he is in the best form of his career in preparation for the FIBA World Championship for Men in Turkey in August and showed he would not be out of place back in the NBA, where he has previously served with the LA Clippers and Miami Heat.

Meanwhile, in the South East Australia Basketball League, Tall Ferns forward Natalie Purcell and her Brisbane club enjoyed a successful road trip to Tasmania, defeating Launceston 78-68 and Hobart

Purcell had 18 points, six rebounds and two assists in their opening victory, then chipped in 15/6 against Hobart. Brisbane, despite competing out of state, are 3-1 for the season.

Tall Ferns assistant coach Kennedy Hamilton and his Albury Wodonga side suffered a pair of close losses, despite the efforts of Kiwis Toni Edmondson and Lisa Wallbutton.

Edmondson led her team with 21 points (6/13 FG, 4/6 3pt, 5/6 FT), seven assists, five steals and four rebounds in the 71-77 home loss to Ballarat, with Wallbutton contributing 19 points and seven boards.

Then, the pair contributed 51 – Edmondson 28 and Wallbutton 23 – in a 70-72 road loss to Nunawading. Albury Wodonga are now 2-3 for the season.

Tall Ferns centre Jess McCormack provided the only highlight for her Frankston club as they crashed 48-80 to Kilsyth, scoring 13 points (6/11 FG). Fellow Kiwi Gemma Kerr had 13 points (5/9 FG, 1/4 3pt, 2/2 FT) for the winners, unbeaten at 4-0.